Two Wilmington charter schools face closure

Two Delaware charter schools are facing closure at the end of the academic year.

The Delaware Department of Education’s Charter School Accountability Committee is recommending the closure of Reach Academy and Gateway Lab School due to poor academic performance.

DOE officials will hear public testimony at a meeting scheduled for Dec. 10 in Wilmington.

Education Secretary Mark Murphy will announce his decision on the school’s fate during a State Board of Education meeting on Dec. 18.

This is the third time Reach Academy has faced closure because of poor academic performance. Last year, officials from the all girl’s school field a lawsuit against the state to stay open.

Last month, the state Board of Education voted unanimously to revoke the charter of Moyer Academy following the recommendation of the committee. That decision came after poor academic performance.  A report released by the accountability committee in August showed only 23 percent of Moyer students passed the state’s reading exam and just 10 percent passed math.