By the Education Magazine | March 20, 2026
A months-long formal review process has resulted in a charter school closure in Delaware, with the state revoking the charter of the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence (BASSE) in Georgetown, with the school set to close at the end of the 2025–26 academic year.
Secretary of Education Cindy Marten announced the revocation on March 19, with the assent of the Delaware State Board of Education, effectively shutting down the Sussex County school and displacing approximately 120 students in grades 6–9.
For parents, the move has created uncertainty as they work to secure alternative placements for their children ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
“Behind every data point is a family or a child like ours.” — Candace Kinsler, BASSE parent, speaking at the March 9 public hearing (Spotlight Delaware)
Why the Charter Was Revoked
Officials cited three concerns leading to the Delaware charter revocation:
- Enrollment challenges impact funding stability.
- Organizational and financial concerns
- Long-term sustainability issues
At the time of the committee’s recommendation, BASSE was 85 students below its projected enrollment, with no clear path to recovery. State education authorities determined the school could not meet required performance and operational standards, triggering the closure.
Impact on Students and Families
Students may return to their home district schools or transfer to another participating district or charter school for the 2026–27 academic year. Teachers and staff are also affected, with many now seeking new employment opportunities.
“We can’t recover enrollment when we’re starting in August with ‘Is the school going to be shut down?’ That’s how we started our school year. You can’t recover like that.” — Candace Shetzler, Staff Representative, BASSE Board of Directors (Delaware Public Media)
A Broader Pattern of Charter School Volatility
BASSE’s closure marks the first state-directed charter revocation in a decade and adds to a total of more than 10 Delaware charter schools that have closed since the late 1990s. Education analysts say the case reflects a wider pattern across the United States.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), roughly 3% of U.S. charter schools close each year, a rate that disproportionately affects schools in their first three years of operation, as BASSE was.
Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools operate with greater independence but also face stricter accountability measures. Common reasons for closures include:
| Cause | Real-World Impact |
| Enrollment shortfalls | Reduced funding tied to student numbers |
| Facility challenges | High leasing and infrastructure costs |
| Organizational mismanagement | Difficulty meeting compliance standards |
This model allows underperforming schools to be shut down, but also introduces instability for families relying on them.
What This Means for School Choice
The closure raises important questions about the risks associated with school choice systems. Critics argue that sudden closures disrupt student learning and that oversight standards vary widely across states, while supporters maintain that accountability mechanisms ensure only sustainable schools continue operating.
Supporters of the accountability model counter that the same framework that closed BASSE also protects students from being trapped in chronically underperforming schools and that the alternative, keeping failed schools open, causes greater long-term harm.
What Happens Next
With BASSE’s closure, Sussex County will be left with just two charter schools, compared to six in Kent County and 15 in New Castle County. This charter school closure highlights the need to carefully evaluate school stability when considering charter options, as school choice can entail both opportunities and risks.
FAQs
1. Why did the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence close?
State officials cited enrollment, financial, and organizational concerns. The school fell 85 students below its required minimum and had no clear path to meet that threshold.
2. When does BASSE officially close?
The school will close at the end of the 2025–26 academic year. Students may enroll in home district schools or another charter school for the 2026–27 school year.
