In a statement released this afternoon by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Commissioner Mitchell Chester announced that he would not be recommending approval of the charter application submitted by the Somerville Progressive Charter School.    Commissioner Chester announced that he will recommend that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) grant approval of four of the six final charter school proposals submitted in November of 2011, but that charter proposals from Somerville and Springfield not receive Board approval.  A vote by the full Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on the Commissioner’s recommendation is scheduled to take place at the BESE meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

“We appreciate that Commissioner Chester has chosen to recommend against the Somerville Progressive Charter School application. The application has significant and well-documented weaknesses and lacks any substantial support from the community,” stated Paul Bockelman, School Committee Chairman for the Somerville Public Schools.  “We expect the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will agree with the Commissioner’s professional recommendation. We also hope that the proponents of the charter school will refocus their skills and energy on improving schools in Somerville for all children. We welcome their participation in the many initiatives currently under way in Somerville.”

“This is a wise decision, based on a thorough and careful process,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.  “The proposed new charter school isn’t a good fit for Somerville and its student population.  But it’s clear that the energy generated on both sides in the application process can now be put to good use in improving our schools in ways that benefit all of our students.  I hope the parents who made this application stay active and involved.  I look forward to working with them in the coming year to see how we can integrate their ideas about curriculum into the reform proposals coming from within our school administrative team, and from other parent groups across the city.”

“This has been an arduous process for all parties involved,” added Somerville Public Schools Superintendent, Tony Pierantozzi.  “I thank the Commissioner for recognizing that this Charter School would not improve education for the students in Somerville, nor is it consistent with the will of the residents of Somerville or the majority of parents and guardians in this community.
There has been a unified and collaborative opposition to this proposed charter school.   I appreciate the efforts of our elected officials, the Board of Aldermen, members of the School Committee, and a significant number of community members who diligently evaluated the merits of the proposed charter school and publicly expressed their opposition.  I fully expect that the BESE board members will act in accordance with the Commissioner’s recommendation.”

Commissioner Chester is expected to recommend approval of a Horace Mann charter for the Dudley Street Neighborhood School (Boston), and approval of Commonwealth Charters for the following schools:
Baystate Academy Charter School (Springfield)
Collegiate Charter School of Lowell (Lowell)
Paul Freire Social Justice Charter School (Holyoke).

The Somerville Progressive Charter School and the Springfield preparatory Charter School are not being recommended by the Commissioner.

The proposed Somerville Progressive Charter School drew significant opposition from the Somerville community, with a number of groups indicating that the application presented a significant number of deficiencies.  Among the deficiencies noted by groups opposing the proposed Somerville charter were a substantially inadequate English Language Learner program, and the failure to meet Massachusetts Charter Regulations in the area of Proven Provider.

(press release from Somerville Public Schools)