Sign up for Chalkbeat Philadelphia’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system.A group that represents 70 Philadelphia charter schools alleges the Board of Education and district’s approach to charter renewals is “coercive and exploitative” and is asking the court to limit the district’s power over charters.The lawsuit that Philadelphia Charters for Excellence filed Thursday demands that the district end its practice of including enrollment caps and legal waivers, known as surrender clauses, in charter agreements. Surrender clauses require schools to give up their charter if they don’t meet certain conditions. The lawsuit asks the Court of Common Pleas to rule that any board decision to not renew a school based on its surrender clause is invalid. It also asks the court to rule that schools do not need to sign new charter agreements as a condition of renewal. Some Philly charter schools have continued to operate on out-of-date charter agreements for years.“Charter schools in Philadelphia have spent years navigating a renewal process that treats legal compliance like a negotiating chip,” said Cassandra St. Vil, CEO of Philadelphia Charters for Excellence, in a statement. “Schools are told to sign agreements they never agreed to, under conditions the law does not permit, or risk losing the authorization that tens of thousands of students and families depend on.”The district and board did not respond to requests for comment about the allegations in the lawsuit. A state audit of the district’s renewal process released in 2024 found it was in compliance with all relevant state laws. The lawsuit comes just hours before the district’s Charter School Office is expected to present charter school renewal recommendations to the Board of Education. Of the 11 schools up for renewal this year, district documents show the office will recommend two for non-renewals, eight for five-year renewals with conditions, and one for a one-year renewal with conditions. Not renewing a charter school kicks off a legal process that can lead to closing the school.The renewal process has been tense in past years, with charter school students crowding into board meetings to protest recommendations of non-renewal. Last year, the board voted to move forward with not renewing charters for two schools. The schools, People for People Charter School and KIPP North Philadelphia Academy, then sued the board over the non-renewal decisions. A judge granted them an injunction prohibiting the board from moving forward with closures.One of the schools recommended for non-renewal this year, Global Leadership Academy Charter School Southwest at Huey, did not meet several academic and financial standards set by the district. Over the past four years, fewer than 10% of students at the schools achieved proficient scores on state math tests, and fewer than 20% scored proficient on reading tests — both lower rates than the district average.At the other school recommended for non renewal, Philadelphia Montessori Charter School, students have shown little to no growth on state math and reading tests over the past two years.Rebecca Redelmeier is a reporter at Chalkbeat Philadelphia. She writes about public schools, early childhood education, and issues that affect students, families, and educators across Philadelphia. Contact Rebecca at rredelmeier@chalkbeat.org.
