Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School

Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School is a public charter high school in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It was originally located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, but relocated to its present location 6 years later. It primarily serves students in nearby towns such as; Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield, and South Hadley. It is set to close in the summer of 2023 after the Massachusetts Board of Education declined to renew its charter.

Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School
Location
Chicopee, MA United States
Information
TypeCharter school
Established2013
Color(s)   
MascotPanthers

History

In February of 2012, the Massachusetts' Board of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School was one of four schools that was granted permission to operate and allowed the naming after Friere.[1] The school opened in September 2013. The school first started out in Holyoke, Massachusetts from its founding until the end of the 2018–19 school year.[2] Moving a town over to the former Pope Francis Catholic High School building in Chicopee in 2019. It is named after the leftist Brazilian educator Paulo Freire.

In 2021, the school was accused of union-busting by teachers and the United Auto Workers local 2322, which had represented teachers and staff at the school since 2020. The school had recently non-renewed the contracts of half of its staff.[3]

In January 2023, the Massachusetts Board of Education voted to accept the school's charter and the school is set to close following the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year. MA BOE chairman said of the school “The school has been unable to attract enrollment sufficient to maintain financial viability and has faced other challenges.”[4]

Athletics

Boys' Basketball
  • 1x Western Mass Class C; 2022 [5]

Girls' volleyball

The program has won 2 Western Mass Championships and only won one State Championship.

  • 2x Western Mass Class B; 2021, 2022[6]
  • 1x MIAA Div. 5; 2021 [7]

References
  1. "Boston charter school among four approved by state - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  2. "Holyoke charter school eyes move to Chicopee". 20 June 2018.
  3. Christensen, Dusty (June 24, 2021). "Dozens protest as Paulo Freire charter school axes half its teachers". Daily Hampshire Gazette.
  4. Christensen, Dusty (25 January 2023). "Paulo Freire Charter School to close this summer". The Shoestring.
  5. "Drury boys beaten by Paulo Friere in PVIAC Western Mass. Class C basketball championship game".
  6. "No.3 Paulo Freire girls volleyball wins second straight Western Mass. Crown in Class B championship win over No.5 Belchertown". 30 October 2022.
  7. https://www.gazettenet.com/Frontier-vs-Paulo-Freire-State-Championship-Match-43643606

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