Charter schools aren't eligible to operate alternative learning programs for struggling students, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled this week.
The court sided with the state Department of Education in a review sought by Minneapolis-based Minnesota Transitions Charter School. Minnesota Transitions got approval to run an alternative program in 2002, but in mid-2013 the department told the school that state law didn't allow it.
Minnesota Transitions argued that the department misinterpreted the law, but the court found otherwise. "We have over 200 students enrolled in this program and I am floored at the decision," said Patty Brostrom, the school's director.
Eugene Piccolo, executive director, of the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools, said the organization will consider whether to go to the 2015 Legislature to get funding for charter schools to operate the programs.
More than 162,000 students — or 17 percent of public school students — are in alternative programs, the department said.
Steve Brandt
9th-graders move up
in Osseo Area Schools
Maple Grove, Park Center and Osseo high schools will open their doors to freshmen in the 2015-16 school year.
The Osseo Area Schools board voted this week to reconfigure grades, which means sixth-graders will move to junior high and ninth-graders will move to high school. Current grades are K-6, 7-9 and 10-12.