Lowcountry Charter School Loses State Charter and Funding

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Lowcountry Charter School Loses State Charter and Funding

A Lowcountry charter school, Sea Island Heritage Academy, which opened less than two years ago, has officially lost its state funding after a unanimous vote by the South Carolina Public Charter School Board of Trustees.

The decision, which also involved the termination of the school’s charter contract, marks the end of the board’s endorsement and financial support for the school.

Reasons for the Loss of Charter

Sea Island Heritage Academy, approved by the state in April 2023, was intended to serve grades 6-12. However, the school faced significant challenges, including poor board leadership.

During a hearing on June 12, staff highlighted issues such as low attendance at board meetings—at one meeting, only three board members showed up, and at another, no board members were present. The South Carolina Public Charter School Board cited these issues as contributing factors to the revocation of the school’s charter.

The South Carolina Public Charter School District—which oversees the authorization and support of charter schools—provides financial backing and ensures quality educational opportunities for students.

The district currently supports 45 charter schools across the state, serving 20,600 students. Despite this, the Sea Island Heritage Academy’s failure to meet operational expectations led to its loss of both its charter and funding.

The School’s Vision and Opening

Sea Island Heritage Academy was founded by Alana Jenkins, who envisioned the school as a place where education would go beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach. In a statement on the school’s website, Jenkins described the school’s mission as one that aimed to “tailor learning to each student,” by rooting education in the local community and linking it to real-world experiences.

Despite these aspirations, the school opened its doors in August 2024, serving only 6th through 8th-grade students with low enrollment. The academy faced various challenges, including low attendance and a lack of adequate leadership, which ultimately led to the board’s recommendation for revocation.

Board’s Final Decision and Future of the School

The South Carolina Public Charter School Board of Trustees expressed their best wishes for the school’s future, acknowledging that the school’s board leadership had led to the revocation of the charter. Notably, no representatives from Sea Island Heritage Academy attended the meeting to contest the decision, which sealed its fate.

Currently, there is no information on whether the school will now close or what steps will follow the revocation of its charter. The future of the academy remains uncertain as the board focuses on other charter schools in the state.

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