Massachusetts Charter Schools

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Hill View Montessori Charter Public School

Charter School and District Collaboration

Topics: Community involvement
Mission: The mission of the school is to provide a K-8 public education that promotes academic excellence using the Montessori philosophy. In partnership with teachers and parents, children attain high levels of academic, personal and social achievement and so prepared, become constructive contributors to our community.
Goals: 1. To better support all of Haverhill's public school children by finding mutually beneficial ways to work together. 2. To share these strategies with other charters and districts to help them provide mutual benefit and greater support to students
Summary: In Service of Children: How Charter and District Schools Can Work Together. The founders of Hill View Montessori Charter Public School successfully established collaborative relationships with the Haverhill School District during the charter application process and through the early years of the school’s operation. This required both the charter school founders and district personnel to overcome differences and obstacles, then work together in service of the children of Haverhill. In 2005-06, Hill View Montessori Charter School received a federal dissemination grant to document their experiences and lessons learned from establishing a productive and collaborative working relationship with the Haverhill School District during founding years of the charter school. The two entities co-authored a best practices paper on the topic and presented their learnings at a Massachusetts Charter Public School Association conference. The paper makes a case for collaboration, identifies likely challenges to collaboration between charter schools and districts, and identifies practical and common-sense tips for establishing collaborative partnerships.
Partner(s):
Dates: 01/01/2005
Contact: Janet Begin, Executive Director (jbegin@hvmcps.org/ 978-521-2616 x100)
Resources: Best Practices Paper, In Service of Children: How Charter and District Schools Can Work Together. Available online at www.masscharterschools.org/fellowships/docs/166/Begin9.html.
Federal Charter Schools Program Funds? No

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Last Updated: April 2, 2025