Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts: A Historical Case Study on the Development of the First Elementary Charter School in Virginia

Prior to 1998 charter schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia were non-existent. Students who wanted to be educated in ways alternative to public education would need to seek out private schools or homeschooling. The Patrick Henry School of Arts and Sciences (PHSSA), a year round elementary charter school in the City of Richmond, is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the events and actions that led to the establishment and operation of PHSSA, as a public charter school. The main research question for this study is, what has occurred and had to be overcome in order to enable the first elementary public charter school in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be approved and to continue as a charter, renewed twice for a total existence of 10 years? This research provides recommendations for those seeking to implement and continue the renewal of a charter school where the authorizer is a local school board. Participants interviewed were representatives of the community--parents and community leaders--who were involved in the startup of Patrick Henry at various stages of its existence. A systematic method of document review and structured interviews of key informants was conducted. Analysis revealed the problems and successes of this elementary charter school. Outcomes from the interviews should foster understanding of the creation and continued renewal of charter schools in Virginia. The study may provide counsel for future public charter school endeavors in the Commonwealth.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Department dc:contributor.department

Counselor Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Bartlett, Tara Christine

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Mullen, Carol Ann

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Price, Ted S.
• Alexander, Michael D.
• Cash, Carol S.

• public charter school
• success
• reauthorization
• start-up

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:31471

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/104037