SRC: Change for charters
The School Reform Commission voted unanimously yesterday to approve amendments to a controversial policy that would change the way charter schools can increase their enrollment or change their grade configuration. The policy would have permitted charters to apply for the changes only every five years, when a school's charter was up. Now, charters can apply for changes at renewal or during the third year of their charter.
The School Reform Commission voted unanimously yesterday to approve amendments to a controversial policy that would change the way charter schools can increase their enrollment or change their grade configuration. The policy would have permitted charters to apply for the changes only every five years, when a school's charter was up. Now, charters can apply for changes at renewal or during the third year of their charter.
Until the proposed charter-school policy change, the SRC considered requests from charters on an individual basis and has had no policy for evaluating the success of each school.
Other amendments, include:
* Evaluate schools' academic performance by annual school report-card and school-performance index, two alternative academic performance measurements used for district-run schools.
* Allow a one time "grace period" for enrollment increases requested during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 renewal cycles.
District officials said charter-school operators can apply for changes this year no later than April 5.
In other news, the SRC renewed the charter of New Media Technology Charter School, which has had to respond to allegations of financial mismanagement.
- Dafney Tales