Arizona’s Charter School Board Moves to Revoke Primavera Online School’s Charter
The Arizona State Board for Charter Schools has issued a notice to potentially revoke the charter of the American Virtual Academy, the organization behind the Primavera Online School, which provides education for around 7,000 K-12 students. A significant number of these students are either disabled or have struggled in traditional educational environments, classifying them as “at-risk”.
According to state regulations, charter schools failing to meet academic benchmarks for three consecutive years are subject to corrective actions. Primavera received a “D” grade for three straight years, triggering the board’s action.
During a board meeting on Tuesday, Damian Creamer, CEO of Primavera, revealed that the school did not apply for alternative-school status over the past three years. This oversight resulted in Primavera being evaluated as a traditional school, despite its focus on at-risk students.
“Had we simply applied like we had applied for the previous 10 years, we would have retained our alternative-school status,” Creamer stated. “We would have been rated as a performing school for all three years, and we would not be here today.”
Creamer attributed the lapse to personal circumstances, specifically his wife’s terminal illness diagnosis in late 2019, which required him to step back from his leadership role. This, coupled with the transition to remote work during the pandemic, led to the oversight in application for alternative-school status.
Upon returning to lead Primavera, Creamer ensured the school reapplied and was approved for alternative-school status. “And we will be a performing school when the letter grades come out this year,” Creamer added. “We’ve been a performing alternative school since the state came out with the alternative-school system in 2012. This is the very first time in 24 years of operating Primavera that I have ever had to come before the board for anything.”
The situation will now be evaluated by an administrative law judge, where both the board and the school will present their cases. The judge’s decision, however, is not final, as the board retains the authority to accept, reject, or amend the ruling. A representative from the Arizona Department of Education mentioned that although the board could alter its decision, it seems improbable.
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