New Charter Applicants Orientation

April 16, 20151:00 pm– 4:30 pm

Agenda Item Presenter

Welcome Melissa Brady, Director of Charter Schools

Presentation of the Model Florida Charter School Application

(Subject Matter Experts)

Break (10 minutes)

Presentation of the Model Florida Charter School Application

(Subject Matter Experts)

Open Forum Q&A Melissa Brady

AGENDA

Educational Plan

Michelle Townley

Mission, Guiding Principles and Purposes (p. 3)– Cornerstone of your application.– Sets the stage for your program.

Evaluation Criteria:• A compelling mission statement that defines

the guiding principles and values of the school.• A set of priorities that are meaningful,

manageable, and focus on improving student outcomes.

Educational Plan

Michelle Townley

Education Program Design (pp. 4-5)– What does a day at your school look like?– What research base is the foundation for your

curriculum?Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for an educational program design that:• Is clear and coherent; • Is based on effective, research-based educational practices and teaching

methods, and high standards for student learning;• Aligns with the school’s mission and responds to the needs of the school’s

target population, and • Presents evidence that the proposed approach will lead to improved student

performance for the school’s target population.

Educational Plan

Michelle Townley

Curriculum Plan (p. 5)– What progress monitoring tools will you use to

assess curriculum?– Curriculum should be research based.– Reading plan is paramount to your application.

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for a curriculum plan that:• Provides a clear and coherent framework for teaching and learning; • Is research-based;• Is consistent with the school’s mission, educational philosophy and instructional

approach;• Will enable students to attain Next Generation Sunshine State-Common Core

Standards and receive a year’s worth of learning for each year enrolled, and• Will be appropriate for all students at all levels.

Educational Plan

Heather Wright

Student Performance, Assessment, and Evaluation (p. 6)– Goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and

Time-Bound)– Understand state graduation requirements and student promotion plans.– How will you share student process with parents and students?

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• Measurable educational goals and objectives that set high standards for student performance.• Promotion standards that are based on high expectations and provide clear criteria for promotion

from one level to the next, and for graduation (if applicable).• Evidence that a range of valid and reliable assessments will be used to measure student performance.• An assessment plan that is sufficiently frequent and detailed to determine whether students are

making adequate progress.• Evidence that data will inform decisions about adjustments to the educational program.• Plans for sharing student performance information that will keep students and parents well informed

of academic progress.

Educational Plan

Nancy Woolcock

Exceptional Students (pp. 6-7)– Refer to Handout– Understand Equal Opportunity

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A clear description of the level of service the school will provide to students with disabilities.• A clear description of how the school will ensure students with disabilities will have an equal

opportunity of being selected for enrollment. • An understanding and commitment to collaborating with the sponsor to ensure that placement

decisions for students with disabilities will be made based on each student’s unique needs.• An appropriate plan for evaluating the school’s effectiveness in serving exceptional students, including

gifted.• A realistic enrollment projection (SWD) and a staffing plan that aligns with the projection.

Educational Plan

Juan Seda

English Language Learners (p. 8)– Compliance with state and federal requirements for meeting

the needs of speakers of other languages must be evident in your application.

– How will your school meet these requirements?Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• Demonstrated understanding of state and federal requirements regarding the education

of English language learners.• Sound plans for educating English language learner students that reflect the full range of

programs and services required to provide all students with a high quality education.• Demonstrated capacity to meet the school’s obligations under state and federal law

regarding the education of English language learners.

Diversity

Don Brown

Diversity and Community Impact – Does your overall proposal enhance the educational

opportunities for ALL students?– Does your school meet a need in the community?– Does the proposal have a targeted audience that

allows the proposed school to attract a diverse student population, including race and socioeconomic factors?

– Does the proposal include evidence of community support from all the stakeholders in the community?

Organizational Plan

Wes Bridges

Governance (pp. 9-10)– How is your school organized? What does your organizational

chart look like? – Do you have a method for resolving disputes?

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A governing board that is legally structured, or has a plan to organize in conformity with

the laws of Florida.• A clear description of the governing board’s obligations and responsibilities.• Evidence that the proposed governing board will contribute to the wide range of

knowledge and skill needed to oversee a charter school.• A clear, sensible delineation of roles and responsibilities in relation to governance and

school management.• A clear, sensible method for resolving disputes between a parent and the school.

Organizational Plan

Wes Bridges

Management (p. 10)– Describe the management structure of the school.– How will you select the school’s leader?– What does your staffing plan look like?

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A management structure that includes clear delineation of roles and

responsibilities for administering the day-to-day activities of the school.• A sound plan for the recruitment andselection of the school leader.• A viable and adequate staffing plan.• A sound plan for recruiting and retaining qualified and capable staff.

Organizational Plan

Wes Bridges

Education Service Providers (pp. 10-11)– Describe the services to be provided by the ESP.– Explain the ESP’s roles and responsibility.– Provide a summary of the ESP’s “track record”.

Evaluation Criteria• Reviewers will look for:• A persuasive explanation of the reasons for contracting with an education service

provider.• A persuasive explanation of how the proposed relationship with the ESP will further the

school’s mission.• A clear description of the services to be provided by the ESP.• A clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities between the school’s governing board

and the ESP.• A clearly defined performance-based relationship between the school’s board and ESP.

Organizational Plan

Brian Warren

Human Resources and Employment (p. 11)– Publicly or Privately Employed? FRS?– Policies must be in compliance with district, state,

and federal requirements.

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A compensation plan that will attract and retain quality staff.• Policies and procedures that hold staff to high professional standards or

a plan to develop policies and procedures.

Business Plan

Greg Rivers

Facilities (p. 13)– Financial Plan should align with facilities related costs– Facilities must in compliance with laws, regulations, and policies.– What’s your back-up plan?

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A realistic plan for securing a facility that is appropriate and adequate

for the school’s program and targeted population.• Evidence that the school has the necessary resources to fund the

facilities plan.

Business Plan

Rob Davis

Transportation Service (p. 14)– School Plan for transportation

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A transportation plan that serves all eligible students and specifies in

sufficient detail the responsibilities of all parties (the sponsor, the charter school, and other applicable service providers).

Business Plan

Jason Pitts

Food Service (p. 14)– What your school’s plan to provide food

service to your students?

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A food service plan that will serve all students.

Business Plan

Jason Pitts

Budget (pp. 14-15)– Start Up and Operating Funds (Use Revenue Estimate Worksheet –

www.fldoe.org/fefp/chartinst.asp)– Promised gifted funds – Include letters from guarantors of funds.Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• Budgetary projections which are consistent with all parts of the

application, including the school’s mission, educational program, staffing plan and facility.

• A realistic assessment of projected sources of revenue and expenses that ensure the financial viability of the school.

• A sound plan to monitor the budget and make adjustments as necessary.

Business Plan

Jason Pitts

Financial Management and Oversight (p. 15)– Who will manage the school’s finances?– What safeguards are in place?– How will accounting records be maintained?– Describe insurance coverage the school with obtain.

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A clear description of how the school’s finances will be managed. The

description must include assurances that the governing board retains ultimate control over the school’s finances.

• A clear description of strong internal controls. The system of internal controls must be sufficient to safeguard finances.

Educational Plan

Melissa Brady

Target Population (p. 4)– Describe the anticipated target population to be served.– What grades will the school will serve, what’s the projected number

of students to be served in each grade, what’s the number of students expected in each class, and the total number of students enrolled.

– Provide a description of how the student population projections were developed.

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• An understanding of the students the charter school intends to serve.• If the applicant proposes to target certain populations, the projected student

body should align with the overall mission of the school.

Educational Plan

Melissa Brady

School Climate and Discipline (p. 9)– Describe the school’s planned approach to classroom

management and student discipline.– Describe the school’s Code of Conduct, including the

school’s policies for discipline, suspension, and dismissal.

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A sound approach to classroom management and student discipline.• Legally sound policies for student discipline, suspension, and dismissal,

including the school’s code of conduct.

Organizational Plan

Melissa Brady

Student Recruitment and Enrollment (p. 12)– Describe the plan for recruiting students– How the school will achieve a racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community.– Describe the school’s proposed enrollment policies and procedures, including an

explanation of the enrollment timeline, criteria and/or any preferences for enrollment, and lottery process.

– Explain any student and/or family contracts that will be used as a requisite for initial and continued enrollment in the school. Describe if and how the school will enforce such contracts.

Evaluation CriteriaReviewers will look for:• A student recruitment plan that will enable the school to attract its targeted

population.• An enrollment and admissions process that is open, fair, and in accordance with

applicable law.

Business Plan

Melissa Brady

Action Plan (p. 16)– Present a projected timetable for the school’s start-up– Activities included should align with the start-up budget

described earlier in the application.

Evaluation Criteria• Reviewers will look for an action plan that:• Provides a thoughtful and realistic implementation plan that covers major

operational items and provides flexibility for addressing unanticipated events.

Other Documents

Melissa Brady

• Charter Policy• Charter Legislation• Online Documentation

http://www.polk-fl.net/districtinfo/departments/learning/charter/potentialcharter.htm

Draft Applications

Melissa Brady

• Accepting draft applications on May 1, 2015 until 5:00 pm.– 8 bound copies– $500 fee payable to Polk County School Board

• Draft is reviewed using the DOE approved Evaluation Instrument by district staff

• Feedback on material deficiencies provided to the applicant by July 1, 2015

Date Task

July 1, 2015 Submit Letter of Intent to district.

August 3, 2015 by 5:00 pm 40 copies of your charter application, and an electronic copy of the entire application in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF (no scanned copies please).

Week of August 10, 2015 Applicant Presentations

Week of September 14, 2015 Applicant Interviews

Week of September 21, 2015 Superintendent Review

October, 2015 Board Meeting

Report to Applicant and DOE approval or denial within 10 days.

Projected Timeline

Melissa Brady

More Information

Melissa Brady

• Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice (FLDOE) (850)245-0502 www.fldoe.org

• Office of Charter Schools, Melissa Brady (863) 534-0625

• Florida Charter School Alliance (954) 881-5792

• Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (954) 463-9595