POUGHKEEPSIE – , the charter school in Poughkeepsie, opened in 2022, faces the risk of not receiving renewal of its certification from the Poughkeepsie City School District Board (PCSD) of Education.  The charter school, which serves grades K-5, is currently on probation with the State University of New York, which oversees charter schools, for charter violations related to financial reports.

According to SUNY, the school has repeatedly failed to submit its annual independent audit on time and has failed to implement SUNY’s remedial action plan, which must be followed or risk having its charter revoked under state education law.  A memo from the SUNY Charter School Committee Chair, Joseph Belluck, to members of the committee, dated March 3, 2026, obtained by Mid-Hudson News, says in part, “Based on the continued inability of the Education Corporation to complete timely auditing requirements, a clear indicator of fiscal mismanagement, and charter violation, the Institute recommends the Charter School Committee place the Education Corporation on probation and implement a remedial action plan.”

The school has an approximate enrollment of 190 students and claims to offer special education to students who need those services.  Teachers in the PCSD claim the charter school, which does not require teachers to be state-certified, lacks qualified special education teachers and requires PCSD Special Education Teachers to assist with various issues.

Another concern raised after an audit is the school’s safety. During one independent audit, a sample of four new employees revealed that three staff members had not had fingerprinting or background checks, including a criminal history check, completed, despite those requirements under state education law.

The 2025 review of Little Water, conducted by the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, found the following:

  • During the charter term, the school experienced significant staff member and leadership turnover, which hindered progress toward establishing consistent instructional and operational practices.
  • Critical systems for curriculum implementation, instructional leadership, and support for at-risk students remain inconsistently applied or underdeveloped.
  • The school’s ability to drive instructional improvement is limited.

The charter school relies heavily on the PCSD for operating funds and receives approximately $3 million annually in PCSD tax dollars, not including the two dedicated school buses the district provides to Little Water.

PCSD Board of Education President Jamar Cummings opposes the renewal of the school’s certification. “Poughkeepsie’s children deserve more than promises. They deserve results, accountability, and a safe place to learn,” he told Mid-Hudson News.  “When a school is on probation, and there are documented concerns about performance, I cannot support committing millions more in public education dollars without clear evidence that our children are getting the education they deserve.  This isn’t about charter schools versus public schools. It’s about whether our children are safe, whether they are learning, and whether public dollars are producing results. If a school cannot demonstrate that, we should not simply reward it with another five years.”

Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers’ Association President Kimberly Popken and her fellow PPSTA members are also lobbying against the renewal. “Little Water Prep students are not receiving the same educational program as students in the Poughkeepsie City School District. Our public schools are staffed by certified educators with expertise in their content areas, and PCSD provides academic intervention, special education, and mental-health supports to meet the needs of the whole child.”

Popken also noted that Little Water siphons off money that could be used by students in the PCSD.  “During the 2025–26 school year, charter-school tuition was identified by the district as a significant expense of over $3 million and a major factor affecting the district’s budget. When resources are directed to charter schools, it impacts the resources available to the public school system serving the broader community.”

The PCSD is holding a public hearing on the renewal at the Poughkeepsie High School on Wednesday, October 7, at 6 pm.

Little Water Prep did not respond to emails sent by Mid-Hudson News seeking comment.



Original article