In recent days, charter school proponents like Marc Kenen, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA), have been saying opposition to the proposed Somerville Progressive Charter School (SPCS) is being engineered by the Somerville Public Schools (SPS) and the mayor’s office. However, the packed Somerville High School auditorium (81 Highland Ave) at last night’s SPCS public hearing made it clear that opposition is far more widespread.

 

The crowd numbered in the hundreds, and while there were representatives for both sides, those opposed dramatically outnumbered those in favor of the school. While the crowd was polite throughout—a testament to the integrity of representatives on both sides—applause for school opponents was consistently louder and more enthusiastic than that for backers.

As has been the case throughout the application process, in addressing the panel from the state Department of Education, charter school proponents made a point of highlighting the Somerville Public Schools’ shortcomings — “those children who fall through the cracks,” as one woman put it. To substantiate these claims, another SPS  parent related how she felt one of her children did not receive the attention he needs to succeed academically. Others cited the district’s low MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) scores.

Backers said that in addition to establishing a progressive “democratic” learning environment, the school would focus on helping English Language Learners (ELL) and others with learning challenges close the gap with their more successful peers.

Opponents of the charter returned over and over again to a few basic themes: (1) that the charter school’s goals in the areas of ELL, progressive education and special education duplicate those already in place in SPS; (2) that the charter school’s founders aren’t acknowledging the many successes SPS has achieved over the years; (3) that the charter would divide the Somerville educational community; (4) that gaps and inconsistencies in the charter school application strongly suggest it will fail to achieve its stated goals.

 

A number of speakers also expressed concern that the founders of the proposed new school were rushing the process and were not fully prepared to handle its day-to-day operations. The result, they said, would be an institution that would end up hurting the very low-achieving students it wants to help.

 

In addition to holding Wednesday’s public meeting, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will continue to accept public input in the form of letters and e-mails until January 3, 2012. Here’s how to reach them:

 

 

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Charter School Office
75 Pleasant Street,
Malden, MA 02148
Email: charterschools@doe.mass.edu
Phone: (781)338-3000
TTY:(800) 439 2370