State eyes more charter schools

LYNN-While School Committee members and public school administrators continue to fight against the emergence of another charter school in Lynn, an effort is underway at the state level to fund more of the controversial, yet often successful schools throughout the state in the near future.A joint federal and state effort to offer funding to parties interested in opening charter schools was launched in Boston last week, with Lynn targeted as one of six districts in the Metro Boston area in “high need” of replicating its already successful charter school.The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) is providing the funds to “replicate the common elements of success in high achieving charter public schools” serving high-need communities such as Lynn.The Massachusetts DOE is also providing grants and other forms of assistance to support potential charter founders in the area. The idea is to look at the successful programs that are already working in the district and replicate them at new charter schools serving different grade levels to further increase academic achievement.Along with Lynn, Boston, Everett, Chelsea, Cambridge and Revere were targeted as high-need districts in the Metro Boston area. In total, the program will focus on 30 school districts across the state, most of which already have charter schools.In Lynn, there is one charter school, the KIPP Academy, serving middle school children in grades 5-8, while Chelsea and Revere students have the Phoenix Charter Academy High School, designed to serve students aged 16-21 with its 9 a.m.-5 p.m. school day.The KIPP Academy Lynn has proven successful since opening in August 2004. With a population of mainly Hispanic and African American students, the school has performed at a high level on MCAS tests, and has adopted its own variation on extended learning time, which the city is still working on bringing to its other public schools.While the success rate is high at the school, public school administrators are opposed to bringing another charter school to the city, citing the financial hit that the public school budget takes.Charter schools are considered public schools, and any student is eligible to attend for free, with the state transferring per-pupil aid from the district where the child lives. These schools are also eligible for grants and donations to increase funding. Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. indicated at a recent School Committee meeting that KIPP Academy could cost the district upwards of $900,000 this year.In total, there are 61 charter public schools in Massachusetts, serving 25,000 students while another 19,000 are on waiting lists. A recent Massachusetts DOE study showed that 90 percent of charters in Massachusetts are scoring as well or better than district schools on the MCAS test.Regardless of the opinions of those in power, the Massachusetts DOE is offering the opportunity for potential charter school founders to apply for upcoming grants. Each founding group may apply for up to $20,000 to support the development of their charter proposals, with specific emphasis on the educational program, academic goals and business plans.In addition, founders may also seek the assistance of the recently formed Massachusetts Center for Charter Public School Excellence that provides funding group support.Applications for state grants are due Feb. 1, 2008 and will be awarded by March 1, 2008.Currently, there are no specific plans for any group to seek this funding in Lynn.