MCPSA Press Releases
CONTACT:
Dominic Slowey
781-710-0014
Marc Kenen
617-973-6655
CHARTER SCHOOLS PRAISE HISTORIC COMPACT WITH CITY OF BOSTON
(Statement can be attributed to Kevin Andrews, Headmaster of Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester and member of the Boston Alliance of Charter Schools)
BOSTON - APRIL 28, 2011 - This is an historic agreement that paves the way for a new era of cooperation and collaboration between charter public and district public schools for the benefit of all Boston schoolchildren.
The Compact broadens choice for parents, improves collaboration between charter and district schools and facilitates the sharing of innovative practices.
The Compact also benefits charter and district teachers, expanding opportunities for sharing best practices, fostering collaborative relationships to explore new models of urban education, and expanding opportunities for shared teacher professional development.
For more than 15 years, charter public schools have strived to provide educational choice for parents and high quality educational opportunities for children from all backgrounds all across the Commonwealth. We look forward to working closely with Mayor Menino, Superintendent Johnson and the teachers, staff, and parents in the Boston Public Schools to make this effort a model not only for other cities in the Commonwealth, but cities across the country.
We applaud Mayor Menino for his vision and his willingness to work with charters to find ways to improve educational outcomes for all Boston schoolchildren. We would also like to thank the Gates Foundation for helping to facilitate the exchange of ideas that led to the creation of this compact.
STATEMENT ON BEACON HILL INSTITUTE REPORT ON HOW CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
(Statement can be attributed to Marc Kenen, MCPSA Executive Director)
BOSTON, MA – March 24, 2011 – The report from the Beacon Hill Institute clearly confirms that charter public schools are excelling at closing the achievement gap.
Previous studies and MCAS scores show that urban charters with a high population of African American, Latino and low-income children are providing the kind of education previously found only in affluent suburban districts. Many of these charters are among the highest-scoring schools in the entire state and are putting children on the path to college and successful lives.
With the passage last year of the education reform bill, charter public schools are beginning a new era of expansion beginning this September. The gradual increase in the cap on charters will enable nearly 7,000 new children to be enrolled in high performing charter public schools. These new schools include the creation of the first charter networks, which seek to replicate the success of existing high performing schools.
There is a tremendous amount of momentum for charter expansion. Recently, Boston charters held random lotteries to determine enrollment for this fall that drew more than 10,000 applications for approximately 1,200 open seats. It is clear that demand for charters remains high and this report confirms that the academic quality of the programs is unparalleled in urban education. The Association will continue to work with Legislature and the Patrick administration to ensure that high quality educational options - whether they be charter schools or district schools - are available to families who seek and deserve them.
STATEMENT ON BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION APPROVAL OF NEW PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS
(Statement can be attributed to Marc Kenen, MCPSA Executive Director)
BOSTON, MA – February 28, 2011 – The Board’s approval of 13 charter schools today marks a major step forward in creating new educational opportunities for more than 6,500 children to attend Commonwealth charters in Boston, Chelsea, Holyoke, Springfield, Lawrence, and New Bedford over the next few years. In addition, more than 1,200 Horace Mann seats will be created at 3 new schools.
Following on the heels of the 2010 education reform law, which lifted the arbitrary caps on charter school expansion, charters can now move ahead to provide innovative schools in high-need communities across Massachusetts.
The new charter schools include the creation of the state’s first networks of high-quality charter schools, that seek to replicate the success of their existing programs, and innovative new schools proposed by experienced educators who have a solid track record of academic success.
We are excited about the new educational opportunities these new charters would provide, but we are also wary that much of the additional space created by the education reform law has already been consumed by this first round of new schools. If continued demand for new schools remains high, we will work with the Administration and the Legislature to reassess whether all caps should eventually be lifted on charter expansion.
STATEMENT ON EDUCATION COMMISSIONER’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(Statement can be attributed to Marc Kenen, MCPSA Executive Director)
BOSTON, MA – February 17, 2011 – Today is another step toward a new era of charter public school expansion in high need communities across Massachusetts.
The Commissioner’s recommendations include the creation of the state’s first networks of high quality charter schools, which seek to replicate the success of their existing programs, and innovative new schools proposed by experienced educators who have a solid track record of academic success. The recommendations also include the state’s first in-district charter schools in Boston and Salem.
We urge the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to approve these charter applications.
These schools represent the next generation of charters, and reflect the tremendous amount of momentum created by the education reform law passed in January 2010, which lifted arbitrary caps on charter school growth in low-performing districts where there is considerable demand.
If the Board approves these charters, it would create opportunities for more than 6,500 children to attend Commonwealth charters in Boston, Lynn, Chelsea, Springfield, Lawrence, and New Bedford over the next few years. In addition, more than 1,200 Horace Mann seats will be created.
We are disappointed that the Commissioner chose not to recommend three schools - the Boston Chinese Immersion Charter School (Boston), the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School (Western Mass.) and the Collegiate Charter School (Springfield). We believe these were high quality applications that deserve to be approved, and we would encourage the founding groups to reapply next year if the Board accepts the Commissioner’s recommendations.
Although we are excited about the new educational opportunities these new charters would provide, we are also wary that much of the additional space created by the education reform law would be consumed by this first round of new schools. If continued demand for new schools remains high, we will work with the Administration and the Legislature to reassess whether all caps should eventually be lifted on charter expansion.
PDF version with list of Commissioner’s recommendations.
STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF EDUCATION REFORM LEGISLATION
(Statement can be attributed to Marc Kenen, MCPSA Executive Director)
BOSTON, MA - January 14, 2010: The education reform bill approved by the Legislature today recognizes the tremendous contributions charter public schools have made toward raising academic standards and closing the achievement gap in Massachusetts.
The bill doubles the number of students who can attend charter public schools in the Commonwealth's lowest-performing school districts providing parents in those districts with additional educational choices and expanding high quality educational opportunities for underserved children. It also encourages high quality charters to expand in underperforming school districts where the need is greatest and demand is substantial.
The Legislature, particularly those legislative leaders who worked diligently on this bill, deserves a tremendous amount of credit for crafting a bill that will greatly expand access to charter public schools and provide both the state and districts with increased authority and flexibility to implement needed reforms.
The Legislature's action could enable Massachusetts to compete for federal "Race to the Top" grants, which could provide $250 million for Massachusetts school systems to preserve jobs and educational programs.
Although the legislation retains overall caps on the number of charter public schools statewide, it provides flexibility to expand charters in the neediest districts.
The legislation also preserves the current charter funding formula and provides additional financial assistance to districts that lose students to charters. Every time there is an increase in the amount of money that is transferred from districts to charters - whether it be because a new charter opens in that district or because there is an increase in district spending on students - those dollars are reimbursed by the state for six years at a rate of 100% the first year and 25% for the next five years.
The bill also imposes new requirements for charters to recruit and retain students from similar demographic backgrounds as district students and places controls on how our schools fill vacancies when students transfer back to districts during the school year. The bill also imposes restrictions on charter school reserves funds and out-of-district enrollments.
We will work with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement those new restrictions so they do not impede the operation of successful charter public schools.
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