After ten years of educating children on Buffalo's East Side, the Community Charter School is facing an uncertain future. The Board of Regents is expected to vote against renewing the Edison Avenue school's charter based on three successive years of declining student achievement. Dozens of people turned out for a rally in support of the elementary school Friday morning.
Community Charter's new Head of School Denise Luka admits the state education department's main concern is legitimate.
"We're not alone in the fact that New York State assessment scores are low. That's a trend statewide. But we have put together a school improvement plan to make the changes that are necessary to ensure that we are on the right path and we are on an upward trajectory," Luka said.
"We've implemented the plan and we're actually using it right now. We're beginning to see measurable gains by some students who were below grade level," said Board President Daniel Ricigliano.
Ccommunity Charter School is in the final year of a four-year charter. The Board of Regents could make a decision as soon as Dec. 10. School leaders are encouraging parents and others to voice their support for the school to state education officials.