just a quick note on the charter application for Worcester (no news as yet)

 The Board of Ed did have an update on the charter PROCESS on their last agenda (as information, not for discussion). The relevant piece reads: 

The charter school statute requires that at least two of the new Commonwealth charters approved in any year be for charter schools located in districts with MCAS performance in the lowest 10 percent statewide. The Board may grant additional charters only after two such charters are granted.  Because WCACPS is a single district proposal for location in Worcester, a district performing in the lowest 10 percent of all districts based on MCAS test results in 2018 and 2019, that proposal is eligible for charter award...

Briefly, the charter school final application review process includes the components that follow.

• Public comment. During the current application process, the Board held a public hearing in December in Worcester. Three Board members attended the hearing. The Department also invited written comments from Worcester Public Schools. Written comments were also accepted from other government officials and members of the public. Prior to the February meeting, you will receive access to a recording of the public hearing and copies of all written comments that the Department has received. In addition, the Chair will ask those Board members who attended the hearing to make brief oral reports to the full Board at the February meeting if the Commissioner recommends the applicant group to receive a charter.

• Review panel. In December, a review panel of external reviewers met to discuss the applicant group’s response to the application criteria and to identify areas of the application where clarification from the applicant was needed.

• Interview. In January, the Department conducted an interview with the applicant group. Applicant groups typically have the following individuals participate in the interview: proposed members of its board of trustees; proposed school employees, if identified; and representatives of anticipated partners in the operation of the school, if identified. The Department prepares a summary of the applicant interview, which will be sent to the Board if the applicant group is recommended for charter award.

Prior to your February meeting, I will forward my recommendation to the Board regarding the award of a new charter.

The February Board meeting is on the 28th.