Originally published February 26th, 2025 8:12 a.m.
Updated February 26th, 2025 12:41 p.m.
(KNSI) — An official with Volunteers of America says they are not renewing the charter for Athlos Academy of St. Cloud due to ongoing issues for which they had been warned.
VOA-MN is the Charter School Authorizer. An email from the organization to KNSI News says the focus is “always on maintaining high-quality education options for students that invest in student service, learning, and achievement. Our responsibility is to ensure that the schools we authorize meet the academic, financial, governance, legal compliance, and operational standards necessary for renewal, as outlined in the charter school’s Approved Authorizing Plan, which is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education.”
Following an extensive multi-year review, the VOA-MN says AASC “did not meet the required criteria for renewal due to persistent deficiencies in governance, enrollment, and financial viability.” The school was “provided multiple opportunities to address and remediate these concerns.”
Records obtained by KNSI News show a letter from VOA-MN to AASC Board Chair Patricia King on February 24th, 2025 regarding the final notice of nonrenewal of the charter contract.
One of the issues cited was academic performance deficiencies, saying AASC earned a score of “Does Not Meet” for Academic Standards One and Two.
To meet Standard One, it says, “Students are performing well on state examinations in comparison to students at schools they might otherwise attend (with similar demographics) as evidence of meeting the statutory purpose of mission-driven charter schools, which is to improve the learning, achievement, and success of all students.” The school’s average proficiency rate in math, reading and science was below those of Madison Elementary, which was the comparison school.
Standard Two must be met by the school maintaining “a combined average state-determined minimum achievement level of (improved + maintained) as evidence of meeting the statutory purpose of mission-driven charter schools, which is to improve the learning, achievement, and success of all students.” The letter says the school’s achievement level of “improved + maintained” is below 58.7%, which is the state determined minimum achievement level. The school’s achievement level (improved + maintained) was 24.7% for math and 42.9% for reading. A “Does Not Meet” score was awarded because the school’s combined average score was 33.8%.
It wasn’t just academic standards where AASC was coming up short. Despite “commendable efforts,” low enrollment and lingering financial challenges were contributing factors, which reviewers said compromised the school’s viability.
In a December 13th, 2024 letter, the Minnesota Department of Education informed school leadership that Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud was in Statutory Operating Debt. SOD is defined as a school district or charter school that reports a year-end net negative unreserved General Fund balance of more than negative 2.5% of its unreserved/undesignated operating expenditures. As of June 30th, 2024, AASC had a net negative unreserved General Fund balance of 2.7%. As of November 30th, 2024, the FY25 revised budget projected a negative 11.2% General Fund balance.
An intervention letter was sent to AASC on April 18th, 2023, showing it was at Level II with its first Notice of Deficiency, which was due to further signs of weakening performance, failure to meet contractual performance standards, failure to comply with applicable law or the conditions of the charter contract and continued evidence of poor financial health or management.
Another letter on January 19th, 2024, warned it was at Level III Probationary Status. That was defined as a continued failure to meet contractual performance standards and expectations or meet the objectives of a remediation plan, continued noncompliance with the applicable law or conditions of the charter contract and severe concerns regarding financial viability.
The charter went under review when the school reached Intervention Level IV status. A letter dated May 1st, 2024, shows Level IV was triggered by a failure to address the terms of its probationary status, an extended pattern of failure to meet contractual performance standards and expectations and/or to comply with applicable law or the conditions of the charter contract. It also showed “severe and persistent concerns regarding the school’s financial viability.
The VOA-MN said it recognizes the closure of AASC is a “significant transition for students, families, and staff. Our priority remains ensuring a smooth transition through the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. We encourage those affected to connect with school leadership and local education agencies for guidance on enrollment, academic records, and available resources.”
Athlos Academy St. Cloud does have the right to appeal the decision. Emails seeking comment sent to the AASC governing board have not been returned.
The final bell will ring for students on May 30th, 2025. The current charter expires on June 30th, 2025.
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