Founders Classical Academy faces challenges after receiving F grade in first year

The Education Charter Authorizing Panel meeting on February 13, 2024, focused on the performance of Founders Classical Academy, an online elementary school in Arkansas. The school received an "F" grade for the previous academic year, marking its first year of operation for grades 4 through 6.

During the meeting, representatives discussed the school's response to the low grade, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the underlying issues. They identified three primary areas needing improvement: literacy, attendance, and overall student academic achievement and growth.

In literacy, only 20% of elementary students were reported to be reading at a "ready" or "exceeds" level. Attendance was also a concern, with a low score of 21.43 on the student engagement SQSS indicator. Additionally, the school scored a 5 on the weighted achievement indicator, placing it in the lower achievement and growth quadrant.

The panel was provided with a narrative report that included charts illustrating these challenges, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to enhance student performance. The discussion underscored the commitment of the school to address these issues and improve educational outcomes for its students.

The meeting concluded with a call for ongoing evaluation and support to ensure that the school can make the necessary improvements in the coming years.