Carol Beck, director of Supporting Public Schools of Choice and a member of the Baltimore New and Charter School Advisory Board, writes in the Baltimore Sun that Baltimore City Schools CEO Andrés Alonso has recommended that six schools of choice in his system not have their contracts renewed. 25 schools were up for review this year which represents a termination rate of 24 percent.
Schools of choice in Baltimore City include charters, transformational schools that are managed in cooperation with the Baltimore City system, and operator run schools. D.C.'s Friendship Public Charter Schools has four transformational schools in Baltimore City. Two were recommended for a one year contract extension, Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology and Friendship Academy of Science and Technology. It appears that two other Friendship transitional schools were not up for contract renewal this year. You can see the schools report card's here. These documents may be able to provide the Public Charter school Board with ideas for expansion of their Performance Management Framework.
The decision to not renew contracts included three charters, one transformational, and two operator run schools.
Ms. Beck describes the renewal process in which she was a participant. "In this renewal process, the advisory board developed recommendations for each school, based on an overall rating in three areas: academics, school climate, and governance and fiscal management. Those ratings were based on a range of quantitative and qualitative data, including state test scores and other test data, surveys and an extensive school visit. Teachers and school leaders were interviewed and classes were observed."
Baltimore City has been trying innovative ways to improve their schools including the creation of 33 charters, 14 transformation schools and a few contractor operated schools. Now, as in the District of Columbia, the system is holding these facilities to a much higher level of accountability.
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