Rather than appeal, KIPP changed pitch for new charter school

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

It’s kind of like when a teacher allows you to correct your test and resubmit it for a grade.

There was fervent public debate about the possibility of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission approving a slate of new charter schools in February.

In the end, five of 39 applicants got the go-ahead, with some tightened restrictions.

Last week, the SRC gave another charter the green light to little fanfare.

KIPP’s bid to open a new K-4 charter school in West Philadelphia was flatly denied in February – with Farah Jimenez abstaining and the remainder of the commissioners voting for denial.

Instead of fighting the rejection at the state Charter Appeals Board, KIPP just addressed the red flags and kicked a revised application back to the SRC.

Specifically, KIPP agreed to cap enrollment at 375 (it had originally sought 1,380 new seats), and postpone its opening until the fall of 2016. It also updated its curriculum documents, agreed to stricter terms for principal certification, and consented to revising its board structure.

Read the rest of this story at NewsWorks