The story is told over and over– a charter school launches and immediately crashes and burns. Shawgi Tell at Dissident Voice reports on one such failure in Baltimore.
Poor planning, leadership, and charter school applications are not uncommon in the charter school sector. Such recurrent problems not only give traditional host public school districts big headaches, they also ensure a range of foreseeable intractable problems in privately-operated charter schools, especially when everything is rushed and not well-thought-out. Privatization efforts in education and other spheres are known for often leading to less accountability, behaviors that undermine the public interest, and unsafe practices.
The Baltimore Planner reported on January 23, 2026 that Montgomery County’s only privately-operated charter school, MECCA Business Learning Institute, may be closed after operating for only three months. The news article reports that, “Montgomery County Public Schools leaders said they tried to be good partners in launching the [charter school] campus. Still, Superintendent Thomas Taylor determined it should close because of special education violations, staffing issues, privacy breaches and financial woes.” The deregulated charter school also experienced transportation and student enrollment problems.
Montgomery County District officials, adds the Baltimore Planner, “documented failures to provide timely special education services, retain qualified personnel and offer psychological services.” In addition, a November 2025 audit found “widespread, systemic patterns and recurring issues posing significant compliance risks” at the charter school.
At one point, MECCA Business Learning Institute “leased a district-owned building in Bethesda” for more than $50,000 a month. And, “To get students roughly 20 miles farther than anticipated, the charter school contracted with yellow bus companies.” The news article goes on to say that, “Some drivers were not certified to operate yellow buses, according to district emails. Officials also received a complaint that at least one of the buses didn’t have functioning red stop lights for students loading and unloading.”
For these and other reasons, enrollment fell sharply. “By the end of September, MECCA Business Learning Institute had lost more than 25% of its students. The decline would only grow steeper.” Naturally, this triggered staff turnover: “The charter school eliminated six full-time teaching positions and reduced five others from full time to part time, officials said.” We also learn from the news that, “The charter’s signature business class was at times taught by a teacher who was certified in physical education and health.” Despite this long list of serious problems, leaders at the MECCA Business Learning Institute will likely do an end-run around Montgomery County District officials and ask the state board of education to keep their school open.