This week’s call, May 21st, examined Charter Closures and Mergers during the crisis. A small proportion of charter schools close regularly, but the pressures of the COVID19 pandemic could lead to more schools closing in the next few years. It is less likely that closures will be through accountability based on school performance, though that is still possible. Experienced authorizers expect struggling schools to face challenges in finance, operations, and governance. In addition to the logistical and educational challenges of adjusting school operations to provide a safe environment for learning, state, and local funding is expected to reduce dramatically, and it is unclear whether enrollment will be affected by the virus and public health response next year. This combination of challenges could be too much for some schools, leading to authorizers having to close schools or charters to voluntarily close.
View a video of the webinar here.