The demise of a charter school, burden of proof, and a quorum
Welcome again Mark Fitzgerald as guest blogger. This time, he writes about the process of revoking a charter school's charter. In the case involved the charter school could not overcome declining student performance on the state's accepted measure of annual yearly progress. The case also presents discussion about the burden of proof (placed on the charter school) and, for anyone running a meeting, a ruling about what constitutes a common law quorum. Mark is a member of the Education Law Group with a practice emphasis in Labor and Employment. Click here to find out more about Mark’s background and contact information. Kudos!
The tumultuous five years of the Ronald H. Brown Charter School appears to be over. Earlier this Summer, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in Ronald H. Brown Charter School v. Harrisburg City School District, upheld an order of the State Charter School Appeals Board which had earlier determined evidence was sufficient to support the local school board’s non-renewal of the charter. The Charter School had failed to meet statutory requirements as it related to accepted standards of fiscal management or audit requirements, as well as failed to demonstrate improvement in student academic performance.
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