A charter school focused on STEM education will not open as planned later this year.
The Delaware STEM Academy, a high school scheduled to welcome ninth- and tenth-graders to its classrooms near New Castle this fall, is finished before it even started.
State Education Secretary Steve Godowsky affirmed a recommendation from the state’s Charter School Accountability Committee to revoke Delaware STEM’s charter at Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting.
Enrollment far below targets landed the school on formal review in April, and at last count before the committee’s recommendation Delaware STEM had just 124 students – well below the 250 expected.
Without the state and local funding that would come with additional students – state officials questioned the school’s financial viability – citing its reliance on private fundraising and a line of credit in its budget.
Students enrolled at Delaware STEM can either return to their home feeder pattern or choice into another school or charter.
