A new Kuna school — Valor Classical Academy — was approved at a regular Idaho Public Charter School Commission meeting Thursday.

Commissioners also gave the embattled Peace Valley Charter School, a Waldorf school in Boise, a last chance to stay open. The school has been at the center of controversy in recent years over its testing deficiencies, contributing to debate over the commission’s role in the charter ecosystem.

The charter commission meets every other month and oversees the operations and viability of most public charter schools in the state. 

Classical schools continue to grow in Idaho

Commissioners unanimously approved Valor Classical Academy, which will open in fall 2026. School leaders hope to enroll 369 students the first year in grades K-6. The school would then add one grade level per year until it reached a maximum capacity of 654 students by year seven. 

It will be the fourth classical academy in Idaho, joining the existing Treasure Valley Classical Academy in Fruitland and Idaho Novus Classical Academy in Boise. North Idaho Classical Academy is set to open in Bonners Ferry next fall. 

The schools use curriculum from Hillsdale College, a private conservative Christian liberal arts school in Michigan. All four are part of the nonprofit American Classical Schools of Idaho, which “exists to support the startup, growth, and flourishing of Hillsdale College” member schools throughout Idaho. 

Peace Valley given final chance to stay open

Peace Valley Charter School, a K-8 Waldorf school in Boise, was given one last chance to continue operating Thursday after failing to meet reading achievement and financial goals by a Nov. 15 deadline.

School board chair Michael Pinkerton said they overhauled school leadership and the budget last summer and needed more time to see those changes at work. 

The school started out with little technology use and the prior administration felt that by just increasing exposure to the reading test, scores would improve, Pinkerton explained. However, that did not prove effective. 

The new school leadership has altered the curriculum and is seeking outside help among other changes they hope will be effective. 

“Yes, we made mistakes but we learn from it and this year we come back stronger,” Principal Sita Chiang told the commission. 

The commission debated whether to waive this set of conditions and allow the school to operate or to initiate a charter revocation hearing. 

Commissioner Pete Koehler said he wanted to see significant growth over the next year but was pleased to see the school had asked for outside help to reach literacy score goals.

“I have deep concerns, very deep concerns,” Koehler said. “But I feel that you need an opportunity to prove what you say.”

The school has other math and English requirements to meet next year. If the school fails to meet the conditions, the commission could start a revocation process at that time. 

The commission voted 4-1 to waive the failed conditions this year. Commissioner Paul Amador was the sole no vote. 

Commissioners had previously considered revoking the school’s right to operate due to its failure to meet the terms of its authorizing agreement with the state. Part of the issue was that the school was not “consistently monitoring and evaluating learner progress.”

In June, the Commission decided to reevaluate the charter in November, and then analyze its finances, school governance and literacy.

“I encourage you to get things together,” board chairman Alan Reed told the school leaders in June. “We’re going to look at you again in November, and it may be a different discussion.”

Renewing Peace Valley Charter even when it hasn’t met required conditions has led to past controversy on the Commission, contributing to the resignation of at least one former commissioner.

At the heart of the controversy is debate over the Commission’s role — whether it should support charter schools, hold them accountable, or both.

Gem Prep looks to simplify administrative duties

Gem Prep operates six brick and mortar schools along with an online school. Of the physical schools, all but the Nampa campus were authorized by the charter commission, causing a difference in reporting requirements for the Nampa campus. 

“One of them has a different performance certificate, different accountability metrics, and things that require us to submit different documentation to the district,”said CEO Jason Bransford. “This is regulatory work and administrative work that takes time away from the things that matter most in educating students.” 

Gem Prep Nampa currently has 539 students with 200 on the waitlist. The location opened in 2016 at New Horizons Elementary School then moved to its own facility in 2018. The school’s charter was renewed the following year in 2019. 

School leaders said they had maintained a good relationship with the Nampa School District, but it made more sense to have the same authorizer as the other Gem Prep schools.

The commissioners unanimously approved the charter for a six-year term.