CHARTERSCHOOLACCOUNTABILITYCOMMITTEE

DELAWAREDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATION

FreireCharterSchoolWilmington

FORMALREVIEW
FINALREPORT

CSACFinalMeeting:June3,2015
CSACFinalReportPublished:June5,2015

CSACFINALRECOMMENDATION:PROBATIONWITHCONDITIONS

ThefollowingwereinattendanceattheFinalMeetingoftheCSAConJune3,2015:

VotingCommitteeMembersoftheCharterSchoolAccountabilityCommittee
David Blowman, Chairperson of the Charter School Accountability Committee and
DeputySecretaryofEducation,DDOE
KarenFieldRogers,AssociateSecretaryforAdultEducationandSchoolSupports,DDOE
AprilMcCrae,EducationAssociate,ScienceAssessmentandSTEM,DDOE
BarbaraMazza,EducationAssociate,ExceptionalChildrenResources,DDOE
CharlesTaylor,CommunityMemberandInterimHeadofSchool
TashaCannon,DeputyOfficerTalentRecruitment,SelectionandStrategy,Teacherand
LeaderEffectivenessUnit(TLEU),DDOE

StafftotheCommittee(Nonvoting)
CatherineHickey,DeputyAttorneyGeneral,DOJ
JenniferNagourney,ExecutiveDirector,CharterSchoolOffice,DDOE
BrookHughes,EducationAssociate,FinancialReformandResourceManagement,DDOE
JohnCarwell,EducationAssociate,CharterSchoolOffice,DDOE
MichelleWhalen,EducationAssociate,CharterSchoolOffice,DDOE

RepresentativesofFreireCharterSchoolWilmington
KellyDavenport,CEO,BuildtheFutureEducationCollaborative
PaulRamirez,HeadofAcademics,FreireCharterSchoolWilmington
FeliciaWenell,HeadofAcademicSupports,FreireCharterSchoolWilmington
Tammy Khieu, Head of Administration, Build the Future Education Collaborative,
attendingandparticipatingbytelephone
MelanieBurkeReiser,DirectorofOperations,BuildtheFutureEducationCollaborative,
attendingandparticipatingbytelephone
Deborah Seyler, Director of Student Services, Freire Charter School Wilmington,
attendingandparticipatingbytelephone

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Discussion
Mr.BlowmanstatedthatthepurposeofthemeetingwasfortheCSACtocontinueitsreviewof
therelevantstatutorycriteriatodeterminewhetherthecharterholderisviolatingthetermsof
itscharterand,ifso,whetherremedialmeasuresarewarranted.
Mr.BlowmannotedthatthegroundsfortheformalreviewareoutlinedinalettertotheFreire
CharterSchoolWilmington(Freire)Board,datedApril232015,whichincludethefollowing
potentialviolationsofthelawandcharter:

FinancialViability;
LeadershipCapacity;and
AbilitytoImplementtheApprovedCharterwithFidelity.

Mr. Blowman noted that Freire had submitted a set of documents to the Department of
EducationinadvanceoftheInitialMeetingoftheCSAC,whichhadbeenaddedtotherecord.
These documents included a revised budget and organizational chart based on the May 1
enrollmentcount.
Mr.BlowmannotedthatanInitialMeetingoftheCSACwasheldonMay13,2015andanInitial
Report was issued on May 18, 2015. During the meeting, the CSAC requested the following
documents:

AplandetailinghowFreirewouldmeettheneedsofitsintensiveandcomplexspecial
educationstudents;and
A plan detailing how Freire would serve all special education students, including the
staffing levels, plans for providing special education services, plans for providing
differentiatedinstruction,andalsomeetingallcompliancerequirements.

TheCSACconfirmedthateachoftherequesteddocumentshadbeenreceivedintheirentirety,
alongwithFreiresresponsetotheInitialReport.
FinancialViability

Mr. Blowman noted that, as of June 3, Freires enrollment stands at 236 students, which is
approximately105%ofitsapprovedenrollmentof220students.

Date

#EnrolledStudents

ApprovedTotal

%ofApprovedTotal

April1

78

224

46%

May1

160

224

71%

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RevisedBudget
SubmittedMay5

160

224

71%

May13

208

224

93%

June3

236

224

105%

TheCSACconfirmedthattherewerenoongoingconcernsregardingFreiresfinancialviability,
other than acquiring a Certificate of Occupancy. Ms. Wenell responded that Freire has a
DepartmentofHealthevaluationscheduledforJune4andanumberofinspectionslinedup,
whichwillallowFreiretoreceiveitsCertificateofOccupancybyJune15.Mr.Blowmannoted
thatitwouldbehelpfultoreceiveandprovidetheCertificateofOccupancybythecloseofthe
publicrecordonJune12.

Mr. Blowman asked for an update on Freires plans for student transportation. Ms. Wenell
responded that Freire is currently in the public bidding process to utilize three buses to
transport students from across New Castle County. Freire is also providing DART bus passes
freeofchargetostudentswhochoosetouseDARTasatransportationoption.

AbilitytoImplementtheApprovedCharterwithFidelity

Ms. Mazza asked for clarification regarding the schools Response to Intervention (RtI)
process,statingthatshewasconfusedbytheschoolsstatementthatstudentsmakingprogress
inTier3maybereferredforaspecialeducationevaluation.Mr.Ramirezrespondedthatitwas
a typographical error, as students would not be referred for special education evaluations if
theyaremakingprogressinTier3.

Ms. Mazza noted that Freire does not intend to provide a vocational technical program and
askedhowtheschoolplanstocomplywithspecialeducationtransitionrequirementswithout
suchaprogram.Ms.DavenportstatedthatFreirewillwritetransitionplansasrequired.Ms.
SeyleraddedthatFreirewilluseoutsideresources,includinginternshipsandtrainingprograms.
However,theinstructionalaspectwilltakeplaceattheschool.Ms.Mazzaaskedaboutplans
for younger students to explore different vocations and Ms. Seyler responded that those
opportunitieswouldbeprovidedthroughFreiresspecialeducationteachers.

Ms.MazzanotedthattheHeadofAcademicswillbeoverseeingspecialeducationandRtI.She
asked for more information regarding that individuals special education experience. Mr.
Ramirez responded that, as a teacher for four years, he worked directly with students with
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Also, as the head of the English Department at
HowardHighSchool,hemanagedthereadinginterventionprogram.Finally,hehasexperience
astheAssistantHeadofAcademicsattheFreirehighschoolinPhiladelphia.Ms.Mazzaasked
whether Mr. Ramirez has experience evaluating instructional strategies. Mr. Ramirez
respondedthatheiscurrentlyinchargeofcontractrenewals,evaluations,andobservationsfor
allteachersatthehighschool,includingspecialeducationteachers.
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Ms. Mazza asked who will be responsible for providing professional development to Freires
staffregardingcompliancewithDelawareAdministrativeCode.Ms.Seylerrespondedthatthe
professional development will be provided by a combination of Freires legal counsel, special
education experts at Build the Future Education Collaborative, and the Department of
Education.
Mr. Taylor noted the need for continued monitoring of Freires special education program
implementationandcompliance.

Later in the meeting, Ms. Mazza inquired about the schools discipline plan for special
education students who have behavioral and discipline needs. Ms. Wenell responded that
Freire recognizes that those students needs would be handled by the special education
department.Ms.Mazzaaskedwhatthatprocesswouldlooklikeforstudents,withorwithout
disabilities,who are not responding to the Student Codeof Conduct or classroom rules. Ms.
Wenellstatedthattheschoolusesdifferenttypesofcontractstohelpstudentsprogressively
meetbehavioralexpectations.Inthecaseofspecialeducationstudents,thosecontractswillbe
writteninconsultationwiththespecialeducationteacher.Inthepast,studentswhofailedto
meetthefirstcontractweregivensixweeksorso.Iftheymetthecontract,theywouldgooff
contract, but if they didnt, then another more specific contract would be set, which may
include additional supports. Ms. Mazza asked whether Ms. Wenell has experience with
FunctionalBehavioralAssessments(FBAs).Ms.Wenellrespondedthatshehasworkedwith
FBAsasateacher,butdoesnothavealotofexperiencewithFBAsasanadministrator.She
acknowledgedtheneedforspecialeducationsupportinthatarea.Ms.Mazzaaddedthatthe
SchoolPsychologistisalsoimportantinthatregard.

LeadershipCapacity
Mr.TaylorinquiredaboutFreiresleadershipmodel.Mr.RamirezrespondedthatFreirehasa
coleadership model, as it does in its Philadelphia high school. Mr. Ramirez will serve as the
headofacademicsandwillbeinchargeofallmattersdealingwithteachingandlearning.Ms.
Wenell willserve as the head of academic supports, including the operations of the building,
lunch,buses,discipline,andschoolculture.
Mr.TaylorinquiredastowhethertherewillbeaSchoolNurseandMs.Wenellconfirmedthat
therewillbe.
Mr.BlowmanaskedifbothMs.WenellandMr.RamirezreportdirectlytotheBoardandthey
responded that they do. Mr. Taylor asked whether the Board is active and Mr. Ramirez
respondedthatitis.Mr.TayloraskedwhethertheBoardislocalandMs.Davenportresponded
thattheBoardis100%local.Mr.TayloraskedwhethertheBoardmembershavechildrenin
theschoolorotherconnections.Ms.DavenportnotedeachoftheBoardmembersareasof
residence,includingwheretheirchildrenattendschool,andnotedthatFreireisintheprocess
ofselectingaparentmember.Sheindicatedthatoneparenthasalreadyexpressedinterest,
butthatFreirewillinviteotherparentstoapplyattheJune8parentmeeting.Shenotedthat

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Freirewillhavetwoparentrepresentatives.Mr.TayloraskedhowmanyFreireBoardmembers
areonFreiresBoard.Ms.DavenportstatedthattherearecurrentlysixBoardmembers.
Mr.TayloraskedwhetherFreiresBoardmembershaveparticipatedintraining.Ms.Davenport
responded that the Board has attended the mandatory special education training, but no
others.SheconfirmedthattheBoardhasnotreceivedCitizensBudgetOversightCommitteeor
governancetraining.Ms.NagourneyconfirmedthattheCharterSchoolOfficewillbeofferinga
seriesofboardtrainingsthroughoutthesummerandfall.Mr.Taylornotedtheimportanceof
statespecific training and recommended that Freire Board members and leadership attend
trainingofferedbytheDelawareAllianceforNonprofitAdvancement(DANA).
Conclusion

Mr.BlowmannotedthatFreirewasnotincompliancewiththeApril1enrollmentrequirement
buthassinceachievedmorethanfullenrollmentandisnowincompliance.Duetothecurrent
student enrollment, he was not aware of any specific financial viability concerns moving
forward.Henotedthat,whilequestionsmayhavebeenansweredregardingspecialeducation,
hebelievedthatongoingspecialeducationmonitoringforaperiodoftimeiswarranted.Ms.
Mazzanotedthatshewishedtoseeaplan,basedupontheSeptember30enrollmentcount,
outlininghowFreirewillprovidespecialeducationservicestoitsstudents.Mr.Blowmannoted
thatadditionalmonitoringofFreirestransportationiswarranted,giventhatsome ofFreires
studentswillbeusingatransportationapproachthatisnewtoDelaware.Finally,aCertificate
ofOccupancyisduebyJune15,2015,butpreferablybythecloseofthepubliccommentperiod
onJune12.

TheCSACvotedtorecommendthatFreirebeplacedonprobationthroughDecember31,2015,
subjecttothefollowingconditions:

1. SubmitareportbyOctober31,2015basedupontheSeptember30enrollmentcount
outliningthenumberofbasic,intensive,andcomplexstudentsbygradeandwhatFreire
isdoingtoimplementalloftheservicesoutlinedintheIEPsofthoseindividualstudents;
2. SubmitanupdateontransportationbyOctober31,2015;
3. SubmitaCertificateofOccupancybyJune15,2015;and
4. Board members must participate in training offered by the Delaware Alliance for
NonprofitAdvancementbyOctober1,2015.
Ms.MazzaabstainedfromthevotebecauseshedidnotattendtheInitialMeeting.
NextSteps:

A second and final public hearing will be held on June 9, 2015, beginning at 5:00
p.m,inthe2ndFloorAuditoriumoftheCarvelStateOfficeBuildinglocatedat820N.
FrenchSt.inWilmington,DE.
Thepubliccommentperiodisopen,andwillcloseonJune12,2015.
The Secretary will announce his decision at the June 18, 2015 State Board of
Education meeting, beginning at 1:00 p.m., in the 2nd Floor Cabinet Room of the
TownsendBuildinglocatedat401FederalStreetinDover,DE.
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