MCEA and Charter Schools

MCPS Superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast has announced his intention to recommend approval of the first charter school in Montgomery County. This recommendation comes after an extensive review of charter applications by a broad-based review team within MCPS. MCEA’s President, Doug Prouty, has been a participant on the district’s charter application review team. The Superintendent is recommended approval of the application for a Community Montessori Public Charter School sponsored by Crossway Community Inc. of Kensington Maryland. The Superintendent’s charter recommendation memo has details on both charter proposals submitted this year.

MCEA does not have a blanket policy either in favor or opposed to charter schools in Montgomery County. We have participated in the evaluation of charter school applications in the past: have supported the applications in some case and opposed them in others, based on the merits of the particular proposals. To us, key questions include:

1. Is it a proposal designed to educate all students, or is it driven by a desire of the founders to create an alternative program for their own children?

2. How will students be chosen? Will all students have access? Or will access be limited by things such as a lack of special education services, ESOL services or transportation?

3. Is it being designed to meet the needs of low-income, at-risk students or the needs of selected “gifted and talented” students?

4. Is the proposal financially viable? How are they going to afford a) a building, b) longer school year, c) smaller class sizes, etc.?

5. What outside interests are involved? Is it part of a corporate chain charter operator? An outside “education management organization”?

6. How will the school be run? How will decisions be made about curriculum, instruction, professional development, scheduling, human capital, etc.?

7. What kind of impact would creation of the school have on traditional MCPS schools? Is there a bias towards ‘creaming’ more motivated and more successful students/families out of MCPS schools?

Based on the analysis of the Crossway Community application, MCEA President Doug Prouty expressed his support for the creation of the Community Montessori Public Charter School. If approved by the Board of Education, MCEA looks forward to working with Crossway Community to create a truly unique environment for teaching and learning.