Veritas Prep green lit to open in South End

Date: 3/7/2011

March 7, 2011

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — Eighty-one students will file through the doors of Veritas Preparatory Charter School next year to participate in the latest model of alternative education.

Veritas Prep, a tuition-free, public charter school for students in grades 5 to 8, was green lit by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Feb. 28.

"College preparatory education, that's thrown around a lot but not many schools can back it up," Rachel Romano, lead founder and executive director of Veritas Prep, said. "As a community charter school, we have autonomy over our schedule. We'll have a longer school day, an eight-hour day, and a 190-day school year, which gives us the opportunity to spend more time on math and literacy."

The curriculum will include the core subjects of English, mathematics, social studies and science, also requiring an additional math and English course within the daily schedule. "That's how we're upping the [standards] and providing them with remediation," Romano said of having two math and two English classes each day.

"This will help catch them up and close that [education] gap in Springfield," she added, noting that Veritas Prep will be located in the South End. The exact location has yet to be determined.

"Students in the South End are bused to three different middle schools. We're trying to fill the need in a neighborhood that is very underserved. We're also serving students in the middle school grades, whereas middle schools in Springfield are very challenged right now," Romano said.

"We are thrilled with the outpouring of community support we have received for a college preparatory middle school, particularly in the South End," Lisa Doherty, chair of Veritas Prep's Board of Directors, said. "We have an incredible opportunity to transform students' lives and we remain deeply grateful to the entire Springfield community for their support in this urgent work."

The school is founded on a model of "structured learning" and "character education," with a motto that "it takes 'DRIVE' to succeed," Romano explained. DRIVE is an acronym for determination, responsibility, integrity, vision and enthusiasm.

"We believe that long-term academic and life success begins with high expectations," she said. "We will set the academic and behavioral bar high for our students and provide them with a structured, safe and supportive learning environment.

"Veritas Prep students will be on track to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college," she continued. "The sky is the limit for what our students can learn. It's our job to ensure we get them there. We will develop our students' foundation of content, skill, and character critical to their success, teach them to envision their future in college and beyond, and instill within them the drive to realize that vision."

Additional information about Veritas Prep can be obtained by contacting Romano at rromano@buildingexcellentschools.org.