Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: Felix Commonwealth Virtual

Martinez: has not yet opened but has made progress on these conditions
ask to approve conditions for opening Fall of 2026; extension of dates is under discretion of Commissioner, including additional training for the board members
conditions will be overseen by DESE staff
Martinez: "won't let something open under my name that isn't ready to serve students"

conditions approved

conditions imposed: 

1. By October 13, 2025, the board of trustees must update and resubmit to the Department its action plan that outlines the steps it will take to open the school. The applicant group’s action plan should cover the period from October 1, 2025, to the first day of school and must outline the strategies, steps, and designated point person(s) and provide a clear timeline for opening the school. The action plan must be specific and consistent with the school’s mission, vision, and objectives.

2. By October 20, 2025, the board of trustees must submit to the Department  an updated draft contract with Arizona State University Prep Digital (ASUPD) that directly addresses the Department’s previous feedback. The contract must include, but is not limited to, an outline of the services and a clear justification for the compensation and contract payments. It also must include accountability measures and goals sufficient to measure the performance of ASUPD and to permit the board of trustees to terminate the contract if the goals are not met.

3. By November 3, 2025, the board of trustees must revise and resubmit to the Department an updated budget proposal approved by the school’s board of trustees for the pre-operation year and the first three years of operation. The budget proposal must include a detailed budget narrative, staffing plan, cash flow projections based on the school’s anticipated enrollment, and identify other sources for funding it anticipates. The budget proposal and associated documents must demonstrate capacity to ensure the fiscal health and solvency of the school.

4. By November 3, 2025, the board of trustees must revise and resubmit to the Department an updated and comprehensive staffing plan, aligned with projected finances, that includes clear expectations for instructional quality and strategies for effective and differentiated online instruction for all students. 

5. By November 10, 2025, the board of trustees must revise and resubmit to the Department documentation and information sufficient to justify the proposed per pupil tuition rate in its certificate as granted by the Board on March 26, 2024. If the Department determines that the documentation and information submitted are not sufficient to justify the per pupil tuition rate in its certificate, the Department will amend the school’s certificate to specify a tuition rate consistent with the per pupil tuition rates of other CMVSs.

6. By November 17, 2025, the board of trustees must provide evidence that all members have participated and completed trainings related to the Commonwealth’s open meeting and state ethics laws. The board of trustees must maintain a membership of at least five, consistent with virtual school regulations and Felix’s approved bylaws. 

7. By November 24, 2025, the board of trustees must revise and resubmit to the Department a comprehensive plan that ensures all students enrolled in the virtual school will have reasonable access to an “in-person hub site,” a main component of the applicant’s proposal. Reasonable access must consider both distance from and travel time to the hub sites for all students. This plan must include the school’s plan to provide for transportation for all students, including students with disabilities, to and from the hub sites. If the school is unable to provide reasonable access and transportation to and from hub sites for all students statewide, the school must seek an amendment to the enrollment region specified in its certificate.

8. By February 1, 2026, the board of trustees must submit to the Department a special education program plan and policies and procedures for education of English language learners that are sufficient to meet all applicable federal and state requirements.

9. By March 2, 2026, the board of trustees must complete alignment of the virtual school's curriculum to the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks and submit documentation to the Department that is sufficient to assess and confirm such alignment.

10. By May 1, 2026, the school must submit to the Department pre-enrollment data sufficient to meet the enrollment levels outlined in its final application for its first year of operation.

11. Before opening, Felix Commonwealth Virtual School must comply with the Department's opening procedures for virtual schools. Successful completion of the opening procedures process is required to open and to operate a CMVS.