Chester recommends charter school for Worcester

Commissioner Chester has released his recommendations on the pending charter schools; it includes Spirit of Knowledge in Worcester. Here follows excerpts of his press release:

Lynn Preparatory and Spirit of Knowledge Charter Schools Would Open in 2010

MALDEN - Massachusetts Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester will recommend that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education grant two new charters next week to groups seeking to open schools in Lynn and Worcester.

Commissioner Chester plans to recommend approval of charters for the Lynn Preparatory Charter School, which aims to serve 250 students in grades K-8, and the Spirit of Knowledge Charter School, which aims to serve 275 students in grades 7-12 in Worcester. Spirit of Knowledge was a finalist in the 2008-2009 application cycle and submitted an updated application before becoming a finalist this year.

"I am confident that these two charter schools both have the potential to succeed and to serve their students well," said Chester. "Both proposed schools met the necessary criteria established in the application process and present unique visions for ways to set high academic standards and close achievement gaps."

Spirit of Knowledge Charter School's (SOKCS) curriculum will be based on high-standards academic learning, subject-specific, multi-year courses that span grades 7-12, and a focus on intensive math, science, and technology. SOKCS plans to open for grades 7-9 with an enrollment of 156 students in fall 2010, and expand to full capacity in its fourth year.

Founders of eight of 14 proposed charter schools during the 2009-2010 cycle were invited to submit final applications for consideration in September 2009. The eight finalists included: Discovery Charter School of Sustainability in Franklin County; Hanlin International Academy Charter School in Quincy; Housatonic River Charter School in Berkshire County; Leaders of Tomorrow Charter Public School in Worcester; Lynn Preparatory School; Rediscovery Academy Charter School; Road to Success Charter High School in Lynn, Peabody, and Salem; and Spirit of Knowledge Academy Charter School. Two schools, Rediscovery Academy and Housatonic River, withdrew their applications during the finalist stage.

The Board will vote on Commissioner Chester's recommendation at its monthly Board meeting on Tuesday, February 23.

Note that the Board votes next Tuesday; they do not have to follow Chester's recommendations. Also, note that, unless the state can fully fund the charter reimbursement this coming year, this will cost Worcester an additional $1.56 million (and if the state does, then it will cost the state $1.56 million). In the fourth year, it will be on Worcester's tab entirely, and it will cost $2.75 million.

Two things you can do: you can write to the Board of Ed at boe@doe.mass.edu.

You might also write letters to the editors, not only of the Telegram and Gazette (letters@telegram.com) , but also of the Globe (letter@globe.com).