2017 Charter Application Technical Assistance Charter Schools Program

2017 Charter Application Technical Assistance Charter Schools Program Office of School Transformation Division of Innovation and Effectiveness December 15, 2017 Revised 12/13/17

Contact Information Kayla Audette Education Associate, Charter Schools Program Office of School Transformation kaudette@ed. sc. gov 803 -734 -2781 Donna Manning Team Leader, School Choice and Innovation Office of School Transformation dmanning@ed. sc. gov 803 -734 -0482

Background In 1996, the South Carolina Legislature passed the Charter Schools Act, thereby providing citizens the opportunity to apply to operate a public school. The focus of charter schools is to provide quality educational choices for parents and students.

Purpose of Charter Schools The Charter School Act is enacted to: • improve student learning • increase learning opportunities for students • encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods • establish new forms of accountability for schools • create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site • assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence • create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system, with the goal of closing achievement gaps between low performing student groups and high performing student groups

What is a charter school? A charter school: • is a public school • is nonreligious • is non-home-based • is a nonprofit corporation forming a school • operates by sponsorship of a public school district, the South Carolina Public Charter School District, or a public or independent institution of higher learning • is accountable to the board of trustees, or in the case of technical colleges, the area commission, of the sponsor which grants its charter

Charter Schools in South Carolina Provide Guidance on Regulations and Accountability SPONSORS OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS Provide Support for all Schools SC Department of Education Local Sponsors • 35 Schools – 16 local districts SC Public Charter School • 39 Schools District IHE – 1 • Erskine College – reviewing Currently applications Registered Public Charter School Alliance of SC

2018 Application • The 2018 application outlines the necessary components to propose, receive approval for, and implement a high quality charter school. • All application resources are available on the SCDE webpage (https: //ed. sc. gov/districts-schools/school-choice/charter-schools -program/charter-school-application-information/) • All charter school applications must comply fully with the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, S. C. Code Ann. § 59 -40 -10 et seq. , and the Procedures and Standards for Review of Charter School Applications, S. C. Code Ann. Regs. 43 -601 (2013)

Eligible Applicants • Any individual or group who desires to form a charter school and files the necessary application for review by the sponsor: • local school district, • the South Carolina Public Charter School District (SCPCSD), • or a public or independent institution of higher learning* • The applicant must also be the same entity that is registered as a nonprofit corporation with the South Carolina Secretary of State to organize the charter school. *Only public or independent institutions of higher learning that have registered with the SCDE may serve as a charter school sponsor.

2018 Application Deadlines and Submission Procedures • A Letter of Intent must be submitted at least 90 days prior to submitting an application to the proposed sponsor and the SCDE. • Completed application packet by February 1, 2018 for charter schools that plan to open for the 2019– 20 school year. • Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for a 2019– 20 opening. • Applications and LOIs should be submitted to the charter’s proposed sponsor and to the SCDE.

2018 Application Deadlines and Submission Procedures • Applicant shall notify the local delegation of the county which the proposed charter is to be located. • Only applications that are complete and follow these guidelines will be considered. • Applicants may amend applications after submission if the sponsor determines that an application does not meet one or more of the standards requests clarifying information from the applicant prior to or during the hearing. The sponsor has the authority to incorporate this clarifying information into the application. • Applicants should verify with their proposed sponsor whether this submission should be electronic, a paper copy, or both.

2018 Application Review and Selection Process • Within 90 days of receiving a completed application, the sponsor will review and rule on the application in a public hearing. • If there is no ruling within 90 days, the application is considered approved. • Once approved, the charter school may open at the beginning of the following year.

2018 Application Review and Selection Process • A sponsor shall deny an application only if the application: • does not meet the requirements specified in 59 -40 -50 or 59 -4060, • fails to meet spirit and intent of the Charter Schools Act of 1996, • adversely affects the other students in the district in which the charter school is to be located, or • fails to demonstrate a substantial capacity to establish a viable school. • Within 10 days, a written explanation of the reasons for denial must be sent to the charter committee and filed with the SCDE

2018 Application Approval Process

Additional Items to Note • Signature certification page: in appendix items, charter school committee chair should sign and date prior to application submission but the “Authorization” portion with chair and sponsor signatures will be signed after approval • Use outline on pages 9 and 10 and appendix items outline on pages 11 and 44 as checklist to ensure application submitted is complete

Changes/Updates • Mission/Vision embedded in Executive Summary • Streamlined Appendix Documents • EMO/CMO Requirements: more robust for increased accountability

P&I Grant • Available to newly approved charter schools for duration of up to three (3) years/36 months • Funding disbursed during planning phase (prior to opening), Implementation I (first year of operation) and Implementation II (second year of operation) • To receive sub-grant funds, an applicant must be officially approved by an authorizer (sponsor). Funds will not be awarded until the approval is confirmed.

P&I Grant (cont. ) • Current competition has closed • For applicants submitting CHARTER application to sponsor by February 1, 2018 deadline, a competition will be opened in the Spring 2018 • Most recent competition had approximately $3. 6 million available in funding to be divided among 6 -8 awards/sub-grant recipients • Archived information on the most recent competition: https: //ed. sc. gov/finance/grants/scde-grantopportunities/csp-p-i-grant-2018 -19/

P&I Grant Contact Infomration Fredrica Brailsford Planning & Implementation Grant Manager Office of School Transformation charterschoolgrant@ed. sc. gov 803 -734 -0526

2018 Application Sections q. Application Cover Page q. Executive Summary q. Application Narrative (14 sections) q. Appendix Items

Evidence of Need & Support • Documented community/parent interest • Plan to recruit; special attention to drawing a diverse group of students to be in compliance of 20% enrollment margin (within context of how evidence of need/community support and marketing; providing equal access) • Ongoing parental/community engagement and partnerships during operation • Document evidence of notice given to local delegation if seeking SCPCSD/IHE sponsorship

Curriculum & Instructional Model • Instructional Model – educational program referencing research-based, data-driver educational philosophy • How the school will meet or exceed academic standards and expectations • Educational Structure – any unique features (nontraditional school year, unique partnerships, etc. ) • Enrollment plans and how the school will grow • Proposed school day and week

Curriculum & Instructional Model (cont. ) • Professional Development – who will oversee/coordinate professional development • Overall plan for PD for the staff • Alignment to the overall mission/goal of the school • How the yearly/daily schedule will facilitate/allow for PD • Virtual Offerings – if applicable

Serving Students with Special Needs • How will the school meet all requirements and meet the varied needs of students who enroll • Academic and nonacademic services • Plan(s) for transitioning students out of special education as appropriate • Etc. • Peter Keup will speak after lunch further on serving students with special needs

Goals, Objectives, & Assessment Plan • Goals that are appropriate and manageable; should be “SMART” goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic/aligned to school’s mission and proposed population/location, and time-based) • Summary of data (assessment and otherwise) of surrounding residential district to be used as baseline or description of how base-line will be established • Strategies that will be used to meet the goals

Goals, Objectives, & Assessment Plan (cont. ) • Assessment plan to include description of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments to be used – why were those in particular selected • How the school plans to monitor progress and address any gaps or lack of progress towards goals • Resources needed to implement the assessment plan and who will be the personnel responsible for monitoring/interpreting/communicating about the achievement data

Governing Board • Identify key members of the founding group; include brief biography of each member in perspective to skills they lend to the committee • Governance structure to include primary powers/duties and interactions with the school leader • Transition plan from chartering committee to governing board in first year of operation

Governing Board (cont. ) • Plan to expand/develop the board overtime – timeline, plans for recruiting members • Plan to build capacity of the board and board professional development plan • Describe any advisory boards or councils (current/planned): composition, role of parents/students/teachers/community members

Educational/Charter Management Contracts • Detailed roles/responsibilities of the EMO/CMO • Reason for choosing to work with EMO/CMO and the particular organization selected • Supervisory responsibilities of the EMO/CMO over employees of the school • How the charter board will oversee EMO/CMO • Plan for operation of the school in the event the contract is terminated • Apendix includes proposed contract and specific pieces that should be included

Administrative Structure/Building Leadership • Overall administrative structure • Key qualifications (capacity and experience) that will be sought for building level leadership and administrative team • Capacity building/professional development for administrative team • Evaluation plan/process for the school leader (and management company, if applicable)

Employees • Application should include the following: • A description of the process to be used to advertise for, select, and employ instructional staff and other employees • A statement asserting that at least one member of the administrative staff will hold a current SC certification of administration or will have at least one year of experience in the field of school-based administration • A description of the proposed evaluation process. Charter schools may use ADEPT, TAP, or another evaluation system as submitted for approval by the SCDE Office of Teacher Effectiveness. • An explanation of how the school will communicate its employment policies and any policy changes • A description of the grievance and termination procedure for the charter school’s employees

Enrollment • Policies and procedures that will guide enrollment and withdrawl of students to include: reaching diverse population, lottery process to be used if/when needed, policy for processing applications, etc. • Recruitment strategies, communication plans to convey enrollment procedures to families • Plan to ensure enrollment reflects residential district, differing by no more than 20%

Student Conduct, Rights, and Responsibilities • Process and timeline for developing student handbook and related policies • Students rights and responsibilities including behavior and discipline standards • Process for addressing IDEA (SPED) compliance regarding student discipline • How will the school ensure the policies will not disproportionately affect students with disabilities or other sub-groups

Transportation • Application must include the following: • A description of how the proposed charter school plans to address the transportation needs of its students and, in particular, if the lack of transportation is preventing a child from attending school • A description of the plan if the school is providing transportation by school bus (must comply with state regulations for driver and training and the state safety requirements for school buses) • A description of the services if the school intends to contract with the local school district or a third party

Budget & Finance • The team’s individual and collective qualifications for implementing the financial plan successfully • Description of how the budget will support all aspects of the school as proposed in application (mission, educational plan, PD, any unique components, etc. ) • Describe funding sources • How will the school remain fiscally solvent and adhere to generally acceptable accounting practices, maintain books and records in accordance with, and create system of internal control

Budget & Finance (cont. ) • Student Enrollment Projection Form – will be made available as a word document; can be edited to meet needs of the school • SCDE Per Pupil Estimate Review – will need to contact SCDE, Ann Castro: acastro@ed. sc. gov to obtain the formal document to be submitted • Funding levels differentiate across sponsors (base per pupil funding, plus add on weightings) • Details available in the funding manual on SCDE webpage

Facilities • Basic facility requirements to accommodate specific school plan • If facility has been identified: address, description, owner information, lease details (if applicable), contingency plan • If facility has not been identified: plan for obtaining the appropriate space, plan to use/remodel existing or build to new, timeline to obtain facility, etc. • How is the facility plan is aligned with enrollment growth as outlined in earlier sections

Facilities (cont. ) • Must obtain documentation from SCDE’s Office of Facilities (OSF) before occupying facility • Contact early as schedules fill up and staff is limited • Must also obtain appropriate documentation from SCDOT School Traffic Engineering before beginning operation • If a facility has been identified/obtained at time of application, include the above documentations in application • See letter from SCDE OSF at end of the application packet which includes contact information

Insurance Coverage • Application must include a description of the types and amounts of insurance coverage to be obtained by the charter school. Application must address, but is not limited to, the following types of insurance: • • • workers’ compensation liability property indemnity automotive