Establishing a Charter School to Support Special Programs. - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Establishing a Charter School to Support Special Programs.

Does this make financial and academic sense for the district

Topics for Discussion

Opening a Charter School

Financing a Charter School

Program Specific Charter SchoolsPros and Cons of Chartering

Governance and the Law

Authorizers

Charters and Existing Programs

Financing PSAs

Other

So You Want to Open

a Charter School?

Big Picture

It is an independent School District

It is has all the same requirements and rights as a traditional LEA (with a couple of exceptions)

It is run by an appointed board of directors

Official name- Public School Academies (PSAs)

So You Want to Open a Charter School? Some Basics

Contracts are offered by one of four (4) types of authorizers

LEAs, ISDs, Community Colleges, State Universities

Contracts are for a predetermined period of timeAuthorizers receive a maximum of 3% of school aid

Three types of pertinent charter schools

6As (380.501), schools of excellence (6Es and cybers- 380.551), SDAs (380.1311b)

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(35shbsftqlqmd3hhsnlq1t10))/mileg.aspx?page=ChapterIndex

(MCL Web Address)

The school is a Michigan non-profit, but…

Must meet all reporting and legal programmatic requirements as

traditional schools

Types of Public School Academies in MI

Where Are Charter School Located?

Typical Timeline to Access Money

Charter School Planning Grant will be available January 2019

Programs That Exist in Charter Schools

Programs Defined in the PAM

5-G-A Dual Enrollment Opportunities

5-G-B Early Middle College

5-0-B Offline Seat Time Waiver Programs5-0-C Cyber Schools

5-0-D Virtual Learning Options

(Includes Sequential Learning Option)

5-Q-A Drop-Out Recovery Programs

PAM

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(35shbsftqlqmd3hhsnlq1t10))/mileg.aspx?page=ChapterIndex

Unique Cyber School Requirements

Can enroll statewide

Must ensure 1098 hours of instruction

Must ensure participationMust have a vendor with a history of high performance

Must submit evidence of alignment to a national set of standards

PSA Flexibility in Program Development

Fresh Start/Allows for “focused curriculums”

Can Manage the Overall Enrollment Process

Can close enrollmentCan have a catchment area

Contracting of Staff

Not required to participate in MPSERS

Can contract with for-profit Management Companies

Separate Accountability System

Potential Barriers to the PSA model and

Program Creation

There is no mechanism to transition an existing LEA program to a charter school.

Must find an authorizerOpen Enrollment

Equity

Random Selection and Lottery

Schools buildings must be within authorizer catchment areas

Must establish processes to provide “oversight” of a PSA

Must maintain an independent board of directors

Cost considerations to becoming a charter school

Must secure start-up revenue until first state-aid payment

Will need to rent or contract for an educational location

Hire StaffHave a defined curriculum and purchase all equipment and supplies

Equip and furnish the facility

Generate a budget

Cannot Generate Tax Revenue

3% of revenue will go to the authorizer

Does the change fit the educational concept

IS IT/WILL IT:

Have enough students to be sustainable as a stand alone

Considered to offset district financial constraintsInteresting enough to draw students currently not enrolled in the district

Willing to enroll all students without exception

Have teaching staff separate from the authorizing district

Be prepared to meet all the accountability expectations of the state

Willing to disaffiliate from the authorizing district

The Landscape: Number of Schools

Contact Information

Neil Beckwith, Consultant 517- 241-4833

Tammy Hatfield, Supervisor 517-335-2797