by Lisa Haver, Deborah Grill, Lynda Rubin, Barbara Dowdall, Ilene Poses
At some time in the future, the Board of Education will cast their final votes on the eighteen charter schools in the 2024-25 renewal cohort. Actually, the board has already made its decision on all of the schools. The future of the schools now lies in the hands of the charter operators.
The board convened a “Special Action Meeting” June 12, 2025 for the sole purpose of reviewing the charter schools in the current cohort. The agenda included a presentation from
Charter Schools Office Chief Peng Chao summarizing their 18 renewal evaluation reports, along with public testimony. It was actually a public hearing as there were no official action items on the agenda to be voted on. By the end of the meeting, they had separated the cohort into two categories: 12 that needed no further review and 6 that did because of failure to meet academic standards. That meant that 12 would proceed to renewal, with CSO Chief Chao drawing up renewal agreements with the schools’ administrators. For all intents and purposes, the board had voted to renew 12 charter schools.
At the June 29 action meeting, the board made determinations on the remaining 6. As we explained in APPS’ report on that meeting: “Streater called on each member to state their position on whether the school would be granted a 5-year renewal, a 1-year renewal, or no renewal. He counted their responses, then directed Chao on what type of document to draw up. How is that not voting?” The board voted to renew 4 charter schools that rated “Does Not Meet” in Academics, with scores below 45%.
The board will take their final vote on each of the 16 charters for which they began the renewal process only after charter operators give their consent. Any conditions attached to an agreement are for show–they are not enforceable. There is no penalty for refusing to accept conditions or for failing to meet academic or other standards. The truth is that the charter operators, not the district, determine whether a new agreement will be implemented. Charters operate for years under expired agreements without penalty. The charter sector has built an entrenched financial and political patronage system.
Project RiSE (Reimagining School Excellence) represents an alarming step in the board’s capitulation to the charter operators and investors. In October 2024, the board hosted a secret meeting with charter operators and lobbyists. At its May 29, 2025 meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve a $300,00 contract with The Institute for Excellence in Education, doing business as the National Charter Schools Institute, “to research national charter authorizing best practices, engage with stakeholders, and provide specific recommendations regarding the next iteration of the [charter performance] Framework.” (The board changed the time of the May meeting the day before with no notice on its website or social media; the speaker list was then amended to include 24 pro-charter speakers of the allowed 30.)
The Project RiSE 4-year timeline includes no public hearings. On August 8, the board sent out its first RiSE newsletter to invite charter operators and board members to apply to participate in its newly convened Charter School Performance Working Group. The Group, which will serve monthly from August 2025 through May 2026, “will serve as the primary advisory body in guiding revisions to the School District of Philadelphia’s Charter School Performance Framework.” There is no indication that anyone outside the charter sector will be appointed; the meetings will be closed to the public. The mayoral-controlled board is carrying out this revamping of the framework in the same way that the state-imposed School Reform Commission did in 2017: in secret meetings with charter operators.
Over 20 years of data prove without a doubt that charters do not offer a better education than district public schools. In fact, as data from this year’s cohort of renewals show, they consistently underperform. Our report and analysis below shows that the board intends to:
- Renew Mastery Douglass with a Does Not Meet in Academics; Douglass has not met academic standards since Mastery took it over more than 10 years ago;
- Renew Deep Roots Charter for 5 years despite rating Does Not Meet in last 2 evaluations; Deep Roots was granted a temporary renewal 2 years ago but again failed to meet standards;
- Renew schools that scored PSSA or Keystone Proficiency rates below district in all tested subjects in all years of the term, including Deep Roots, Richard Allen Charter, and Community Academy Charter;
- Renew several schools despite personnel files missing child abuse and criminal background checks including Mastery Harrity, Northwood, FACTS, and KIPP Philadelphia;
- Renew 12 of the 18 charters in the cohort despite failing to meet academic standards.
Lisa Haver, August 2025
Note: All renewal information in this report is taken from 2024-25 CSO charter evaluations. Charter agreements are negotiated with charter operators; there are no public renewal hearings. CEO and other administrative salary/compensation information is taken from 2022-23 IRS 990 documents. Charter CEOs are not required to have administrative or education certification. Most schools have principals, assistant principals and other administrators in addition to CEOs.
Renewal Cohort 2024-25
Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
1100 E. Erie Avenue, 19124
Grades K-12
Opened 1997
Current enrollment 1246; authorized 1220
ELL: 18% (SDP 15%
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academic, Approaches (74%); Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: ELA and Math lower in all subjects in all years; Science higher than SDP in all years
Keystone: lower in all subjects in all years than both SDP and similar schools
Attendance 95% of days: lower than SDP in 2 of 4 years
Teacher retention: 6.5 years; SDP 13.6 years
CEO salary/compensation: per 2022 990: CEO Alberta O’Brien, $179,654.
Deep Roots
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
3556 Frankford Avenue,19134
Grades K-5
Opened 2018
Current enrollment 350, authorized 540 (35% under-enrolled)
ELL: 6% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academic, Does Not Meet (37%); Financial, Meets; Organization, Approaches
Attendance 95% of days: lower than SDP in both years
Issued 1-year renewal in 2023-24: Does Not Meet in Academics (44%)
PSSA proficiency: lower than SDP in all subjects in both tested years
Organization: CSO review shows 13 of 20 student files did not contain documentation of IEP progress reporting on annual goals; 67% of English learners (4 of 6) were not identified as being English learners within 30 days of enrollment at the start of the school year or within 14 days of enrollment during the 2023-24 school year; non-compliant enrollment policy; 4 of 6 special education teachers were not appropriately certified; violations of PA Sunshine Act in both years.
Teacher retention: 2.2 years (SDP 13.6 years)
CEO/School Leader Lucilla Perry: $91, 823. salary/compensation
Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
1023 Callowhill Street., 19123
Opened 2005
Grades K-8
Current Enrollment 489, authorized 847 (43% under-enrolled)
ELL students: 23%
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal
2024-25 Renewal evaluation: Academic, Meets (100%); Financial, Meets; Organization, Approaches
PSSA proficiency: higher than SDP in all years in all subjects
Attendance 95% of days: higher than SDP in all years
Organization: school out of compliance with several personnel files missing background checks and child abuse clearances.
Teacher retention: 6.6 years; SDP 13.6 years
Administrative salary/compensation: Principal Lim Pheng $184,198; Executive Director: Ellen Somekawa $!57,555; Director David Brown$129,431.
Imhotep
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
6201 N. 21st Street, 19138
Grades 9-12
Opened 1998
Current enrollment 597; authorized 575
ELL students: 0% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academic, Approaches (58%); Financial Meets; Organization, Meets
Keystone proficiency: Literature (22%) and Algebra (2%) lower than SDP in all years; Biology (1%) lower than SDP and similar schools in all years
Attendance 95% of days: higher than SDP in 3 of 4 years
Teacher retention: 4.9 years; SDP 13.6
Administrative salary/compensation:: No recent IRS information available
Independence Charter School
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
Grades K-8
1600 Lombard Street, 19146
Opened 2000
Current enrollment 803, authorized 825
ELL students 5% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academics, Meets (88%); Organization, Approaches; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: meets/exceeds SDP in all years
Attendance 95% of days: higher than SDP in all years
Organization: 2 of 9 special education teachers were not appropriately certified.
Teacher retention: 7.6 years (SDP 13.6 years)
Salary/compensation: CEO Tanya Ruleymayo $229,493.; Principal Kristen Long $202,463.; Director of Operations Ramzy Andrawos $163,204.
Kipp North Philadelphia
Board consensus: Non-renewal
2539 N. 16th Street, 19132
Opened 2018
Grades K-5
Current enrollment: 678; authorized 860 (22% under-enrolled)
ELL students: 0% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academic, Does Not Meet (23%);
Financial, Meets; Organization, Meets
PSSA proficiency: lower than both district and similar schools in all subjects in all tested years
Attendance 95% of days: lower than district and similar schools in all tested years
Organization: CSO review of personnel files showed 6 without evidence of valid Act 168 documentation; 25% of students were suspended during this term.
Teacher retention: 2.9 years; SDP 13.6 years
Salary/compensation: Elementary School Leader Benjamin Speicher $193, 306.
KIPP Philadelphia
Board consensus: 2-year renewal
Grades K-4: 2409 W. Westmoreland Street, 19129
Grades 5-8: 2539 N. 16th Street, 19132
Opened 2003
Current enrollment 857; authorized 860
ELL students: 0% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academic, Does Not Meet (41%); Organization, Approaches; Financial, Approaches
PSSA proficiency: Math and ELA lower than both district and similar schools in all subjects in all tested years; Science lower than both district and similar schools in 3 of 4 years
Attendance 95% of days: lower than SDP in all years
Organization: several ELL violations including “50% of English learners (1 of 2) were not provided the ACCESS for ELLs evaluation during the 2023-24 school year”.
Personnel: CSO reports “EGREGIOUS INCIDENT: During the Charter Schools Office’s review, 20 personnel files were reviewed. 7 of 20 personnel files did not contain evidence of valid, continuous PA Criminal Background Checks. 9 of 20 personnel files did not contain evidence of valid, continuous PA Child Abuse Clearances. 11 of 20 personnel files did not contain evidence of valid, continuous FBI Federal Background Checks. 5 of 17 relevant personnel files did not contain evidence of valid Act 168 documentation.”
Teacher retention: 4.1 years; SDP 13.6 years
Salary/compensation: School Leader Stephanie Montalvo White $162,795.; School Leader Kareem Goodwin $166,458.
Mastery Charter Schools
Former CEO Scott Gordon $340, 662. (Salary of $251,220 includes $232,221 basic compensation plus $18,999 bonus) (Gordon resigned two years ago. No information available for current CEO Joel Boyd.)
Mastery Charter High School (Lenfest)
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
35 S. 4th Street, 19106
Grades 7-12
Total enrollment 665; authorized 600
Opened 2001
CSO recommendation: 5 years with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academics, Approaches; Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
ELL students: 3% of students (SDP 15%)
PSSA Proficiency rates: lower than district in all subjects in 2 of 3 tested years
Keystone Proficiency rates: lower than SDP in all subjects in all tested years
Attendance Grades 7-8, students attending 95% of days was lower in all years than district schools; Grades 9-12 was lower in 3 of 4 years than district schools
Teacher retention: 9.3 years; SDP 13.6 years
Mastery Douglass
Board consensus: 2-year renewal
2118 W. Norris Street, 19121
Grades K-8
Current enrollment 524, authorized 775 (32% under-enrolled); enrollment declined every year in term (from 625 in 2021-22); 60% of students live outside catchment area
Renaissance charter: taken over in 2010 by Young Scholars; transferred to Mastery in 2015
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024/5 Renewal evaluation: Academic, Does Not Meet (36%); Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
PSSA: proficiency rates lower in all subjects in all tested years than both district and similar schools
Attendance 95% of days: lower than SDP schools in 3 of 4 years
ELL students: 1% (SDP 15%)
Teacher retention: 7.1 years (SDP 13.6 years)
Douglass has not met academic standards since its takeover as a Renaissance charter in 2010 yet has been renewed by both SRC and Board.
Mastery Harrity
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
5601 Christian Street, 19143
Grades K-8
Taken over as Renaissance charter: 2010
Current enrollment: 740/ authorized 850 (under-enrolled 14%); 46% of students do not live in catchment area.
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal w/ith conditions
2024/5 renewal evaluation: Academic, Meets (81%); Organization, Approaches; Financial, Meets
ELL students: 2%; SDP 15%
PSSA proficiency: lower than SDP schools in Math and Science in 2 of 3 tested years; lower in Reading than SDP 1 of 3 tested years
Attendance 95% of days: Meets or exceeds SDP in 3 of 4 years
2024 ACE: 1 of 10 files reviewed did not show evidence of a valid PA Child Abuse Clearance or FBI Federal Background check for the duration of the charter term, and of 10 files reviewed did not show evidence of valid PA Criminal Background, PA Child Abuse, or FBI Federal Background checks for the duration of the charter term.
Teacher retention: 9.1 years (SDP 13.6 years)
Mastery Mann
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
5376 W. Berks Street, 19131
Grades K-6
Taken over as Renaissance charter: 2010
Current enrollment 574; authorized, 555; 34% of students do not live in catchment area
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024 renewal evaluation: Academics, Approaches (56%); Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
ELL student population: 2%; SDP 15%
PSSA proficiency: lower than SDP in all tested subjects in all years
Attendance 95% of days: higher than SDP in all years except 2021
Teacher retention: 7.7 years (SDP 13.6%)
Mastery Smedley
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
1790 Bridge Street,19124
Grades K-8
Renaissance charter takeover: 2010
Current enrollment 757, authorized 755; 41% of students live outside catchment area
ELL students: 6%; SDP 15%
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024/5 renewal evaluation: Academic, Approaches (72%); Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: Math scores lower in all years than SDP; Science and ELA lower than SDP in 2 of 4 years
Attendance 95% of days: below SDP in 2 of 4 years
Teacher tenure: 9.5 years (SDP 13.6 years)
Mastery Thomas
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
Grades K-6: 814 Bigler Street, 19148
Grades 7-12: 927 Johnson Street, 19148
Opened: 2005
Current enrollment 1315; authorized 1300
ELL students: 24% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal
2024 renewal evaluation: Academic, Meets 82%; Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: Meets or exceeds SDP in all subjects
Keystone: Algebra scores below SDP in 2 of 3 years; Literature below SDP in 2 of 3 years; Biology below SDP 2 of 3 years
Attendance 95% of days: Meets/exceeds SDP in all years
Teacher retention: 7.9 years; SDP 13.6 years
Mastery Prep Elementary
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
1801 W. Pike Street, 19140
Opened 2018
Grades K-6
Current enrollment 588; authorized 608
ELL 2% (SDP 16%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 renewal evaluation: Academic, Approaches (72%); Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: Lower in both tested years than SDP in ELA and Math; meets or exceeds SDP in Science (ratings available for 22-23 and 23-24 only)
Attendance 95% of days: meets or exceeds SDP in both years
Northwood Academy Charter
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
4621 Castor Avenue, 19124
Grades K-8
Opened 2005
Current enrollment 796, authorized 788
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 Renewal evaluation: Academic, Approaches (58%); Organization, Approaches; Financial, Approaches
PSSA proficiency: ELA lower than SDP in 2 of 3 tested years; Math lower than SDP in all 3 tested years; Science meets or exceeds SDP scores
Attendance 95% of days: higher than SDP in 3 of 4 years
ELL students 3% (SDP 15%)
Organization: 0 of 10 possible points in special education; school did not provide evidence or hearing per PA School Code for disciplinary/expulsion action; 14 of 18 special education teachers not appropriately certified; CSO review of 20 personnel files found 5 of 20 did not contain valid PA Child Abuse Clearances, 6 files did not have a compliant board structure as 13 of 13 board members and administrators did not submit accurate Statements of Financial interest for 2022; school had 4 different school leaders in 5 years.
Teacher tenure: 7.4 years; SDP 13.6 years
CEO salary/compensation per 2023 IRS 990: CEO Theodor Bolor $208,118.
People for People Charter
Board consensus: non-renewal
800 N. Broad Street, 19130
Grades K-8 (high school removed after 2020-21 school year)
Opened: 2001
Current enrollment 547; authorized 540
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 Renewal evaluation: Academic, Does Not Meet (29%); Organization, Meets; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: below both district and similar schools in all subjects in all tested years
95% attendance: below both district and similar schools all years
ELL 0% (SDP 15%)
Organization, CSO evaluation: “The School does not have a compliant code of conduct policy. The submitted code of conduct does not fully identify formal and informal hearing due process rights.”
Organization: “During the Charter Schools Office’s review, 20 personnel files were reviewed. 8 of 20 personnel files did not contain evidence of valid, continuous PA Criminal Background Checks. 7 of 20 personnel files did not contain evidence of valid,
continuous PA Child Abuse Clearances. 10 of 20 personnel files did not
contain evidence of valid, continuous FBI Federal Background Checks.”.
Salary/compensation per 2023 IRS 990: Principal $208, 118.
Richard Allen Charter
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
2601 S. 58th Street, 19143
Grades 5-8
Opened 2001
Current enrollment 314; authorized 500 (27% under-enrolled)
ELL: 0% (SDP 15%)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 Renewal evaluation: Academic, Approaches (49%); Organization, Approaches; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: Lower than both similar and SDP schools in all tested years in all subjects
Attendance 95% of days: meets or exceeds SDP in 3 of 4 years
Organization: evaluation cites barriers to enrollment; school did not submit compliant expulsion documentation in expulsion process, did not provide evidence of notification of due process rights or notice of formal hearings via certified mail; CSO review of 20 files shows 13 without valid PA Criminal Background Checks, 14 did not provide evidence of FBI Background Checks, 9 did not provide Act 168 documentation; board structure and practices found to be non-compliant; school did not maintain a minimum level of 75% professional staff certification which is a cause for non-renewal of the charter. [bold added]
Teacher tenure: 3.7 years (SDP 13.6 years)
2017 Renewal: Non-renewal/revocation recommended with Does Not Meet in both Academics and Organization
2018 renewal update: non-renewal recommended; school accepts surrender clause
2022: renewed retroactive to 2020
CEO Lawrence F Jones Jr., salary/compensation per 22-2023 IRS 990: $256,043.
Russell Byers Charter
Board consensus: 5-year renewal
1911 Arch Street, 19103
Grades 4K-8
Opened 2001
Current enrollment 607; Authorized 725 (17% under-enrolled)
CSO recommendation: 5-year renewal with conditions
2024-25 Renewal Evaluation: Academic, Does Not Meet (41%); Organization Approaches; Financial, Meets
PSSA proficiency: lower in all subjects in all tested years than both similar and district schools
Attendance: Chronic absenteeism higher than SDP in last 2 years
ELL students: 0% (SDP 15 %)
Organization, CSO evaluation: “At the time of the review, the School’s website did not demonstrate Board accessibility. The website did not list a reasonable opportunity for public comment.”
Teacher retention: 3.4 years (SDP 13.6%)CEO salary/compensation per 2022/23 IRS 990: Jessica Ramos, $218,550.
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 