Delaware STEM Academy, on Thursday, lost its charter before seeing its first class in the fall.
Earlier this month, the Delaware Department of Education’s Charter School Accountability Committee (CSAC) recommended the revocation of the New Castle-area charter unless the school’s board could provide information to address the committee’s concerns about its financial viability and programming.
The New Castle high school was scheduled to open this fall with grades 9 and 10 with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The school was championed by a group of business leaders.
The school was placed on formal review in April.
According to a release from the Delaware Department of Education, committee members praised the school’s board for its transparency, responsiveness, involvement and leadership, citing its members’ experience and commitment as among the school’s greatest strengths. However, they also raised concerns about how the school would be able to execute its approved charter, due to low enrollment and thus reduced funding.
The school’s approved application was for 250 students in the first year, with reliance on state/local funds generated by student enrollment. At the time of its final meeting with CSAC, the school had 124 students enrolled with a budget that raised on private fund-raising.
Following a public comment period, including two public hearings, Secretary of Education Steve Godowsky presented his decision to the State Board of Education for its consideration.
“While the public record demonstrates that the school’s leadership and founding board are committed to the school, the low number of students and low levels of state and local funding raise too many concerns about Delaware STEM’s financial stability,” Godowsky said. “My review of the documents led me to the same conclusion as that of the accountability committee – that the school has failed to meet legal standards for financial viability and fidelity to the approved charter.”
The state will assist the families of the students who planned to attend the school this fall in enrolling in other schools. The children are able to return to the district schools in their home feeder patterns or go into another district or charter school.
The struggles of the STEM high school and other charter schools has led to concerns that the market is over-saturated. Public schools have also added programs that address specific areas that had been targeted by newer charters.
At the same time, other charter schools have been thriving and have waiting lists.
