The following documents are public records and are available for each Massachusetts charter school upon request.
Due to the sheer volume of documents, limited web server space, and the Department's commitment to achieving meaningful accessibility to this online environment for all users, but most particularly for users with disabilities (we follow specific Commonwealth Enterprise Standards designed to meet the needs of our citizens with disabilities), we cannot post this volume of documents on our webpage. Please send an email to charterschools@mass.gov to request a particular document for a particular school and we will respond promptly. Thank you.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) or Commissioner may impose conditions on a school's charter for violations of law or failure to make progress with student achievement, failure to adhere to and enhance its recruitment and retention plan, failure to comply with the terms of its charter, or failure to remain viable (603 CMR 1.12(1)). The Board may place a charter school on probation if in its judgment the imposition of a condition alone would be insufficient to remediate the problem. The Board may impose conditions on the school's charter that require the school to address specific areas of concern. Placing a school on probation signals concern about the school's viability and permits the Board to suspend a school's charter immediately if the school fails to remedy the causes of its probation. The Department may require a charter school on probation to establish an escrow account in an amount determined by the Department in consultation with the charter school to pay for closing, legal, and audit expenses associated with closure should that occur (603 CMR 1.12(2)).
The following schools are currently operating under conditions or probation. Below, please find memoranda that outline the justification for and provide the specifics of the conditions or probation for each school.
Argosy Collegiate Charter School (conditions) — February 2024
Baystate Academy Charter Public School (conditions) — February 2023
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School (conditions) — February 2021
Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School (conditions) — December 2021
Boston Renaissance Charter Public School (conditions) — December 2021
City on a Hill Charter Public School (probation) — December 2021
Codman Academy Charter Public School (conditions) — December 2021
Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School (conditions) — February 2022
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Chelsea (conditions) — February 2024
Pioneer Charter School of Science II (conditions) — February 2023
Roxbury Preparatory Charter School (conditions) — February 2024
Springfield International Charter School (conditions) — December 2021
UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester (conditions) — February 2023
Charter schools may cease operation for a variety of reasons. The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) may vote its intent to non-renew, revoke, or suspend the charter of a charter school; a charter school's board of trustees (board) may vote to voluntarily surrender its charter; or a board may not file an application for renewal of a public charter. In the case of Commonwealth charter schools, upon expiration, non-renewal, surrender, or revocation of the charter, the school closes permanently. In the case of Horace Mann charter schools, while the charter may cease to exist, the District may continue operation of the school, but without charter status. The Charter School Factsheet lists charter schools that have closed since 1995.
The following school will be closing at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Below, please find the memorandum that outlines the justification for and provides the specifics of the closing of the school.
City on a Hill Charter Public School (closure) — February 2024
For information on the closing obligations of charter schools, see Charter School Closing Procedures.
Last Updated: September 10, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
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