Souderton Area School District Board of Directors granted a conditional 5-year charter to SCSC on December 19, 2019.
Souderton Area School District Board of Directors granted a conditional 5-year charter to SCSC on December 19, 2019. The conditions imposed are unlawful according to Charter School Law. SCSC's Board of Trustees remains optimistic that SASD Board of Directors will reconsider and remove the conditions. The deadline to appeal the conditional charter was Friday, January 17, 2020. As such, SCSC's Board voted on January 13, 2020 to appeal SASD's decision. SCSC's entire board resolution can be read here.
Please read here to learn more about how SCSC receives and spends funds on both special education and non-special education students.
SCSC prevailed in the court ruling on February 22, 2021. Click here to read Order 236 Notice (2/23/21).
More good news! Order granting Application to Publish Opinion was issued on March 17, 2023. Click here for more information. (3/17/23)
Charter School Victory!
Court Rules in Favor of Charter School and
Against District
Happy New Year!
We are happy to advise that on January 3, 2023, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of the Souderton Charter School Collaborative (“SCSC”) and against the Souderton Area School District (the “District”) affirming the decision of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County that struck the District’s unilateral amendments to SCSC’s charter.
In December of 2019, the District unilaterally amended SCSC’s charter without agreement by adding two conditions. The District’s conditions mandated that:
SCSC have identical health care benefits to that of the District; and
That all of SCSC’s teachers who qualify must apply and receive level II certifications.
The Commonwealth Court agreed with the Court of Common Pleas that the conditions were material amendments without agreement and therefore illegal pursuant to Discovery Charter School v. School District of Philadelphia, 166 A.3d 304 (2017). In its opinion, the Commonwealth Court recognized that for twenty years, SCSC has been one of the most successful charter schools in Pennsylvania.
Our firm successfully represented SCSC in this matter, with the assistance of CEO Jennifer Arevalo, Board President Jenny Marion, and SCSC’s co-founder Wendy Ormsby, who passed away in the fall of 2020 during the course of this litigation. SCSC continues to honor Wendy with its achievements in the classroom and in the courtroom.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Kevin M. McKenna, Esquire
[email protected]
610-524-8454
Nicole D. Snyder, Esquire
[email protected]
610-524-8454