Stride Academy Will Remain Open at Least One More Year

ST. CLOUD -- Stride Academy has been given new life, and will be open at least one more school year. "Friends of Education", Stride's authorizer, has decided to extend the charter's contract.

The decision is based off the 2017 initial student performance data. That data showed a three-to-five point increase in student reading and math proficiency.

Sara Fromm, Stride's Board Chair says, those numbers and persistence were a big reason why FoE changed their minds.

"We were persistent, we kept bringing it to them and assuring them that we are here to stabilize our operations and produce strong governance."

Friends of Education says in a statement the point increase shows the school may have stopped its self-described "steady, unbroken decline in its educational performance." Friends of Education originally announced in early April it was not renewing Stride's charter, forcing the school to announce its possible closure.

As part of the contract extension, the Stride board will be required to provide a detailed improvement plan by June 16th.

Both parties must agree to the extension no later than June 30th.