July 17, 2014 3:56 PM

Rocketship charter fails to launch

Some advances but some setbacks for charters as well in Texas

The high-profile but somewhat beleaguered Rocketship charter chain has pulled out of interviews at the Texas Education Agency next week, offering a letter that says it intends to focus on its existing charters.

That probably suits its critics well, including State Board of Education member Mavis Knight. Rocketship, once considered a rock star in national charter circles for its bold use of technology, has seen scores dip in the last couple of years. An onslaught of critical assessments in Nashville and an active campaign against the chain in California has laid the once-ambitious charter chain low.

Director Heather Mauze informed the State Board of Education’s Initiatives Committee Rocketship had withdrawn from consideration today.

“Probably a wise move considering what I read about their expansion issues,” Knight countered tartly, “and I’ll leave it at that.”

By Kimberly Reeves