Buffalo Public Schools BOE approves renewal of 2 charter schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Two Buffalo charter schools now have a deadline to meet their academic goals or face closure.

Westminster Community Schools and Enterprise Charter Schools were the focus of Wednesday afternoon’s school board meeting.

School Board grants Corporate Charter a 3-year renewal and approves Westminster Community for a 4-year renewal.

These two charter schools had to close in June 2021 when the board determined they were underperforming.

Following a lawsuit, these districts were able to remain open as long as they met academic achievement goals.

PREVIOUS STORY: Westminster Community and Enterprise Charter Schools Receive Charter Renewal Following Lawsuit

The school board releases charter school test results Wednesday evening.

In mathematics, it is 15.8% lower than the Buffalo Public School District and 15% lower in English Language Arts (ELA).

As for Westminster Community Charter School, the math results are 6.1% above the school district.

However, ELA scores are 0.3% below the district average.

School leaders shared their voices with 7 News’ Pheben Kassahun this evening on their plans for academic improvement.

Teresa Gerchman, principal of Westminster Community Charter School, said, “We have a very clear window of time to get the work done that we need to do. We know we can be better and we know we will be better.

Now that Westminster Community Charter School and Enterprise Charter have been renewed and will remain open for at least the next several years, the work can really begin to improve proficiency rates.

“The state told us that we need to control them better, that they need to be more under our umbrella. We want to make sure that parents have a choice, but on top of that, that they play.” fairness in the sandbox and that everyone has a fair opportunity to get a quality education,” said Sharon Belton-Cottman, chairwoman of the Buffalo Public Schools Board of Education.

The results show that disabled students in Westminster perform significantly lower than their counterparts in the city’s public schools.

Gerchman said, “I liked having the opportunity to see all the data and where we are. This shows very clearly what we need to work on. It’s not just a matter of saying, “Yes, we are what was right.” “The problem is we’re still failing to meet their needs. If you look at the special education population, how can we change that.”

The Westminster Community Remedial Plan includes improving student proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science.

As for Enterprise Charter School:

“We know we urgently need to improve learning in our school to ensure our children are truly prepared for lives full of choice. We are working hard to make it happen,” said Jeremy Esposity, CEO of Enterprise Charter School. “We are making significant updates to our academic program to ensure that every child receives the support they need to succeed.”

Enterprise Charter’s remedial plan includes English Language Arts (ELA) math and science, as well as increasing school attendance and combating chronic absenteeism.

Belton-Cottman added that she believes charter schools will be successful.

“We need to make sure that they realize that there is a process to success. There is an equation to success. If we can be helpful, we want to be helpful, but at the end of the day, do the work. takes work and you have to spend money to get there, instead of sitting on your assets, start using that money to educate kids and get them where they need to be,” Belton-Cottman said.