News Releases
PCSB Votes On Accountability, Added Conversion Criteria, and A Resolution For Funding Following Students
For Immediate Release: April 22, 2008
Contact: Nona Richardson 202/328-2670
Washington, D.C. - During its April 21, 2008 meeting, The D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted on proposals to hold charter schools accountable, approved school requests, approved additional criteria for charter conversions, and passed a resolution regarding funding and student transfers.
The PCSB voted unanimously to place two charter schools, City Lights PCS, and Kamit Institute of Magnificent Achievers (KIMA), on probation, after special education reviews revealed significant deficiencies in both schools' provision of services to special needs students. Both schools were in the group of schools that were previously authorized by the D.C. Board of Education. Mayor Fenty's Education Reform Law transferred authority over the schools to the PCSB in June 2007. Both schools relied on DCPS as their special education services provider, and confirmed that PCSB's review process was far more stringent than that of the D.C. Board of Education.
Leaders at City Lights, a charter school that targets students with high levels of special needs, cited a citywide and national dearth of high quality special education professionals to administer the services to students, and suggested that as a reason for their challenges recruiting qualified personnel. The school's principal noted the added disadvantage of receiving less funding than other schools serving students with similar needs. Board members approved City Light's request to change its LEA status for special education purposes, so that the school could access the funds currently going to DCPS to provide special education services to City Light's students.
Leaders at KIMA, which is not a special education-focused school, asked for more clarity in future communications about the PCSB's expectations for addressing its special education deficiencies. KIMA's Executive Director noted the school's many academic accomplishments, including being one of only three public schools with open enrollment to make school-wide AYP two of the past five years. Both schools were given 30 days to develop concrete plans with timelines for correcting their deficiencies. Board member Karl Jentoft stated, "This is a tough mission. This city needs it, the kids need it. It's worth working together to make it happen."
PCSB members voted unanimously to approve the requests of Excel Academy and Eagle Academy to increase their enrollment ceilings, and to approve Maya Angelou's accountability plan changes.
Near the end of the meeting, Board members voted unanimously in favor of a resolution in support of per pupil funding following students when they move from one public school to another, whether they be DCPS or charter schools. Board members acknowledged that the resolution would not change the current charter law or public funding structure, but hoped it would initiate collaboration among stakeholders, and would lead to a legislative change.
The PCSB final decision of the evening was to approve additional criteria and a new timeline for charter conversion applicants to open after approval. The policy would allow for charter conversion schools to open within three months of approval, if they meet the stricter criteria. The criteria are higher than the already rigorous standards which allow a school to open 15 months after approval. Board member Lawrence Patrick, III, acknowledged, "It's like a fast track for applicants that, already operating as a school, pretty much have everything in place." The policy establishes that conversion schools that meet all of the normal standards, but do not meet the additional criteria, would be allowed to open in the normal 15-month period.
The D.C. Public Charter School Board, in its eleventh year of authorizing, oversees 55 charters schools on 82 campuses which serve nearly 22,000 students citywide.
Click here for the Charter Conversion Guidelines
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