(5/15/2026)

Philadelphia Charters for Excellence Responds to Charter Renewal Recommendations 

Organization supports rigorous, consistent accountability for all public charter schools

PHILADELPHIA, PA. May 15, 2026 — Philadelphia Charters for Excellence (PCE), representing 70 member charter schools and approximately 65,000 students across Philadelphia, today issued the following statement on the School District of Philadelphia's charter renewal recommendations presented at the May 14th Board of Education progress monitoring session, and on the civil lawsuit PCE filed that same day in the Court of Common Pleas.

On the Renewal Recommendations

PCE acknowledges the May 14 renewal recommendations. Of the 11 schools in the current cohort, eight received five year renewal recommendations, all with conditions, one received a one year renewal recommendation, and two were recommended for nonrenewal.

“Schools are more than contracts. They are communities families depend on every day. Every family in this cohort deserves a process that is fair, lawful, and applied consistently. That is what PCE has always stood for,” says Cassandra St Vil, CEO, PCE. “The Board of Education has a legal responsibility to evaluate charter schools on academic performance, organizational compliance, and financial health. That responsibility exists for a reason, and PCE supports it. Every child in a Philadelphia charter school deserves a school that is working for them.” 

What Happens Next

The Board is scheduled to vote on draft nonrenewal notices at its May 28 meeting. PCE has called on the District to pause nonrenewal decisions until its revised charter evaluation framework is complete. The District has acknowledged that the framework will not be ready until the 2027-2028 school year. Issuing consequential renewal decisions under a broken framework is destabilizing for students, schools, and Philadelphia’s communities.

PCE filed a lawsuit on May 14, 2026 against the School District of Philadelphia and its Board of Education, asking the Court of Common Pleas to rule that the District cannot unilaterally impose enrollment caps or surrender clauses, and that any nonrenewal action taken on the basis of a surrender clause is invalid under Pennsylvania law. 

"Philadelphia children deserve a quality education and a renewal process worthy of that goal.” says Malik Boyd, Director of Advocacy Communications, PCE. “We support accountability and high standards for all public schools. We are not asking the courts to protect schools that have failed students. What we are challenging in the courts is a broken process marked by growing concerns about transparency and fairness. Every stakeholder in Philadelphia’s public education system should be able to support that." 

PCE will continue to monitor the non-renewal process and ensure the rights of those public schools and their families are protected at every stage.

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About Philadelphia Charters for Excellence

Founded in 2011, Philadelphia Charters for Excellence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit representing 70 member charter schools and approximately 65,000 students, roughly one in four Philadelphia public school children. PCE advances fact based policy reform, elevates a unified voice for charter leaders and families before policymakers, and works to ensure every Philadelphia student has access to a high quality public school.