In Rare Move, Oklahoma Charter School Ordered to Close at End of School Year
The Statewide Charter School Board voted to terminate the school鈥檚 founding contract.
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OKLAHOMA CITY 鈥� A state board governing charter schools has decided it鈥檚 seen enough from Proud To Partner Leadership Academy and voted Monday to 鈥減ull the plug鈥� on the school.
The Statewide Charter School Board made the rare decision to issue a notice of termination to the charter high school in southwest Oklahoma City. Seven board members voted in favor and two abstained.
The decision sets in motion the process of closing the school once the current academic year ends and voiding its charter contract. The 100 students attending the school, known as PTPLA, then would have to return to their neighborhood school districts or find another educational option.
The board placed PTPLA over financial, operational and academic quality concerns. Members of the state board from the school鈥檚 leadership.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we always ask for is a spirit of cooperation and desire to work together to improve the outcomes at the school,鈥� board Chairperson Brian Shellem said after Monday鈥檚 meeting. 鈥淎s it continued to progress, it seemed like it got harder and harder.鈥�
State officials said they still had more questions than answers after three months of probation and multiple meetings with PTPLA.
The board鈥檚 staff made three visits to the school this fall and reported seeing only one teacher giving instruction. .
Rebecca Wilkinson, executive director of the state board, said she observed students with a computer open but not logged in, others not completing any work, seven who were sleeping or had their heads down, and some who were unable to say what course or topic they were studying, all of which raised concerns about the school鈥檚 educational quality.
PTPLA, which opened in 2024, faced scrutiny over weak finances, as well. It laid off four teachers in October and finished the previous school year in a budget deficit.
State officials also complained of missed deadlines and other unfulfilled obligations by the school鈥檚 administration.
鈥淢y opinion is it鈥檚 time to pull the plug,鈥� statewide board member William Pearson said before the vote. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to move to termination.鈥�
Despite the school鈥檚 struggles, PTPLA leaders told the state
School founder and Superintendent Dawn Bowles said her students now face the prospect of returning to 鈥渟chools that were not serving them in the first place.鈥�
鈥淥ur next feat will be, what is our next move to make sure that we don鈥檛 drop the ball on the ones that we鈥檝e committed to serving,鈥� Bowles said. 鈥淲e will continue to serve them. We will continue to educate them. We will continue to provide opportunities outside of education, and we will continue to be their village as we move forward because this is what we consider to be the greater way.鈥�
is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: [email protected].
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