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A recent series of articles in The Journal Gazette has raised serious concerns about two Fort Wayne charter schools. The most recent editorial also questioned Ball State’s role as the authorizer of these schools.
The road to becoming a Ball State authorized charter school is extremely rigorous. The steps include a preliminary proposal, interviews with Ball State staff, a final proposal and a public meeting. The detailed final proposal, hundreds of pages long, must articulate how the school will succeed on 17 different dimensions. About 80 percent of all applications are denied.
Once approved, charter school boards are responsible for the ongoing oversight of the school. The school administration, which is sometimes an educational management organization, or EMO, is responsible for day-to-day management. As authorizer, Ball State’s role is to determine that the school is living up to its charter, following applicable laws and regulations and succeeding academically and financially. In cases where any school is found lacking, the university takes corrective actions as necessary.
As part of the accountability structure, our field representatives visit each school and classes regularly, attend board meetings and review board meeting minutes after their adoption. Each year, the school must present key success indicators in person to Ball State staff and account for its academic progress, financial viability and relationships with key stakeholders. Shortcomings must be accompanied by an action plan for how they will be addressed.
Imagine MASTer Academy in Fort Wayne is making positive strides academically and has taken action to achieve desired student achievement levels more quickly. The school’s finances are regularly reviewed. We have found that the school’s enrollment is solid, the budget is balanced; and the most recent audit report was clean.
Our staff has regularly visited the MASTer Academy’s classrooms and found students learning successfully and discipline in order. Our field representative has attended board meetings and has observed the board functioning during its open meetings as it exercised its statutory, contractual and fiduciary responsibilities.
Despite our best efforts, we have learned new information in recent weeks that is deeply troubling. The memo from Imagine Schools President Dennis Bakke, published in The Journal Gazette on Nov. 2, is at cross-purposes with Ball State’s charter school efforts.
We have addressed our concerns directly to Bakke as well as the boards of the Ball State-authorized charter schools that are managed by Imagine Schools Inc. We have made clear our expectations that Imagine Schools Inc. will not interfere with the independence and autonomy of the local boards governing its charter schools. We have already received affirmation from Bakke that Imagine and its staff will fully comply with our local governance requirements.
Also, Ball State has notified each of the local boards of Imagine-affiliated schools that they will be required to participate in board training conducted by a nationally recognized authority on charter school governance and leadership. We are also undertaking a further review of Imagine school bylaws to reinforce the importance of complying with Indiana’s Open Door law.
Local control of charter schools, through the autonomous governance of local boards of directors for each school, is critical to their success. Just as we hold schools accountable for academic performance and fiscal responsibility, we expect local boards to function effectively and independently of any educational management organization they may employ.
As a charter authorizer, we can – and do – revoke charters for schools that fail to live up to their charters. Such final action, however, is taken only when other corrective measures have failed. We will continue to work with the Fort Wayne charter schools and their boards to help them achieve their missions. If, however, they fail to meet their responsibilities, we will take appropriate action, up to and including the revocation of charters.
Ball State’s goal is to provide leadership as our state seeks to broaden educational choices for Hoosier families. We require academic quality from the schools we authorize and help them succeed when we find gaps. In so doing, we are fulfilling our obligations to the students, parents and citizens of Indiana.
