STATE APPROVES CHARTER SCHOOL EXPANSION!

At a meeting on December 21, 2010, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously approved Lawrence Family Development Charter School’s charter amendment request allowing the school to expand its current state authorized enrollment level of 600 students to 800 beginning in September 2011.

During the meeting Mitchell D. Chester, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, reported to the Board that “Given the school’s solid academic performance and evidence of additional parental demand, I recommend that the Board approve the requested increase of 200 students.” He also expressed that “The proposed plan is deliberate and follows a slow growth model. It increases 20 students per year in K1, adding one classroom per year, and the school’s enrollment is projected to reach 800 students by FY21. This is a very responsible and reasonable request.”

 During the meeting, John Housianitis, President of Lawrence Family Development Charter School’s Board of Directors, provided testimony highlighting the school’s 16 year history of successfully educating minority students in the City of Lawrence. He told the Board that “We believe strongly that parent involvement is a key factor in the success of urban minority children. Our school is designed purposefully with parents involved at every level including governance. Our model of instruction uses the Response to Intervention tiered instruction system, which creates a support system of targeted intervention for every child in the school that can be monitored, helping ensure academic growth. Our two year full day Kindergarten program ensures that every child is reading at grade level by first grade.”

Following the meeting, Mr. Housianitis commented “Today’s vote is an affirmation of the quality education being provided at LFDCS and the state’s recognition that more youngsters in Lawrence should receive this education.” Ralph Carrero, Superintendent of LFDCS, added “Commissioner Chester’s recommendation and full Board approval of our expansion plans validates our academic success. The support of over one thousand parents on our waiting list also impacted the Board’s decision. We are pleased that we will be able to afford 200 additional families the opportunity of a charter school experience. This decision will directly impact our ability to expand our partnerships with institutions of higher education. These partnerships enhance the development of our early college science middle school model and our efforts to increase the school’s Urban Teacher Institute. The Institute offers Masters Candidates enrolled in education programs a year long internship.”