The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Update on Charter Actions in 2009-2010
| To: | Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education |
| From: | Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner |
| Date: | February 17, 2010 |
This memorandum provides you with an update on the actions taken on charter school matters since July 1, 2009, including those that were delegated to me at the September 2009 meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education when the Board voted to authorize me to act on its behalf in "(a) granting charter renewals that do not involve conditions or probation; and (b) approving charter amendments that do not involve changes in grade span, maximum enrollment, or districts served." I have reported to you on a monthly basis on all such approvals and have provided the required notifications in advance of these actions, allowing you time to request that an item be placed on the agenda for Board discussion and action.
Since July 1, 2009, the Board has voted on amended charter school regulations, approved ten major charter amendments, voted on the renewal of two charter schools, voted to revoke a charter, and voted to remove conditions on one charter school. In February, the Board will act on one additional charter renewal. Charter actions that I have acted on include nine minor amendments, three loan approvals, and sixteen charter renewals, including the seven currently scheduled for my approval in February.
| Month | Item | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| July | Commissioner Action | |
| Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| August | Commissioner action | |
| Holyoke Community Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| September | Board action | |
| Authorization to Commissioner on Certain Charter School Matters | ||
| Charter School Regulations | Discussion and vote to seek public comment. | |
| Commissioner action | ||
| SABIS International Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| Health Careers Academy Horace Mann Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| Innovation Academy Charter School | Loan approval | |
| October | Commissioner action | |
| Four Rivers Charter Public School | Minor amendment request | |
| Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School | Loan approval | |
| November | Board action | |
| Amesbury Academy Charter Public School | Major amendment request | |
| Martin Luther King, Jr., Charter School of Excellence | Major amendment request | |
| Mystic Valley Regional Charter School | Major amendment request | |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter School | Major amendment request | |
| Sturgis Charter Public School | Major amendment request | |
| Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School | Major amendment request | |
| Boston Preparatory Charter Public School | Major amendment request | |
| Codman Academy Charter Public School | Major amendment request | |
| Edward W. Brooke Charter School | Major amendment request | |
| Commissioner action | ||
| Marblehead Community Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter School | Loan approval | |
| December | Board action | |
| Charter School Regulations | Vote after public comment period | |
| Boston Renaissance Charter Public School | Renewal with extension of probation | |
| Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School | Conditions met. Vote to remove from probation. | |
| KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School | Major amendment request | |
| Commissioner Action | ||
| Atlantis Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| Community Day Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| Neighborhood House Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| Codman Academy Charter School | Minor amendment request | |
| January | Board action | |
| Robert M. Hughes Academy Charter School | Vote to revoke charter | |
| Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| Commissioner action | ||
| Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| Community Charter School of Cambridge | Charter renewal | |
| Holyoke Community Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| Lawrence Family Development Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| South Shore Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| February | Proposed Board action | |
| Lowell Community Charter Public School | Charter renewal/non-renewal | |
| New Charter School(s) (if any) | Charter granting vote | |
| Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School | Major amendment request | |
| Commissioner Action | ||
| Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| City On A Hill Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| Marblehead Community Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School | Charter renewal | |
| MATCH Charter Public School | Charter renewal | |
| SABIS International Charter School | Charter renewal | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence | Minor amendment request | |
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Jeff Wulfson, Associate Commissioner, at 781 338-6500; Mary Street, Director of Charter Schools, at 781 338-3200; or me.