CSMI is a for-profit charter school operator in Chester, Pennsylvania in the United States. It operates Chester Community Charter School in the Chester Upland School District and a school in New Jersey. CSMI is led by Vahan H. Gureghian. In August 2020, the Washington Post published an article criticizing the administrative costs and educational outcomes achieved by CSMI as it was poised to take over the school district.[1] It also operates Atlantic Community Charter School in Galloway Township, New Jersey.[2] Top achieving students at the school were rewarded with a shopping spree.[3] A school it managed in Camden, New Jersey was closed for poor performance.[2]

In 2019 it sought to take over the Chester School District but a judge rejected the plan.[4][5]

Chester Community Charter School hosted a food bank in April 2021. Gureghian and CSMI have also helped fund laptop computers for students and scholarships to fund students who go on to attend private high schools.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Strauss, Valerie. "A severely troubled school district in Pennsylvania faces takeover by for-profit charter organization". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Hanna, Maddie. "Gureghian charter school cut corners 'for money's sake,' N.J. ex-principal says in suit". www.inquirer.com.
  3. ^ "5 Atlantic Community Charter students get $1K shopping spree for good grades". The Press of Atlantic City. October 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Hanna, Maddie. "Judge denies petition to convert Chester Upland schools to charters, says charter expansion may be an option". www.inquirer.com.
  5. ^ "Pa.'s largest charter school wants to take over grades K-8 in Chester Upland". WHYY-TV. December 2, 2019.
  6. ^ DeGrassa, Peg. "Chester Community Charter School hosts food bank for hundreds of local families". The Delaware County Daily Times.

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