Last month, the West Chester Area School Board voted once again to deny the Valley Forge Classical Academy its charter application. The proposed charter school, which began its journey for approval last summer, wants to provide a “Hillsdale College Curriculum” education option for students in the West Chester area and beyond. The Hillsdale College Curriculum (there is a detailed overview available online if you want to dig in) has gained significant press in recent months for its approach to history – particularly its focus on the country’s developmental years from colonization through the Civil War. According to the curriculum website, this period is taught four different times from K through 12 – “each time increasing in depth.”

In the Pennridge School District which recently revised some social studies classes to better align with the Hillsdale curriculum, teachers found the increased coverage came at the expense of lessons on Pennsylvania state history and Native Americans. Fans of the approach feel it helps teach children to love America. Critics maintain it is another attempt to whitewash history.

WCASD’s concerns over the proposed charter school, however, extended far beyond the curriculum and included the facility, the budget, the use of technology, required teacher accreditation, the lack of a disciplinary policy, and an inability to properly address diverse student populations. In November, VFCA submitted a revised 571-page application to the district that ostensibly addresses some of those concerns. (Full disclosure, I did not read the full application and so far no one is providing the Cliffs Notes version.)  

Despite the potential for heated debate, the milestone passed quietly on Monday. Not a single comment was made about the application – for or against – before it was denied unanimously by present board members. (Board members Joyce Chester and Stacey Whomsley were absent on Monday.)  

VFCA Directors will now take the decision to the Pennsylvania Charter Appeals Board but first, they must file a legal petition and obtain at least 1000 signatures from WCASD residents. Anticipating the denial – VFCA began preparing supporters for the appeals process in December.

“If all goes as expected, the Board will, once again, vote to deny the charter,” they wrote on their Facebook page on December 22.  “At that point, all who are interested in ensuring a successful end to our endeavors, especially our parents, will be asked to gather AT LEAST 10 signatures on the petition forms that we will circulate soon. You can gather signatures from neighbors, friends, coworkers, business acquaintances, and others you may know, or who your friends and acquaintances know! Anyone who resides or owns property in the West Chester Area District is eligible to sign!”

The school has 60 days to collect signatures but they are hoping to do it in 30.    

“While we do have 60 days, it is imperative that we accomplish this task in 30 days, to keep on schedule for opening the school in the Fall,” the post read.

You can read more about the school and its proposed curriculums here and the District’s stated concerns over that application here.  

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Originally published on Jan. 26, 2024

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