The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Charter Schools - Report on Conditions for Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School
In December 2010, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) renewed the charter of Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School (PVPA) with a condition regarding academic success in mathematics.
By December 2012, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School shall demonstrate that it is an academic success by:
- meeting academic growth targets in mathematics, as established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or
- achieving Adequate Yearly Progress in the aggregate in mathematics and for all statistically significant subgroups in mathematics in 2011 and 2012, and
- by meeting goals and objectives established in the school's accountability plan.
The school has not met the condition. While the ELA results demonstrate improvement compared to past years, the mathematics results remain low and demonstrate little evidence of an increasingly effective program of instruction. In light of this evidence, I am recommending that a further set of conditions be placed upon the school. The school must improve its academic performance by 2014, a year before the school is due to submit its application for renewal.
No later than March 31, 2013, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School shall submit to the Charter School Office a comprehensive evaluation of the school's mathematics program conducted by an external consultant.
No later than March 31, 2013, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School shall submit to, and receive approval from, the Charter School Office for an action plan that specifies strategies to improve mathematics performance. The action plan must address implementation of a proven curriculum and instruction program for mathematics. The action plan must include a timetable for the implementation of actions, must set deadlines for the completion of key tasks, and must set clear and specific implementation benchmarks to allow the board of trustees of Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School and the Charter School Office to monitor implementation.
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School must demonstrate that it is an academic success by December of 2014 by providing evidence that the school has met or is making substantial progress toward meeting benchmarks in its approved Accountability Plan and, in particular has demonstrated significant and sustained academic improvement in mathematics.
PVPA will demonstrate that it has met these conditions through, at a minimum, an inspection visit conducted by the Charter School Office and through a review of academic data. I will provide information to the Board on the school's success in meeting the condition.
If you have any questions regarding this recommendation or require additional information, please contact Cliff Chuang, Associate Commissioner (781-338-3222); Jeff Wulfson, Deputy Commissioner (781-338-6500); or me.
Attachment:
