State: No Need for Charter School in Lacey

The state Department of Education released a detailed explanation regarding the denial of the Creative Studies Charter School for Lacey Township, citing a lack of information and need.

“It was determined through the Commissioner’s needs analysis that the charter school’s approval would not have a significant positive academic impact on this region — which is already outperforming most of the state on statewide assessments,” the review from the state said.

The overall assessment of the charter school found that the application did not present a solid plan to develop the school and lacked detail.

The application was submitted to the state Department of Education for the on Oct. 15, aiming to open for the 2012-13 school year. The school’s philosophy is to increase student’s creativity and flexibility by integrating the arts with academics, founder Pamela Brown previously said.

The state highlighted the application's detail on integrating the arts theme into each subject area and the founder's understanding of New Jersey regulations and statutes guiding charter and public schools. Another strength was that the applicant proposed partnering with district schools to strengthen the community.

But the weaknesses in the state’s assessment outweighed the strengths. Reviewers showed concern that the program would not provide academic achievement results in basic subject areas.

"The parents' program proposed was based upon years of studies showing the arts increase academic achievement with recommendations from the Presidents Committee on the Arts and Humanities," Brown said.

Only two of Lacey's six schools met their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the state's No Child Left Behind accountability requirements for 2011, she pointed out.

Other weaknesses in the state's analysis included:

• The application did not provide research that shows the Getty discipline is an effective educational program.
• There is no connection between the program and the needs of the population.
• There was . Areas appeared to be cut and pasted from another document.
• The application did not provide a clear direction regarding what specific curricula would be used.
• There was a lack of information regarding vendors.
• The application lacked detail regarding an effective professional development plan and board development and training.
• It lacked detail regarding parent and community involvement and faculty plan.
• The founding team was limited and lacked a diverse set of skill sets.
• Reviewers were concerned that the applicants did not fully understand the governance, accountability and a broad understanding of the charter landscape.
• The proposed plan included low salaries for administrative staff. The reviewers were concerned that this would limit recruitment of high quality candidates for those positions.
• The application lacked a viable financial plan.

Brown will have the opportunity to appeal the Department of Education’s decision but she did not confirm whether she would be reapplying.

"Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement," she said in an email. "Watch the pending legislation closely. Keep sending your ideas and thoughts to CreativeStudiesCS@gmail.com."