Baltimore City Council’s education committee is bracing for a packed house today when it takes public testimony on proposed permanent school closures that would hit three campuses: Dallas F. Nichols Sr. Elementary, Renaissance Academy, and Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys. The school board has already voted to end Baltimore Collegiate’s charter, while Dallas F. Nichols and Renaissance were tagged for closure in the district’s annual review and remain open as advocates push for alternatives. Families and teachers argue the moves would displace vulnerable students and strip neighborhoods of already limited options, while councilmembers say they want a much clearer breakdown of the data, timelines, and student placement plans behind the recommendations.
According to WBAL NewsRadio, the council’s education committee will hear directly from Baltimore City Public Schools about why these campuses were recommended for closure and will also take public testimony. WBAL noted that even with a full hearing, it remains unclear whether the City Council has the legal authority to override the school board’s decisions.
Baltimore City Public Schools laid out the proposed changes in its Annual Review of Schools and held public hearings in December and January to collect community input; the district’s posted hearing schedule identified Dallas F. Nichols and Renaissance as items for public comment. As detailed by Baltimore City Public Schools, the Annual Review included recommendations to close or reconfigure several schools. Reporting indicates that the Board of School Commissioners ultimately deferred closure decisions for Dallas F. Nichols and Renaissance while voting to deny renewal of Baltimore Collegiate’s charter.
What the council will ask
The council docket lists item 25‑0043R as an informational hearing titled “Process of Permanent School Closures” on the City Council calendar for Feb. 19, 2026. The session is framed as a chance for City Schools and school board representatives to brief councilmembers on the criteria and data behind the Annual Review and to answer questions about student reassignment and potential building reuse, according to the Baltimore City Council. Council aides say the hearing is intended as an explanatory briefing rather than a binding vote by the council.
Legal options and appeals
Baltimore Collegiate’s CEO has said he plans to appeal the board’s non‑renewal to the Maryland State Board of Education, arguing that the district’s non‑renewal process undercut enrollment and fundraising at the school, according to WCBM. Public notices tied to the annual review lay out board procedures and note that appeals to the state board generally must be submitted in writing within timelines established by state rules, as summarized by The Daily Record. Those procedural requirements will determine whether the board’s decisions stand as is, are modified, or move into a formal appeal process.
How to testify and what happens next
City Schools and the board used both sign‑up slots and written‑comment options during the Annual Review process and posted information about hearings and participation on the district website, including instructions on how community members could register to speak or send in written testimony. After the council hears from the public, any actual decisions on which schools remain open or close will still rest with the Board of School Commissioners or with the state appeals process. The council hearing is structured to push the district for clearer explanations rather than to deliver an instant reversal. Officials say they will be looking for specific plans on student placement, transportation, and continuity of specialized services before considering any further action.
