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DCPCSB begins charter revocation for MEI Futures Academy

For Immediate Release: February 25, 2009
Contact: Nona Richardson  202/328-2670
 

 
Washington, D.C. – During its February 23, 2008 meeting, the D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted unanimously in favor of a proposal to revoke MEI Futures Academy PCS’s charter, and voted for full continuance of Washington, Math, Science, and Technology PCS and Eagle Academy PCS.
 
MEI Futures Academy opened in fall 2007 as a residential charter school serving teenage mothers and their young children.  A recent PCSB review resulted in a list of deficiencies including failure to operate in accordance with the school’s mission statement, failure to deliver the academic program described in the charter application, failure to comply with federal special education requirements, and a lack of sufficient books and supplies, among other issues.  Before the vote, board member Will Marshall told the school’s leaders, “I voted for your application because I believed in your mission and your ability to carry it out. It’s painful to be in this place where we no longer believe you can do it.”  MEI’s school leaders suggested that many of the concerns could be addressed with more time.  Josephine Baker, the PCSB’s executive director and board secretary responded, “None of this is new. We raised these same concerns last year, and there has been no real resolution.”  PCSB members voted unanimously to begin the revocation process, and informed MEI’s leadership of their option of  a public hearing before a final vote by the board members.  
 
By contrast, board members congratulated the leaders of Washington, Math, Science and Technology PCS, for sustaining a high-performing school, with high student attendance, rigorous math, science and technology programs, numerous advanced placement courses, and a 99.9% college acceptance rate. The school which opened in 1998, under went its second five-year charter review and was granted full continuance for another five years. Eagle Academy, an early childhood program which opened in 2003, underwent its first charter review and was granted full continuance after PCSB members noted the school’s continuous improvement and success in meeting all of its academic targets. Other business included the approval of the monthly report of school contracts reviews; analysis of William E. Doar’s preliminary charter review on which no action was taken; and discussion of Young America Works’ attendance and truancy data, as a follow up to the Notice of Concern issued during the Board’s January 2009 meeting.  
 
The D.C. Public Charter School Board currently oversees 59 public charter schools on 95 campuses, serving more than 25,000 students in every ward of the city.

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