Barack Obama Leadership Academy faces threat of closure

March 27, 2026

The Detroit Public Schools Community District board has decided not to renew the contract for Barack Obama Leadership Academy, one of Michigan's oldest charter schools, which expires on June 30th. Board members rejected administrators' recommendations for a one-year transitional contract due to the school's persistent academic underperformance, despite some marginal improvements from the previous year. The K-5 charter school, which has operated since 1997 and serves approximately 300 students with an African-centric curriculum, had only 10.

Who is affected

Barack Obama Leadership Academy (formerly Timbuktu Academy) and its approximately 300 students in grades K-5
Families of students enrolled at the charter school
Cha-Rhonda Edgerson, CEO of the charter
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) board members and administrators
Staff and teachers at the charter school
The east side Detroit community where the school has operated since 1997

What action is being taken

The DPSCD board is declining to renew the charter's contract, which ends June 30th
Four board members (Harris, Vaughn, McClendon, and Bland) decided not to put a vote on contract renewal on the April board meeting agenda
The charter has hired a full-time data coach, increased professional development for staff, created a plan to address debt with the Michigan Department of Education, and reduced staffing to align with its budget

Why it matters

This decision represents a significant shift in Detroit's approach to charter school oversight, as the board is implementing stricter academic performance standards requiring district-authorized charters to meet or exceed traditional district school achievement levels. The closure is particularly impactful because Barack Obama Leadership Academy is one of Michigan's oldest charter schools and serves as what its CEO describes as a "pillar in that community," offering African-centric education on Detroit's east side. Given that more than half of Detroit's school-age children attend charter schools (81 city charters operated last year), this decision could set a precedent for how the district evaluates and manages its relationship with the seven charters it authorizes. The school's persistently low performance—with only 10.4% of students meeting reading/writing benchmarks and 2.8% meeting math benchmarks—combined with a 62.2% chronic absenteeism rate, underscores broader challenges in Detroit's educational system.

What's next

The charter school must either find a new authorizer or prepare to close by June 30th when its current contract expires
Students and families have until the end of June to make alternative school arrangements
The charter's CEO, Cha-Rhonda Edgerson, has not yet indicated whether the school will seek another authorizer

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com