1
Request for Qualifications from
Excellent Charter School OrganizationsThe Nevada Achievement School District
2
Background on the Nevada ASD
General Info on the Request for Qualifications
Components of the Request for Qualifications
Next Steps and Appendix
1
2
3
4
The Nevada Achievement School District – Request for Qualifications
3
The Nevada ASD’s Mission and Strategy
The Nevada ASD exists for one reason: to provide better opportunities for the 57,000 students trapped in Nevada’s 78 persistently failing schools.
No direct-operated schools, full focus on creating and overseeing a system of excellent charter schools
Charter schools are their own LEAs, have full autonomy
Objective, consistent, outcomes-based accountability for charter schools
Upfront support for CMO growth plans; this year’s applicants may be approved to open multiple schools over multiple years
4
Charter School Opportunities in the Nevada ASD
The Nevada ASD can transform struggling schools . . .
The Nevada ASD will select up to six struggling schools per year to be run by high-quality charter school organizations.
. . . and launch new schools for low-income students who attend struggling schools.
The Nevada ASD may authorize high-quality charter school organizations to open new charter schools in Nevada’s highest-need neighborhoods.
The Nevada ASD has the ability to authorize two types of schools: turnaround charter schools and new charter schools dedicated to serving low-income students.
5
Background on the Nevada ASD
General Info on the Request for Qualifications
Components of the Request for Qualifications
Next Steps and Appendix
1
2
3
4
The Nevada Achievement School District – Request for Qualifications
6
Application Proce
ss
The Nevada ASD Application Process
In our request for qualifications, we offer open communication, ample support, and an objective evaluation process with the goal of authorizing organizations that will provide outstanding outcomes for Nevada’s students.
7
Request for Qualifications Timeline
Stage Documentation Deadline1) Notice of Intent Submit letter of intent and
eligibility documentation via online Notice of Intent Form
As soon as possible
2) Full Application Submit written application narrative and upload supporting documentation
Due September 30, 2015
3) Supplemental Requests (if applicable)
Submit responses to any requests for clarification or additional information
Due November 15, 2015
4) Interviews (if applicable) N/A By December 15, 2015
5) Final Applicant Approval N/A By January 15, 2016
The request for qualifications process will span from this summer through the start of next year.
8
Eligibility Requirements
Locally Supported
Nonprofit
Law-Abiding
Non-Religious
At least two members of the school’s governing board must reside in the school’s community.
Applicants must incorporate as Nevada nonprofit corporations.
No one involved with the proposal may have been convicted of or plead no contest to a felony.
Applicants must be secular, non-religiously affiliated institutions.
To be eligible for authorization, charter applicants must be . . .
9
Background on the Nevada ASD
General Info on the Request for Qualifications
Components of the Request for Qualifications
Next Steps and Appendix
1
2
3
4
The Nevada Achievement School District – Request for Qualifications
10
Your Vision • Executive summary• Purpose• School Model & Academic Plan
Your Team• Founding Team• Human Capital
Your Plan for Sustainability• Financial Readiness• School Sustainability
Our Community• Student Population• Parent & Community Support
★
Components of the Request for Qualifications
The request for qualifications addresses nine categories within four topics.
11
Executive Summary
What are you seeking to accomplish with
your school?
• Provide a rationale for the creation of the proposed school
• Include detail regarding the goals the school will achieve and how the team will achieve them
• Address potential risks and mitigation plans
Purpose
Why are you and your team interested in
Nevada’s movement?
• Articulate a clear and specific mission and vision
• Make a credible for the importance of the problem they are seeking to solve
School Model & Academic Plan
How will your school meet the needs of all of
your students?
• Describe components of the school model
• Justify your school model with evidence
• Describe a day in the life of a student
• Present a plan for using data with regards to student achievement
• Write a legally compliant plan for serving special populations
Your Vision ★We want to know what your vision is for your school and how you will achieve it.
12
Your Team
Founding Leadership Team
How is your founding team capable of achieving your vision?
• Describe a team of individuals with capacity and/or records of success
• Present a coherent, delineated governance structure
• Articulate a plan to evaluate the school leader against goals for student achievement and school sustainability.
• Articulate a plan for recruiting a leader and other critical staff
Human Capital
How do you plan to hire, develop, and retain teachers and other staff?
• Identify pipelines for attracting high-quality teachers
• Describe credible strategies for retaining teachers
• Articulate expectations for teachers and a plan for ensuring that teachers are supported in meeting expectations
We want to ensure your current and future team can run a high-quality school.
★
13
Your Plan for Sustainability
Financial Readiness
Do you have what it takes to responsibly manage public funds?
• Create a budget that aligns with the staffing, programming, and goals of the proposed school
• Present a set of systems for back-office operations
• Offer a plan for the division of financial responsibilities across all team members, including the board
• Describe plans for addressing financial shortfalls or other difficulties
School Sustainability
How will you ensure your school serves our students for many years?
• Assess short-and long-term risks to school sustainability and success
• Offer plans to mitigate risks to sustainability in the short- and long-term
• Describe an approach to the development of a school leadership pipeline
We want to make sure you operate and sustain a solvent, high-performing school for years to come.
14
Our Community
Student Population
What are your goals for Nevada’s at-risk students?
• Serve a population that aligns with Nevada’s low-income communities.
• Include specific, realistic yet ambitious goals for student achievement.
Parent & Community Support
How will you engage your school’s unique community?
• Provide evidence of local support for the proposed school.
• Offer an approach to building and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders.
• Include evidence-based parent involvement programming in the plan for community engagement
We need to know you will ensure your school meets the needs of students, families, and other local stakeholders in Nevada.
15
Background on the Nevada ASD
General Info on the Request for Qualifications
Components of the Request for Qualifications
Next Steps and Appendix
1
2
3
4
The Nevada Achievement School District – Request for Qualifications
16
Next Steps
Please visit us online here or send an email to
Applications and a guidebook are also available online here
.
Finally, don’t forget to submit your Notice of Intent.
17
Appendix
The following slides include additional information that prospective applicants may find helpful in preparing a charter school proposal.
18
“We have a long way to go in improving Nevada's student achievement and the system of public education. The results show that the vast majority of our students are not well prepared for education beyond high school. The real question is, how will our districts and high schools respond?"
– State Superintendent Dale Erquiaga
English Math Reading Science0
5
10
15
20
25
ACT Performance 2015
NevadaNational Average 2014College & Career Ready
With an average ACT composite score of 17.4, most of Nevada’s students are not graduating from high school ready for college.
Nevada’s Academic Performance
19
Most of Las Vegas and Nevada’s students are minority. Over 53% of students statewide and 57% in Las Vegas are low-income.
Las Vegas & Nevada’s Demographics
Nevada Clark County
41% 44%
36% 29%
10% 12%
13% 15%
Hispanic
White
Black
Other
20
In Las Vegas’ Clark County School District, white students are much more likely to graduate than minority students.
Las Vegas’ Opportunity Gap
Hispanic
White
Black
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%Clark County Graduation Rates (2013-2014)
21
Charter schools in the Nevada ASD should receive at least $7,300* per pupil in baseline funding. The Nevada Department of Education will distribute these funds on a monthly basis and new schools can request an advanced payment.
Baseline Funding in Las Vegas & the ASD
School Percentage of Total Funds Total Funds
School/School System General Fund
Title Funds
IDEA Funds
Other Funds
TotalPer Pupil
Average CCSD School FY14 81% 5% 3% 10% $8,051
Las Vegas Charter School FY14 94% 3% 3% 0% $6,957
Estimate for ASD Charter FY16 89% 4% 3% 3% $7,290
*This number does not include funding for many of Nevada’s recently passed categorical initiatives.
22
Nevada’s 2015 legislative session passed extensive education initiatives which will increase state categorical funding for many schools.
Possibilities for Additional Funding in the ASD
Initiative What does it do? What does this mean for school funding?
Victory SchoolsGives eligible underperforming schools extra funding to improve their performance.
ASD charters that turnaround persistently struggling schools could be eligible for an additional $1,137.45 per pupil.
Zoom SchoolsProvides extra funding for ESL and ELL students.
ASD charters with high levels of ESL & ELL enrollment may apply to the state for categorical funds.
Read By ThreeSupports schools to ensure that their students can read at grade level by 3rd grade.
ASD charters with young students who struggle in reading can apply to the state for categorical funds.
GATE FundingIncreases funding for gifted and talented students and distributes that increase on a per pupil basis.
ASD charters may receive extra funding for their gifted and talented students.
Full-Day Kindergarten
Provides funding to expand full-day kindergarten to all schools in Nevada.
ASD charters educating kindergartners will receive full funding per pupil, as opposed to the 60% of funding received in the past.
Top Related