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The South Los Angeles-based school, which serves immobilized students, insisted the Los Angeles County Board of Education on Tuesday on why it should maintain charter status.
Crete Academy, which serves unserved students who live primarily below the poverty line, is appealing for a decision by the Los Angeles Unified School District to refuse to renew its charter. The district said it chose not to renew the school’s charter status due to poor academic achievement.
Crete Academy’s school administrators, parents and supporters gathered in Downey to assert why the school and its students deserve it.
“No schools have the current demographics,” said Brett Mitchell, executive director and co-founder of Crete. “We have 98% SED, which is at a socioeconomic disadvantage. We are 30% impervious and 70% African American.”
The school has a population of about 280 children and offers services to support its unique demographics.
“We have 20 mental health specialists each day between the two campuses,” Mitchell said. “We have monthly health checks from UCLA. They come to school to serve all families. There are washers and dryers on both campuses. Make sure there are transportation for the family.”
LAUSD decided in January not to renew the school’s charter, citing the state’s education code that classifies Crete as a low-performing charter school. According to California Education Act Sections 47605 and 47607.2, low-performing charter schools will not be renewed, according to the district.
The district provided the following statement on the matter:
“The Charter School Division staff and the General Counsel office reviewed the Crete Academy’s Renewal Charter Petition application and evaluated the renewal petition application as not meeting the criteria for approval. (ed. Code§47607.2(a) in accordance with the statutory renewal framework.
Mitchell said he and other school leaders know about the school’s performance, but they’re still dedicated to serving their students.
“We are very responsible and we know what you know about some of the things we want to improve,” he said. “But the number one thing we need to focus on is supporting basic needs and families, and once we have it, everything else can gradually improve.
It is unclear when the LA County Board of Education will announce its decision. If the appeal is not approved by the county, the school may appeal to the state.
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