One of Philly's oldest charter schools agrees to give up its charter next June

Charter High School for Architecture and Design giving up its charter.
Photo credit Mike DeNardo/KYW Newsradio

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On the eve of a non-renewal hearing, one of Philadelphia's oldest charter schools is surrendering its charter.  

The school board on Thursday is slated to consider an agreement by the troubled Charter High School for Architecture and Design to surrender its charter a year from now.

The School Reform Commission, before it dissolved last year, voted not to renew CHAD's charter, saying the school failed the district's evaluations on academics, organization and financial health. The School Board Wednesday was scheduled to begin a lengthy process of non-renewal hearings.

But now, CHAD's board has agreed to give up its charter. 

The school at Seventh and Sansom streets was founded in 1999 and has 600 students.

 

Its future is unclear. Will CHAD become a district-run school, be run by someone else or closed outright?   

School board president Joyce Wilkerson, in a statement, commended CHAD for avoiding what she called "a lengthy, painful and expensive non-renewal process." She said she'll work with CHAD to ensure "a smooth and predictable transition" for CHAD's students and staff.