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Boston, MA – February 26, 2025 – Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) Executive Director Tim Nicolette issued the following statement today in response to the State Board of Education’s failure to approve charter public school expansions.
“While we appreciate the favorable action to approve expansion for the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley, the Board’s votes against two other proposed expansions recommended by the state’s Education Commissioner is appalling.
Following a comprehensive, in-depth review by DESE staff that resulted in the Commissioner recommending the approval of both charter school expansions, some Board members placed politics and the needs of adults ahead of the needs and desires of children and families.
The expansion proposals rejected today would have provided a few hundred extra charter public school seats for families who wanted to exercise their right to make decisions about which public school option would best serve the needs of their children. Opposition to the expansions centered on the financial impact on the districts, not on the needs of children and families. Further, the financial concerns themselves are overstated. Districts receive generous reimbursements from the state that provide a $2 rebate for every dollar that is reallocated to charter public schools.
We are particularly disappointed with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and their appointed designee on the Board, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, who voted against all of the Commonwealth charter expansion proposals.
Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School in Marlboro and KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School are serving their communities exceptionally well with high-quality educational opportunities. Their expansion proposals were born of the continued strong demand for charter public school options, and a deep respect to honor the desires of families.
Rather than continue to pit one public school family against another, we should work together to provide as many high quality public education options to all families and honor their decisions. As public schools, charters offer an opportunity to expand high quality options while also ensuring that public funding remains in the local community and within the public education system.”
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The Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) is a school membership organization that is committed to ensuring that children and families of the Commonwealth have access to high-quality public schools. As the voice of one of the nation’s highest-performing charter public school sectors, MCPSA engages in public policy advocacy, communications, and best practice sharing and training aimed at strengthening educational programming.
Contact: Dominic Slowey: 781-710-0014; [email protected]
