Board Acts on Seven Public Charter Schools at December Board Meeting

Tonight, the Board evaluated seven public charter schools on their academic, legal, and financial performance. Because these schools are at different points in their operation as charter schools, the District’s charter law, the School Reform Act (SRA), provides for a different standard of review.

For schools in their 5th, 10th, or 20th year of operation, the SRA gives the Board discretion in determining whether to allow the school to continue operation (DC Code § 38-1802.12(a)(3)). Schools’ charters expire after 15 years and for schools in their 15th year of operation, the SRA gives the Board less flexibility, stating that the Board “shall not” renew the charter of a school that has not met the goals it selected (DC Code § 38-1802.12(c)(2)).

“We’re committed to providing quality education to our students,” said Rick Cruz, Board Chair, DC PCSB. “When schools aren’t meeting those standards, we have to make the tough decisions.”

The Board took the following actions:

*Next Steps for Schools Denied to Continue

City Arts & Prep PCS will continue to educate its students until the end of the current academic school year, at which point it will close. To help transition families of City Arts & Prep PCS, DC PCSB’s enrollment specialists will meet one-on-one with families to discuss available school options and help families use My School DC, the common lottery.

For Democracy Prep PCS and National Collegiate Prep PCHS, the school’s boards may request an informal hearing. DC PCSB will provide written notice to the schools of its right to request an informal hearing. After any public hearings, the Board will strive to reach a final decision prior to February 1, which is the deadline for high school students to enroll in My School DC.

Summary of Board decisions on 7 Charter Schools at December 2018 meeting.