Summit Academy elementary school to close

About 150 pupils attend the charter school.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Elementary School, a charter school that is part of Summit Academy Community School for Alternative Learners, will be closed at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

Parents of the approximately150 pupils enrolled at the school, 144 N. Schenley Ave., learned of the closing earlier this week.

Ninety-eight percent of the pupils have moderate to severe learning disabilities and receive special education services.

The Ohio Department of Education said the school will be closed because it received an F for academic performance in each of the last three years and has shown no improvement in the last two. The closing is announced in advance so parents have time to make other educational arrangements.

Scott Bake, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education, said, “The law requires we make the announcement when the information becomes available. It was released in the department’s report card information.

“The value-added measure [in report cards] reflects what progress students are making regardless of their proficiency level,” Blake said. “This is individualized to the school and students.”

Blake said Summit did not meet reading requirements in 2006-07 and math in 2007-08. “Charter schools fall under same guidelines as public schools that offer special-needs classes.

They’re judged on the same standards,” he said. He added Summit has been in academic emergency.

Mark Schweitzer, vice president of marketing and public relations for Summit, said, “If schools don’t meet current assessment testing in Ohio if schools, there is a forced closure.”

Schweitzer also said Summit is “exploring options” concerning structural changes and legislation but did not elaborate.

He said the Ohio Achievement Test, which determines school accountability, has questions based on deductive reasoning.

“Students at our schools aren’t capable of that,” he said, citing that many of the students are autistic or have attention deficit disorder.

Adam Richards, chief special education officer for Summit, said not only are 98 percent of Summit pupils in special education, but 95 percent are in poverty and 90 percent are minorities. He said that combination makes it difficult for pupils to perform at the same level as traditional pupils.

Summit Academy Community Schools are managed by a nonprofit, IRS 509 (a) organization, Summit Academy Management (SAM), headquartered in Akron. A team of specialists at SAM develop curriculum and innovative educational programs for 27 schools.

Summit also operates Youngstown Middle School, 810 Oak St., and Youngstown Secondary School, 1400 Oak Hill Ave., which are not affected. Questions about the closing should be directed to (330) 259-0426.

Toledo Academy of Learning, another Summit school, also will be closed.