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Escuela Verde recommended for five-year renewal; committee notes need to accelerate reading and math gains
Summary
The committee reviewed Escuela Verde's 2024-25 report, recommended a five-year contract extension with annual monitoring, and discussed the impact of high English-language-learner and special education populations on test performance and licensure processes.
The Charter School Review Committee voted Nov. 3 to recommend a five-year contract renewal for Escuela Verde and to continue annual academic monitoring, while calling for targeted work to accelerate student progress in reading and math.
Evidence Change reviewer Dr. LaShawn Baylor presented Escuela Verdedata for 2024-25: the school began the year with 123 students, enrolled three during the year and had 12 withdrawals, ending with 113. Attendance was reported at 81.1% and parent-teacher conference attendance at 88.3%. The school met most contract compliance indicators; one teacher lacked a license at report time and one teacher was teaching outside the scope of their licensure.
Baylor summarized the Escuela Verde scorecard: the school scored 78.3% overall and posted a 95.7% DPI four-year cohort graduation rate; 88.9% of graduates had post-secondary acceptance. Evidence Change recommended strengthening professional learning communities, expanding ACT/preACT and Forward Exam preparation, and improving ELL performance on the ACCESS speaking assessment.
Escuela Verde representatives told the committee the school currently has licensed staff on its roster and described steps to avoid future licensure gaps, including better calendar tracking and support for staff through DPI processes. They also described test-prep strategies and efforts to adapt instruction for a student body with a high share of English learners and students with disabilities.
Committee members praised post-secondary outcomes and asked about supports for ELL and special education populations; school leaders described targeted ACT/preACT prep and scaling focused teacher practices into daily instruction.
After discussion, the committee moved and approved Evidence Changerecommendation to grant Escuela Verde another five-year contract with annual monitoring and focused supports for reading and math.
