Rejected charter schools appeal decision in Philadelphia

TwoPhiladelphia charter schools have appealed to the state charter-appeals board decisions by the Philadelphia School Reform Commission to not renew their operating charters. Germantown Settlement Charter School and Renaissance Charter School have been open since 1999 and had their charters renewed in 2003. The commission rejected their request for a renewed charter, citing inadequate academic performance and poor financial management. To read The Philadelphia Inquirer article, click here. FROM OCTOBER 2008: The Philadelphia School Reform Commission has decided to shut down two charter schools: the Germantown Settlement Charter School, beset by financial difficulties and under investigation by law-enforcement agencies; and the 212-student Renaissance Charter School. Both schools have been open since 1999 and were denied five-year charter renewals. The decisions to close the schools are the first since charter schools opened in Philadelphia in 1999. To read The Philadelphia Inquirer article, click here. EARLIER: Five months after winning conditional approval, seven Philadelphia charter schools are still in limbo, unsure whether they'll get the green light to start school next year, and unable to access grant money awarded them, secure buildings or hire teachers. School Reform Commission chairwoman Sandra Dungee Glenn says the panel still believes the seven proposed charter schools are worthy, but the panel won't know whether it can grant full approvals until early 2009, when the district will have a clearer picture of its budget for next school year. To read The Philadelphia Inquirer article, click here.