Charter Board Approves Policy on Charter Amendments for Revised Goals and Academic Achievement Expectations

Contact: Audrey Williams  202-328-2748
[email protected]

Washington, D.C. — At its monthly Board meeting January 28, the DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted to approve a policy that would determine when a charter school can amend their charter goals and academic achievement expectations.

PCSB will generally not approve amendments to a school’s goals or academic achievement expectations unless the following conditions are met:
 

•  The submission is made more than two years before the expiration of a school’s charter; (one year for charters expiring in 2014) and more than one year before a school’s five or ten year review.

•  The revised goals and academic achievement expectations are developed using the same guidelines as are described in Part II of the 15-year Renewal Policy.

Charter renewal decisions are made, in part, on whether a school met the goals and academic achievements expectations set forth in their charter. As schools consider charter renewal, they may realize that their actual practices have changed since their original charters were written.  Schools may seek to bring their goals and academic achievement expectations in line with their actual practice.

PCSB supports the alignment between goals and practice, and recognizes that schools’ practices may evolve.  The Board believes it is not appropriate for a school to change its goals within days, weeks, or even several months of a school’s charter renewal or high-stakes review.  Any modification of a school’s goals should be measurable and aligned with the Performance Management Framework.

About PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB currently oversees 57 public charter schools on 102 campuses serving 35,019 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at www.dcpcsb.org.