Pursuant to the Charter School Regulations, 603 CMR 1.10(1), the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) must approve certain changes in the material terms of a school's charter. This year (2022-2023), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) received requests from 3 existing charter schools that involve changes to the districts specified in the school's charter region, the grades served, or the maximum enrollment allowed. Please contact the Department at charterschools@doe.mass.edu to obtain copies of any of the submitted amendment requests.
Section 1.10 of 603 CMR contains several criteria that the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (Commissioner) and the Board may consider in reaching a determination regarding a school's request to amend its charter. First, "the Commissioner and the Board may consider a charter school's compliance with applicable state, federal, and local law." Second, the Commissioner and the Board may consider the evidence regarding the success of the school's academic program, the viability of the school as an organization, and the faithfulness of the school to the terms of its charter. Third, if seeking an increase in maximum enrollment in certain districts, the board of trustees must qualify as a "proven provider" based on the existing school and must meet the performance criteria described in 603 CMR 1.04(4). Fourth, schools must address additional criteria as outlined in the Department's guidelines on amendments.
The Department currently anticipates bringing these matters to the Board for consideration at a meeting no earlier than November 15, 2022 and completing the process by February 28, 2023, if recommended by the commissioner for approval. Updates on this process may be found on the Department's Board Meeting Schedule and Agendas website.
The Department solicits comments from the superintendents in the school districts within each charter school's current/proposed district or region. Members of the public may submit written comments regarding a school's amendment request to: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, c/o Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 or by email to charterschools@doe.mass.edu . The deadlines for public comment vary; please see below for additional information. Each deadline is guided by the Board's anticipated schedule regarding charter school matters, including proposed charter amendments and charter renewals.
* Map Academy Charter School and Mystic Valley Regional Charter School have also submitted applications for renewal.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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