State board accepts withdrawal of New Leadership Charter School's application

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WWLP) - The  New Leadership Charter School in Springfield is now officially on the way to closure, following a vote by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

In their meeting on Tuesday, the board voted to accept the school's withdrawal of their charter renewal application.

New Leadership’s Board of Trustees chose to withdraw their application earlier this month, after Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester told them he was planning to recommend they not renew.

Chester said the recommendation came after years of performance issues, even during a two year probation period.

“Despite the probationary status, in the last year, we’ve actually seen results go downhill; not improve,” Chester said.

The board's decision came despite some emotional testimony from New Leadership parents, who traveled across Massachusetts to Bridgewater State University to attend Tuesday's meeting.

The Alderman Street school will close at the end of this academic year.