From what I can tell this would be a program specifically serving the lower income immigrants with "language challenges" who aren't being served well by the current school system. And it's one of the charter schools that is most likely to serve their students better than the mainstream schools, as opposed to the for profit charter schools. It's important NOT to lump "charter schools" into one group, because they are extremely diverse.

This group was started, from what I've read, by parents who believe the schools are not serving their kid's needs and who believe that they can do better.

So maybe you understand now why this might actually be a very good thing for Somerville?