ADE Approves Retroactive Alternative School Status for Primavera

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) today announced that it is approving retroactive alternative school status for Primavera for the year 2024. This is an issue for the decision of the department under historic practice.  ADE provided 4 reasons for the decision:

1. Calculations that the department performed show that Primavera does serve the type of demographics that alternative schools are designed for.
2. For the years that Primavera did apply for alternative status, it was always granted.
3. One of the key factors for alternative status is the mission statement. During the years that Primavera applied, such as 2019 and 2025, Primavera’s mission statement was approved for purposes of alternative status. That mission statement has not changed, so there is no reason why the mission statement should be a barrier.
4. Where in all years that Primavera applied for alternative status, it was approved, it did not make sense to deny this request given that the demographics of the student body and the mission statement both remained the same.

This action does not change Primavera’s grade from a D during the last three years to a higher grade.  Any such change would be up to the State Board. While ADE has no way to predict State Board action, if it does approve, then the issue will go to the charter board.