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Board renews Legends Public Charter; founders and parents cite rapid growth and student outcomes
Summary
After more than a dozen public commenters praised Legends Public Charter School’s academic gains and unique financial-education curriculum, the board voted to renew several charter schools including Legends. Speakers highlighted enrollment growth, reading and math gains in early grades, and a large waitlist.
Supporters of Legends Public Charter School filled the public-comment portion of the June 26 Prince George's County Board of Education meeting to urge the board to renew the school's charter. Later in the meeting the board voted to renew multiple charter schools, including Legends Public Charter School.
Founders, staff, parents and program leaders made a series of claims about Legends’ rapid growth and student outcomes. Atasha James, cofounder and CEO, said the school grew from 592 to about 900 scholars in five years and maintains a waiting list of families seeking seats. Principal Tanisha Dixon provided performance figures during public comment: “77% of our kinder through second grade scholars ended the year reading on or above grade level,” she said, and added that kindergarten math proficiency grew from 12% to 51% during the school year.
Speakers also highlighted the school’s financial-education program, with Equity Now’s Justin Devos and others describing a curriculum the school integrates from kindergarten through higher grades and reporting anecdotal examples of early student investing and savings activity. Several speakers noted the school employs Prince George’s County public school teachers, uses AmeriCorps members, and partners with families and community organizations.
Board members later took up charter renewals as separate agenda items. After discussion the board approved renewal recommendations for College Park Academy, CMIT Northeast, and Legends Public Charter School (agenda items 15.14–15.16). The board chair called the roll and announced the motion carried with nine affirmative votes.
What was clearly a public-comment advocacy effort was treated separately from the board’s formal renewal vote. Board staff said they plan to start future renewal work earlier (as soon as September 2025) and to update the renewal framework and timelines to give operators and the district a longer runway for review and collaboration.
Why this matters: charter renewals affect school options and district oversight. Supporters framed Legends as an example of rapid growth and an innovative curriculum; the board’s renewal keeps the school operating under its charter for the next term.
Next steps: the district said it will pursue a multiyear renewal framework, deepen cross-district partnerships and adjust application timelines to allow more time for renewals and operational improvement work.
