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Meeting Date:
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1/24/2019 - 6:30 PM
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Category:
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Report of the Committee on Student Achievement and School Innovation
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Type:
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Action
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Subject:
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3. Action on an Instrumentality Charter School Petition for the Green Tree Preparatory Academy (GPA)
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 1 Academic Achievement
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Attachments
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The GPA Charter School Petition
Charter School Review Panel's Checklist
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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On December 21, 2018, a petition was submitted for the Green Tree Preparatory Academy (GPA) to create an instrumentality charter school that would serve approximately 870 students in grades 6 through 12, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. The goal is to provide Milwaukee families with an additional high-performing school option on the Northwest side of Milwaukee.
This item is being presented to the Board pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes, section 118.40, Charter Schools, and Administrative Policy and Procedure 9.12, Charter Schools. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes, section 118.40(2)(a), the Board must hold a public hearing within 30 days after receiving a petition by MPS teachers to establish a MPS charter school. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes, section 118.40(c), the Board shall either grant or deny the petition within 30 days after the public hearing.
The educational philosophy at Green Tree Preparatory Academy is that, in order to lead or own tomorrow’s businesses, all students must develop the Green Tree Preparatory Academy’s Seven Skills for Success: 1) Creativity; 2) Critical Thinking; 3) Collaborative Problem Solving; 4) Cultural Competency; 5) Ethical Decision Making; 6) Effective Written and Oral Communication; and 7) Leadership. (See page 1-2 of attachment.)
The Green Tree Preparatory Academy’s program will include a high-school preparatory program for middle-school students, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and a foreign-language exploratory (FLEX) program which will introduce students to a foreign language with some interpersonal language skills.
Green Tree Preparatory Academy will offer three high-school academies -- Katherine Johnson Academy of College Preparation; Charles Drew Academy of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); and Michelle Obama Academy of Leadership, Business, Law, and Social Justice -- from which students will be able to choose their academic focuses. Each academy will focus on its specialty area in relation to both core course and elective offerings. (See page 1-4 of the attachment.)
Just prior to your Committee’s meeting, the MPS Charter School Review Panel met to review the charter school petition and provided the Green Tree Preparatory Academy the opportunity to demonstrate their passion, commitment, and support for the proposed school.
FOLLOW-UP:
The Charter School Review Panel met on January 8, 2019, to review the petition. Overall, the Charter School Review Panel identified the educational concept outlined in the petition as a viable educational option for students in MPS. The Panel noted areas of strength in the mission and vision, educational philosophy, culture, and family and community engagement. The Panel also noted the overall passion and enthusiasm of the development team as well as experience of the proposed staff.
The Panel identified that more specificity around school enrollment would strengthen the petition. In addition, the Panel encouraged the school’s administration to think about supports for the College Board curriculum and operations that reflect innovation and autonomy in the areas of budgeting, programming, professional development, and scheduling of the school day.
The Panel recommends the Green Tree Preparatory Academy (GPA) charter school to the Board as a viable educational option for Milwaukee Public Schools students in grades 6-12.
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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This item does not authorize expenditures.
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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Recommendation:
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Your Committee reports having given public hearing regarding the Green Tree Preparatory Academy’s instrumentality charter school petition in compliance with Wisconsin Statutes, section 118.40(2)(a).
Your Committee further reports having directed the Charter School Review Panel to bring its recommendation directly to the Board to comply with Wisconsin Statute, section 118.40(c), which requires the Board to either grant or deny the petition within 30 days after the public hearing.
Your Committee, therefore, is reporting this item to the Board without recommendation.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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