No charter recommendations for Fitchburg & Brockton UPDATED

Just pulling this off Twitter: Commissioner Chester WILL NOT recommend charter schools for Fitchburg and Brockton at the Board of Ed's next meeting.

He will recommend only in-district charters for Salem and Springfield (those were requested by those districts).

First time in a decade. HUGE news.

UPDATE: this exchange in that Jamie Vanzis got for the Globe is stunning:

Marc Kenen, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, said the current rejections mean that many students will continue to be “stuck in underperforming schools in those districts.”

“Local-elected and school officials in those communities, who mounted vigorous campaigns against these proposals, may celebrate this decision,” Kenen said in a statement, “but there are no winners when low-income parents are left with no choices other than failing district schools.”

That comment drew a sharp rebuke from Chester.

“I reject the idea that students in Brockton and Fitchburg are condemned to a poor education,” Chester said. “Both districts have made considerable strides.”