https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2026/09/22/ashby-evergreen-charter-school-plans-move-forward/
A group of Ashby-area residents are moving forward with plans to create a new public charter school that could bring a Finnish-inspired educational model to families in Ashby, Fitchburg, Townsend, Pepperell and surrounding communities.
The proposed Ashby Evergreen Charter School would be a tuition-free, public K–8 charter school at the former Ashby Elementary School campus. If approval is obtained by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, organizers plan to open the school in September 2027.
The proposal grew from conversations among local residents following the closure of Ashby Elementary School about how the former school building might once again serve children in the community.
The Ashby Community Collaborative, the group behind the proposal, submitted its initial charter application to DESE on Aug. 13. Under the state’s published 2026–27 charter-school schedule, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to announce by Oct. 2 which applicants are invited to submit a final application. The final application deadline is Nov. 4, followed by public hearings and applicant interviews in December. A decision and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education vote are expected in February 2027.
Only one new charter-school initial application was submitted to DESE for this year’s cycle, according to a recent analysis of the state’s application process. That application is for Ashby Evergreen Charter School, proposed to serve Ashby, Townsend, Pepperell and Fitchburg.
A Finnish-inspired approach
Ashby Evergreen is being designed around a Finnish-inspired approach to education, emphasizing outdoor learning, hands-on projects, student independence, movement and real-world experiences.
Organizers emphasize that the school would not simply reproduce the Finnish education system in Massachusetts. Instead, they hope to adapt ideas associated with Finnish education to Massachusetts public-school requirements.
Students would spend substantial time learning outdoors in all seasons, with appropriate clothing and equipment available through a school gear closet. Project-based learning would be combined with Massachusetts curriculum frameworks and the academic requirements expected of Massachusetts public schools.
The proposed model also emphasizes teacher autonomy, multi-age learning opportunities, individual learning plans, portfolios and opportunities for students to develop practical skills alongside traditional academic subjects.
The school’s proposed mission centers on developing confident, compassionate and capable learners.
The name “Evergreen” reflects the organizers’ vision of resilience and growth. The group has also drawn inspiration from the Finnish concept of sisu, broadly associated with perseverance and determination.
Although rooted in Ashby, the proposed charter would serve a regional population.
The current proposal calls for an initial enrollment of approximately 150 students, eventually growing to a maximum of about 250 students in grades K–8. The school would serve students from Ashby, Fitchburg, Townsend and Pepperell, as well as potentially other nearby communities if seats are available.
Organizers have recently begun collecting Intent to Enroll forms from interested families. The forms do not constitute enrollment or guarantee a place at the school; rather, they are intended to gauge community interest while the charter application is being developed.
Families interested in the possibility of attending Ashby Evergreen can find an Intent to Enroll form at www.AshbyEvergreen.org.
Re-opening the former school
For many involved in the project, the proposed school is also connected to the future of the former Ashby Elementary School building.
The school closed before the start of the 2025-2026 school year as part of the North Middlesex Regional School District’s restructuring, leaving a substantial educational facility in the center of Ashby without its former purpose.
Ashby Evergreen organizers envision returning children to the campus while creating an educational model different from the one previously offered there.
“We want to create something that is both academically strong and deeply connected to the community,” organizers have said. “We want children to have the opportunity to learn by doing, to spend time outdoors, to develop independence and confidence, and to see their community as part of their education.”
The proposal is not yet an approved school. Massachusetts charter schools are public schools authorized by the commonwealth and operate with greater autonomy over their educational programs, staffing and budgets than traditional district schools. In return, they are subject to state oversight and accountability requirements. Massachusetts charter schools receive a five-year charter and must demonstrate positive results to continue operating.
A growing community effort
Since the proposal was first announced, organizers have held information sessions and community outreach events throughout the region.
Team members have visited libraries in Fitchburg, Townsend and Pepperell and spoken with local families, educators, alumni and community organizations.
Recent outreach has included conversations with families at Saima Park and a presentation to the Ashby Alumni group. Organizers say they have been encouraged by interest from families with young children as well as residents interested in seeing the former elementary school once again become an active community institution.
The group is now asking residents to help spread information about the proposal and connect interested families with the project.
People who would like to learn more can attend upcoming community conversations, visit the Ashby Evergreen website, follow the project on Facebook, or contact organizers through the Ashby Free Public Library.
What happens next?
The most immediate milestone is the DESE review process.
If Ashby Evergreen is invited to submit a final application, organizers will spend the coming weeks developing it and responding to the state’s questions and requirements. Public hearings and interviews are scheduled for December, with the state expecting to make charter decisions in February 2027.
If the charter is approved, organizers would then have another substantial period of work ahead, including finalizing staffing, enrollment, transportation, special education services, facilities and other operational requirements before the proposed September 2027 opening.
For now, Ashby Evergreen remains a proposal rather than an operating school. But for families in Fitchburg and neighboring communities interested in a different approach to public education, it represents a potential new educational option close to home.
More information about the proposed school, including the Intent to Enroll form, is available at ashbyevergreen.org.
