Chester Community Charter School [CCCS], also known as Chester Community Charter, is a not-for-profit public charter school in Chester, Pennsylvania, serving the Chester-Upland School District. The school provides full-day kindergarten through 8th grade. Students apply to attend and the school is open to students from the Delaware County and Philadelphia region. It describes itself as "dedicated to empowering students as learners through the development of a learning community". The school is governed by a six-member board of directors. The administration consists of a CEO, a deputy superintendent, a chief financial officer and a principal at each school building. CCCS operates two campuses; one located in Chester City, known as the East Campus and one located in Chester Township, known as the West Campus. Each campus contains multiple newly constructed school buildings. The school is a federally designated Title I school.
Under Pennsylvania charter school law (Act 22), charter schools are public schools. They cannot levy taxes. The school is funded by state and federal per pupil funding (Title I monies), along with funds from successful applications for competitive grants and donations.
In addition to the 180 days of instruction in the regular school year, CCCS offers a five-week summer school for those students who do not achieve grade level performance on the reading and math PSSAs.
In 2013, Chester Community Charter School enrollment is 3,033 students in grades K through 8th grade, with 94% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 22.9% of the pupils receive special education services, while none were identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten. The school is a federally designated Title I school.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 3,017 pupils in grades Kindergarten through 8th, with 2,458 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 183 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. The school provided full-day kindergarten to all its pupils.
History and achievements
Chester Community Charter School Winter Concert 2015 -
In 1998, when the school was founded, it had 97 students in the first class, and took up four meeting rooms in the lobby of the Howard Johnson's Hotel on the corner of Chester's Edgemont and Providence Avenues. It grew to few small trailers, then started its own campus, and as of 2009 had expanded to two campuses, with over 2,100 students in state-of-the-art buildings. As the school has grown, it has developed five separate elementary school campuses and two middle school campuses, each with its own principal.
Enrollment in 2006 was 1,727 students Kindergarten-7th grade. In 2010 the enrollment increased to over 2600 pupils The school attracts students from the Philadelphia City School District and multiple Delaware County school districts including: Chester Upland School District, Chichester School District, Garnet Valley School District, Interboro School District, Penn-Delco School District, Ridley School District, Southeast Delco School District, Upper Darby School District, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District and William Penn School District. By Pennsylvania School Code, each school district, that provides transportation for its students; must provide transportation to a charter school, if the charter school lies within 10 miles of the district's attendance borders.
In 2009, more than half of the city students honored by the annual mayoral academic awards came from CCCS. The attendance rate in 2010 and 2011 was 90%.
The school strives to motivate parents to be involved in the school by providing a banquet at the end of the school year, with prizes including vacation packages.
Academic achievement
2013 School Performance Profile
Chester Community Charter School achieved a score of 48.9 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 29.5% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 8th. In 3rd grade, 28% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 34.7% were on grade level (3rd-8th grades). In 4th and 8th grade science, just 28% of the pupils demonstrated on-grade-level understanding. In writing, only 34% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on-grade-level skills. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.
AYP history
In 2012, Chester Community Charter School was in Warning' status Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), due to missing multiple academic metrics. In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, under the federal No Child Left Behind law.
- 2009 - Making Progress - Corrective Action
- 2008 - declined to Corrective Action Level I due to low student achievement
- 2007 - declined to School Improvement 2
- 2006 - declined to School Improvement 1
- 2005 - declined to Warning status due to lagging student academic achievement
- 2004 - achieved AYP status
- 2003 - Warning AYP status
PSSAs
Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Sixth and seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999, as a state initiative.
Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.
- Results history
8th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 45% on grade level (30% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2011 - 58% (32% below basic). State - 81.8%
- 2010 - 79% (12% below basic). State - 81%
- 2009 - 68% (10% below basic), State - 80%
- 2008 - 54% (29% below basic), State - 78%
- 2007 - 68% (17% below basic), State - 75%
8th Grade Math:
- 2012 - 37% on grade level (46% below basic). State - 76%.
- 2011 - 49% (41% below basic). State - 76.9%.
- 2010 - 69% (26% below basic). State - 75%
- 2009 - 65% (16% below basic). State - 71%
- 2008 - 21% (57% below basic). State - 70%
- 2007 - 41% (34% below basic). State - 68%
8th Grade Science:
- 2012 -12% on grade level (66% below basic). State â€" 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2011 - 7%, (79% below basic). State â€" 58.3%
- 2010 - 19%, (66% below basic). State â€" 57%
- 2009 - 27% (49% below basic). State - 55%
- 2008 - 3%, (66% below basic). State - 52%
- 4th Grade Science
- 2012 - 46%, (17% below basic). State â€" 82%
- 2011 - 58%, (11% below basic). State â€" 82.9%
- 2010 - 41%, (25% below basic). State - 81%
- 2009 - 59%, (11% below basic). State - 83%
- 2008 - 33%, (22% below basic). State - 81%
In 2011, the school was on a list of Pennsylvania public schools that had an unusually high rate of erasures that change incorrect answers to correct answers on the annual PSSAs, in 2009.
Technology
CCCS have modern computer labs on each campus. In 2008, the school began providing their 3rd through 8th grade students with laptops (OLPC computers). The school provides students with internet access via a fiber connection, and the two campuses are connected by a high-bandwidth Wide Area Network. The school has received funds through three competitive Enhancing Education Through Technology grant competitions to enhance instruction through greater use of educational technology. Additionally, the school uses eRate funds, from the federal Universal Service Fund, to pay for phone service, Internet service, upgrading of the school's computer system firewall and to maintain the school's computer network.
Special education
In December 2012, Chester Community Charter School administration reported that 697 pupils, or 23% of the district's pupils, received special education services. Forty four percent of the identified pupils have learning disabilities.
In December 2010, the school's administration reported that 642 pupils, or 25% of the district's pupils, received special education services. Forty four percent of the identified pupils have learning disabilities. The school receives state and federal funding for special education services.
In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school district engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Special Education administration. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the district seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the district or contact the district's Special Education Department. The IDEA 2004 requires each school entity to publish a notice to parents, in newspapers or other media, including the student handbook and website regarding the availability of screening and intervention services and how to access them.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs. Over identification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education. The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.
Grants
In addition to state funding and local tax funding revenue levied by the school district, Chester Community Charter School seeks grant opportunities to fund programs.
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program - Since 2001, Chester Community Charter School provides extended learning opportunities for students and families through summer, Saturday, and before and after school programming funded by Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grants.
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - The Federal Stimulus program provided a $925,968 grant to the school to be used to focus of the specific learning needs of Title I students. The funds were used to hire tutoring staff. The funding was limited to two school years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
- Carol M. White Physical Education Program - In the fall of 2006, Chester Community Charter School received a 3-year Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant, totaling $699,632, to expand and enhance our physical education programs. CCCS named its program Fitness For All and All For Fitness. CCCS has used these funds to provide equipment and support to enable students to participate actively in physical education activities; and to provide professional development to faculty and staff.
- Elementary School Counseling Program - The school received 2 three-year federal grants to fund the school’s counseling programs beginning in 2004.
- Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Enrichment Program - In 2009, CCCS was awarded the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Program grant, a five-year research grant totaling $2.2 million. The grant was used to expand its Talented Learning Community and to adopt Dr. Joseph Renzulli’s “Schoolwide Enrichment Model.â€
- Reading First - CCCS was awarded a 3-year Reading First grant in 2004 and a 3-year renewal in 2007. The Reading First program focused on applying scientifically-based reading researchâ€"and the proven instructional and assessment tools consistent with this researchâ€"to ensure that all children are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. The school implemented Reading Mastery for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. School officials credit this program with dramatically raising reading scores.
- Race to the Top - School officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided up to $450,000 in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement. Participation required the school's administration and the teachers to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of school districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
Wellness policy
The Board of Chester Community Charter School established a student wellness policy. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 â€" 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
The school offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low-income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals. The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.
In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D. In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93.
In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day. The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.
Chester Community Charter School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance. Nurses also monitor each child's weight.
Conflicts
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Education sends the state per pupil funding, for the students attending a charter school, to the school district where the student resides. The district officials are expected to forward the state share of per-pupil spending to the charter school on a timely basis throughout the school year. Chester Upland School District has withheld the state funding from Chester Community Charter School. In 2012, Chester Community Charter School sought a preliminary injunction ordering payment of $3.8 million in delinquent funds either from the district or the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania denied Chester Community Charter School the injunction. According to a state report, the district owes the charter school over $7 million in 2012. Today, the CUSD and the Commonwealth of PA owe the charter school nearly $10 million.
On January 18, 2012, in a 4-to-1 decision, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a trial court's Order that declared illegal and unenforceable the Chester Upland School District's attempt to impose enrollment caps on charter schools in the school district. The Chester Upland School District Empowerment Board of Control had appealed an order of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas which found that the Empowerment Board did not have the authority under the Education Empowerment Act 2 to place limits on the number of its students that could attend charter schools. In 2006, the school's board had approved the increase of Chester Community Charter School's enrollment from 1,980-students to 3,005 by 2010.
Extracurriculars
The school offers a variety of clubs, activities and a sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Chester Community Charter School offers middle school level Boys basketball in PIAA District 1.
According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.
References
External links
- Official website