D.C. Public Charter School Board Proposes Charter Revocation of Two Schools

 
Contact: Audrey Williams  202-328-2748
[email protected]
 
Washington, D.C. — The D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted last night in favor of a proposal to begin the process of revoking the charters of two schools – Nia Community Public Charter School and Ideal Academy Public Charter School.  The Board said the schools had violated the terms set forth in their charter agreements. 
 
Following each unanimous vote, Board Chair Brian Jones explained that the Boards of Trustees of the schools will receive letters detailing the reasons for the proposals and will have the option of a public hearing, if requested within 15 days of receipt of the letter.  If the schools elect to have hearings, their leaders and the public will have an opportunity to respond to the Board’s findings.
“If it turns out that a school is not able to meet the PCSB’s high expectations for quality performance, they will be closed,” Jones said. “This is the charter school principle: autonomy in exchange for accountability and results.  It is the Board’s responsibility to determine when schools are failing to deliver on their end of the bargain, and to make the decisions that protect students’ interests,” he said.

The violations include:

Nia Community Public Charter School is a candidate for revocation, as a result of the following violations of the terms of its charter agreement and applicable law:
1. Failure to design and implement the educational program described in its application.
2. Failure to meet the goals and student academic achievement expectations set forth in Nia’s charter. 
3. Failure to submit an annual report in compliance with the School Reform Act.

Ideal Academy Public Charter School is a candidate for revocation as a result of the following violations of the terms of its charter agreement and applicable law:
1. Failure to design and implement the educational program described in its application.
2. Failure to meet the goals and student academic achievement expectations set forth in Ideal’s charter. 
3. Failure to comply with all federal requirements related to educating English Language Learners (ELL).

Nia opened in 2006 and serves 196 students in pre-k through 6th grade in Ward 7.   Ideal Academy was chartered by the D.C. Board of Education and opened in 1999.  The school’s two campuses in Ward 4 serve 411 students – one campus has pre-school through 8th grade and the other 9th -12 grade.

The PCSB is a champion of the independent public charter school principle – respecting charter school autonomy while supporting and promoting their success, provided they are producing results for students. Nia and Ideal Academy are two of the 52 public charter schools that the D.C. Public Charter School Board currently oversees.  Public charter schools now serve approximately 39% of all public school students in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about PCSB at www.dcpubliccharter.com