Three District charter schools would be forced to close this summer unless they can persuade the D.C. Charter School Board to reverse proposed charter revocations scheduled for discussion at a Monday night meeting.
Facing closure are two Ward 1 elementary schools — Children’s Studio and Academy for Learning through the Arts (ALTA) — as well as a Ward 4 secondary school, Kamit Institute for Magnificent Achievers (KIMA).
The three threatened revocations constitute a strong signal from the board that it is willing to use its authority to uphold charter quality. About one-third of District students attend charter schools, and the city’s charter experiment is being closely watched by education reformers around the country.
Each of the three schools posted dismal test scores in 2009. At Children’s Studio, fewer than 26 percent of students performed at or above “proficient” level on the city’s standardized math exams, while about 39 percent reached that mark in reading. In a recent board report, the school was criticized for having “no clear instructional philosophy or model of exemplary teaching.”
At ALTA, about 19 percent of students scored proficient or better in math, down from 27 percent in 2008. About half of the students scored proficient in reading. In a 2009 report, the school carried a cumulative deficit of $111,000, among the highest in the city.
At KIMA, about 43 percent of high schoolers passed the city’s reading test, and about 34 percent passed the math test. A report stressed concern over the school’s ability to serve students with special needs, such as English language instruction.
Should the board move forward with closure, the schools would join one other ordered to close down over the summer — Young America Works, a high school also in Ward 4.
Reasons for revoking a school’s charter do not center on test scores alone but on the ability to meet the promises made in its charter, said board spokeswoman Audrey Williams.
Using Young America Works as an example, Williams cited a failure to maintain health and safety of all students, a failure to provide adequate books and supplies, and a general failure to live up to its mission.
The unique problems that could prove the end for Children’s Studio, ALTA and KIMA will be presented Monday evening, Williams said. Until then, board members would not go into details.
