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Board renews Creative Arts Charter School for five years with conditions
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Education voted to renew the Creative Arts Charter School’s petition for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2019, subject to conditions including additional English-learner supports and an updated special education MOU.
The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on March 12 approved a five-year renewal for Creative Arts Charter School, authorizing the charter to operate from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2024, with conditions staff said address identified insufficiencies.
Michael Davis, the district’s director of policy planning and charter schools, read the superintendent’s recommendation and staff report, saying that the charter met renewal criteria for academic achievement but needed targeted fixes. "Staff recommends approval of the renewal, of Creative Arts Charter School located at 1601 Turk Street," he told the board, adding that the district would require an updated special education memorandum of understanding by May 1, 2019, and additional supports for English learners.
Dozens of parents, students, teachers and union representatives urged the board to approve the renewal. Fernando Aguilar, representing Creative Arts, said the school had worked with district staff to revise volunteer, suspension and lottery procedures and improve supports for English learners and special education. "We updated these sections to ensure we receive SFUSD staff recommendation of approval of the charter for Creative Arts Charter School for the next 5 years," Aguilar said. UESF president Susan Solomon and several classroom teachers also expressed support, noting the school’s arts-integrated, project-based approach and unionized staff.
Board members questioned the school’s enrollment and equity patterns and discussed whether proposed enrollment preferences (including a suggested preference for families who reside in San Francisco public housing) would advance access for the district’s least-reached students. Commissioner Collins pressed the district to consider demographic and service gaps across nearby schools; Commissioner Sanchez highlighted the proposal as a possible model for other schools that want to prioritize students living in public housing.
After discussion the board took a roll‑call vote and approved the renewal as recommended by staff.
What’s next: The charter will operate under the conditions the board outlined, and staff will track completion of the MOU and the additional supports promised by the school to ensure compliance with district requirements.
