UTAH STATE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD CHARTER SCHOOL PROPOSAL PACKAGE

Transcription

1 UTAH STATE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD CHARTER SCHOOL PROPOSAL PACKAGE Thank you for your interest in applying for a charter from the Utah State Charter School Board. Enclosed are the instructions and forms necessary for submitting a proposal. Based on this proposal, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. In addition to the proposal itself, it is important for you, as an applicant, to understand the charter school law and the requirements of applying for and operating a charter school. The charter school law contained in Title 53A Chapter 1a, Part 5 of the Utah Code must be adhered to, along with any other statutes referenced within these sections. Utah Code is available at Additionally, State Board of Education Administrative Rules that govern public education apply to charter schools as well, unless a waiver is sought and granted by the State Board of Education or waivers for charter schools exist in State Law. State Rules on Public Education can be found at Director, Marlies Burns [email protected] Education Specialist, Joe Heywood [email protected],gov Research Analyst, Jennifer Lambert [email protected] Administrative Secretary, Jo Schmitt [email protected] Financial Manager, Danny Schoenfeld [email protected] Charter School Proposal

2 CHARTER SCHOOL PROPOSAL & PROPOSAL CALENDAR SCHOOL YEAR Dates and Locations TBD July 1, 2015 July 2 15, 2015 July 17, 2015 September 30, 2015 October 1 23, 2015 October 28, 2015 November 16 December 8, 2015 December 9, 2015 December 17 18, 2015 Tentative meeting dates January 13 14, 2016 Tentative meeting dates April 8, 2016 Tentative meeting date Mandatory pre-applicant training Offered by the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools Proposal due New charter proposal for the school year due by 4:00 p.m. MDT Proposal review Complete proposals for new charter schools sent to evaluators Applicants receive proposal comments and ratings Evaluators review proposals and provide comments and ratings to applicants and a recommendation to the State Charter School Board for consideration at its August 13, 2015 meeting. Proposals approved by the State Charter School Board to continue in the proposal process are invited to submit a complete proposal Application due New charter application for the school year due by 4:00 p.m. MDT Application review Complete applications for new charter schools sent to evaluators Applicants receive application comments and ratings Evaluators review applications and provide comments and ratings to applicants and a recommendation to the State Charter School Board for consideration at its November 12, 2015 meeting. Applicants approved by the State Charter School Board to continue in the application process are invited to submit a final application Application assistance Charter School Staff available to meet with applicants to discuss improvements to application upon request Final application due Final charter application for the school year due by 4:00 p.m. MST Governing board capacity interview All governing board members must attend the capacity interview at their assigned time and may invite its Education Service Provider or key administrator to attend as well (total group size not to exceed 10 individuals) State Charter School Board presentations All governing board members must attend the presentation to the State Charter School Board at the assigned time. The State Charter School Board will rank applications and send authorizations to the Utah State Board of Education for approval. State Board of Education decisions State Board of Education approves new schools for school year Charter School Proposal

3 GENERAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS This proposal calls for plans to start charter schools that are likely to achieve strong educational outcomes. Through charter schools, we expect to provide families with educational options of many different models but with one thing in common: quality education. This proposal packet will guide you through the steps of developing a charter school proposal. Each section requires information about a specific aspect of your plan and presents the evaluation criteria that evaluators will use to determine whether the section meets the standard for recommendation. Experience has shown that successful charter schools tend to have a number of common characteristics: A clear, focused, results-oriented mission statement that aligns all parts of the proposal; Demonstrated understanding of the population the school is likely to serve; An educational program that is likely to be effective for the target population; Strong and diverse leadership; and Strong financial planning and management. BASIC STEPS IN THE PROPOSAL PROCESS 1. Attend pre-applicant training provided by the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools. Attendance at pre-applicant training will be verified by State Charter School Board staff prior to accepting proposal. 2. Submission (no later than July 1 st ) consists of one (1) original and one (1) electronic document of a complete proposal in Adobe pdf format to the State Charter School Board office. A complete proposal is a single document that includes signatures and follows the specified format and sequence. Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered. Electronic document size is limited to 9MB and the proposal may not exceed 20 pages (excluding appendices). FORMAT Each charter school proposal must be submitted in two forms: 1. Hard copy: the original according to the required formatting instructions. Proposal, excluding appendices, is limited to 20 pages. 2. Electronically: submit a single document in Adobe pdf format as an attachment to [email protected]. Electronic document size is limited to 9MB and entire proposal may not exceed 20 pages (excluding appendices). The following formatting instructions are mandatory: 1. All pages must be standard letter size (8.5 x 11 ); 12 point Calibri or Arial font; singlespaced with a margin of at least one inch on all sides. Tables may be in an 11-point font. 2. Document footer on each page must include the school name and page number. 3. The Table of Contents must provide a link to the appropriate section of the proposal in addition to providing the correct page number. 4. Information must be provided on the required templates and may be downloaded from the USOE Charter School webpage. Charter School Proposal

4 5. Do not attach any document not specifically required as an attachment. If, for good cause, the applicant wishes to include an additional attachment, requesting permission with a rationale for the request. Extraneous attachments, without proper authorization, will be removed and not submitted to the evaluators. Do not include cover pages for the attachments. The State Charter School Board staff may provide technical assistance to the applicant upon request. Contact the State Charter School Board office at or [email protected]. PROPOSAL SEQUENCE 1. Cover page with charter school name. 2. Required information (pgs ) including signatures and a complete mailing address for the authorized agent. 3. Table of Contents with links to the appropriate section in addition to providing the correct page number. 4. Executive Summary highlighting key points of the proposal. Limited to 2 pages. 5. Body of the proposal (Sections 1 6, as applicable). Document footer should include the name of the charter school and the page number. Section 1: School Purpose and Goals Section 2: Market Analysis Section 3: Program of Instruction Section 4: Performance Measures Section 5: Governance Section 6: Waivers (if applicable) 6. Appendix A: Background Information Sheets for each governing board member (pg. 17). 7. Appendix B: Scoring rubrics for all sections of the proposal, completed by the governing board of the charter school (pgs ). SUBMISSION Completely prepare the proposal using the format, sequence, and timeline provided. Proposals can be ed, mailed, or delivered to: Utah State Office of Education ATTN: State Charter School Board 250 East 500 South PO Box Salt Lake City, UT [email protected] Complete proposals will be evaluated under the direction of the State Charter School Board. As you complete the proposal, please keep in mind the overall consistency of the proposal. Each proposal is unique and should represent the school s mission and philosophy throughout the educational and business plans. Applicants are encouraged to use the following information to ensure a complete proposal is submitted. Charter School Proposal

5 FINAL CHECKLIST Have you checked for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes? Does the cover page contain the proposed charter school name? Have you stated things concisely and without redundancy? Does the Required Information immediately follow the cover page? Have you followed the instructions and targeted the evaluation criteria as outlined in the proposal? Have people not involved in writing the proposal been used to make sure that the document is clear and understandable? Have you checked to ensure your Table of Contents matches the page numbers of the proposal and the links go to the correct section of the proposal? Have you used section titles, bullets, and headings to help the evaluators follow the main sections of your proposal? Have you included a document footer with the name of the school and page number on each page? Have you used a 12 point Calibri or Arial font in your document? 11 point font in tables? Does the Table of Contents immediately follow the Required Information? Does the Executive Summary immediately follow the Table of Contents? Does it highlight key points of the proposal? Is it limited to 2 pages? Have you prepared one hard copy of the proposal to be given to the State Charter School Board office? Have you prepared an electronic copy of the proposal to be ed to [email protected]? (Adobe pdf, not to exceed 9 MB and 20 pages) Have you completed a Background Information Sheet for each identified board member and included them as Appendix A? Have you completed a scoring rubric and self-scored for each section of the proposal and included it as Appendix B? Have you used 1 inch margins and printed your proposal on 8.5 x 11 paper? Have you refrained from including the proposal instructions? Have you refrained from using attachments unless requested in the proposal or receiving written permission? Charter School Proposal

6 1. School Purpose PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS The Utah Charter Schools Act, legislated in 1998, is part of the state s strategic planning act for educational excellence. The purposes of Utah s charter schools, as a whole, are to: continue to improve student learning; encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods; create new professional opportunities for educators that will allow them to actively participate in designing and implementing the learning program at the school; increase choice of learning opportunities for students; establish new models of public schools and a new form of accountability for schools that emphasizes the measurement of learning outcomes and the creation of innovative measurement tools; provide opportunities for parental involvement in management decisions at the school; and increase school choice in area where a high proportion of schools are identified as Title I priority or focus schools or have received a school grade of F. Applicant Instructions State the school s mission and briefly present your vision for how the school will operate. Describe the school s educational foundation and the culture or ethos. Include an overview of the instructional method(s) selected to help the school meet its mission and purpose, and any research or experience that indicates why you have chosen to use this approach with your anticipated student population. Evaluation Criteria A response that meets standard will Identify the purpose(s) of the charter school as outlined in 53A-1a-503. Applicant should only address the purpose(s) the school meets (at a minimum one). Present a compelling 1 2 sentence mission statement that defines the purpose(s) of the school. Present a coherent and concise vision of what the school will look like in 5 10 years if it is achieving its mission. Describe the school s educational foundation and the culture or ethos. Describe the anticipated population of the school, including grades served and requested enrollments. Explain how the proposed mission, curriculum, teaching methods, and services are likely to meet the needs of the target population. NOTE: If applying for consideration under 53A-1a-501.9, Applicant must also demonstrate how it meets and employs new and creative methods to meet the unique learning styles and needs of students. Charter School Proposal

7 2. Market Analysis The primary reason for the formation of a charter school is to better serve the educational needs of public school students and their families. A market analysis will help both the evaluators and applicants in being able to better assess the educational needs the applicant is attempting to fill, as well as have a better understanding of the market demands for education in the community being served. Applicant Instructions Establish the need for the school and its educational program in the selected community. Evaluation Criteria A response that meets standard will Describe the education landscape in this community, including specifying clearly what educational goals or programs are not being met currently in the area. Identify all public and private schools within a 5-mile radius of the proposed location (create a map). This will be referred to as the target location. Describe data that points to trends/shifts within target location specific to school selection (e.g., educational model, purpose, location). Provide the characteristics of the proposed charter school that sets it apart from others in target location. NOTE: If applying for priority consideration under 53A-1a-502.5, Applicant must demonstrate how its proposed locations meet the definition of high growth area. The State Charter School Board has defined high growth area as a school district with increasing enrollment for the past five years. Charter School Proposal

8 3. Program of Instruction Provide a description of the proposed curriculum to be used by the school. Please state if the charter school intends to use curriculum that has already been developed or if the school intends to develop its own curriculum. (NOTE: This will determine if you use evaluation criteria A or B for this section.) Discuss the strategies that will be relevant or necessary for successful implementation of the curriculum. If the school is replicating a successful school design, applicant should explain why the design is worth replicating. Provide compelling evidence that the replicated program succeeded by a formula that can be copied rather than reasons that are not replicable (e.g., charismatic leader, great interpersonal relationships among staff, luck). Describe what direct observations of the successful model have been made by the people writing the proposal. Outline the expected level of fidelity to the original model and identify any planned deviations from the original model. Please state if the school intends to offer any of the following programs. This will determine if you utilize evaluation criteria C, D, E, or F for this section. Career Education: Career education is a purpose of the charter school. Complete this section. We do not intend to offer career education. Skip to the next section. Provide the rationale for the program. Include results of community-based assessments, student interest survey data, advisory committee recommendations, or needs identified by business and industry/employment outlook that support this program. Identify major methods of instructional delivery (e.g., laboratory, classroom, project-based, etc.) and post-secondary and business partners. Describe opportunities for assisting students in transitions to the workplace or continued education through such activities as experiential education, cooperative education, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and job placement. Distance or Online Education: We intend to offer distance and/or online education. Complete this section. We do not intend to offer distance and/or online education. Skip to the next section. For the purpose of this proposal, distance education is defined as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction (interaction between students and teachers and among students) in a course occurs when students and teachers are not in the same physical location. For the purpose of this proposal, online education is defined as courses accessed from a computer. Programs may be distance education, online education, or a combination of distance and online education. Provide the rationale for the selected program(s). If containing a distance education component, describe how the charter school will determine and deliver its curriculum to students in a distance education setting, including who determines what students learn, who provides primary instruction to students, who assesses student growth and understanding, and how the effectiveness of the curriculum and delivery will be evaluated specific to measuring student progress including competency achievement. If containing an online program component, describe how the selected online educational program aligns with the school s mission whether it will be delivered in a full-virtual or blended-learning environment. Charter School Proposal

9 Gifted Education Gifted education is a purpose of the school. Complete this section. We do not intend to offer gifted education. Skip to the next section. By law and tradition, schools are expected to provide programs of instruction suitable for the full range of student ability, from educationally disadvantaged learners to those who are academically advanced. Schools must develop a system to identify children in need of the gifted education services that the school provides. Screening criteria should be as inclusive as possible. Identification criteria and test instruments should be chosen that will maximize the students strength and limit the effects of any possible biases for ELs, culturally diverse background, poverty, etc. Describe how the school will provide screening and individual evaluation and placement, as well as how it will consider general mental ability, academic ability, creativity, reasoning, and problem solving, and any other types of evidence. Four-Year College and/or University Affiliation We intend to partner with a four-year college or university and offer early college options. Complete this section. We do not intend to partner with a four-year college or university or offer early college options. Skip to the next section. Discuss any affiliation that the school intends to have with a four-year college or university, including a private college or university, or a community college. Address the specific purpose(s) of the affiliation. Describe your plans for developing the affiliation and any steps already taken. Include evidence that you are likely to be successful in establishing the proposed affiliation such as letters of support or other documentation of commitment from the college or university. Evaluation Criteria For all proposals, a response that meets the standard will: Align with the school s mission, vision, and overall educational priorities. If the school is replicating an existing school design, a response that meets standard will: Provide sufficient evidence the replicated design has been effective and successful in raising student achievement. Identify specific successful practices. Commit to a high level of fidelity to the successful model and minimize tinkering with the model until achieving acceptable results. Describe the applicant s capacity to replicate an existing school design. A. If the school intends to use curricula that have already been developed, a response that meets standard will: Identify the school s philosophical approach to educating students and ensure that educational priorities are meaningful, manageable, and measureable, and focus on improving student outcomes. Show the selected curricula is consistent with the school s mission, vision, and educational program design. Charter School Proposal

10 B. If the school intends to develop core curricula following approval, a response that meets the standard will: Present a viable plan for development of the curricula for core academic areas and for ensuring alignment with the Utah Core Curriculum and Core Standards. Describe the framework for development of the curricula for core subjects and identify sound research, experience or theoretical base, and foundational materials that will guide curriculum development. C. If the school intends to focus on career education, a response that meets the standard will: Present a compelling rationale consistent with business and industry needs, student interests, and advisory committee recommendations. Identify major methods of instructional delivery and post-secondary and business partners. Include a convincing plan for transitioning students to work, further training, or higher education. D. If the school intends to offer distance and/or online education, a response that meets the standard will include: A description of how the school will use technology to provide its curriculum and deliver instruction using the internet or other electronic means. The manner in which properly licensed and endorsed teachers will deliver instruction, assess academic progress, and communicate with students to provide assistance. The methods to be used to ensure authenticity of student work and adequate proctoring of assessments, as well as the types and frequency of communication between the school and the students and the manner in which the school will communicate with parents. E. If the school intends to focus on gifted education, a response that meets the standard will: Contain written procedures to systematically identify and serve students identified as academically advanced in all grades. Provide a curriculum for the gifted education program that is intellectually and affectively engaging and is taught in a meaningful context. F. If the school intends to affiliate with a four-year college or university and offer early college programs, a response that meets the standard will: Present a plan for college or university affiliation that is likely to further the school s mission, vision, and educational program. Demonstrate a substantial likelihood that the school will be successful in establishing the proposed affiliation and the college or university has the capacity and commitment to fulfill its anticipated role. Charter School Proposal

11 4. Performance Measures The State Charter School Board is charged with annually reviewing and evaluating the performance of the charter schools it authorizes to hold schools accountable for their performance. The Charter School Performance Standards include multiple measures grouped into four indicator areas: (1) student academic performance and engagement, (2) financial performance and sustainability, (3) governing board performance and stewardship, and (4) charter fidelity. Like all public schools, charter schools are subject to state and federal accountability requirements. For all approved schools, the charter agreement will include a set of core educational performance expectations that reflect Charter School Performance Standards. In addition to those standard requirements, most schools have goals that are particular to the school s educational philosophy and organizational priorities. Applicant Instructions Identify any goals and objectives in measureable terms (i.e., SMART goals) particular to the school s educational philosophy and organizational priorities. These goals and objectives should hold the school accountable for its performance. Describe the school s approach to assessment. Explain how the school will evaluate progress of individual students, cohorts over time, and the school as a whole toward meeting the Charter School Performance Standards and other goals in the charter agreement. Describe how the school will determine proficiency on an interim basis (i.e., formative assessment). Highlight any additional courses (other than those required by the Utah State Board of Education), which support the school s mission and vision and are required for graduation from the school. Discuss how the school will use assessment information to modify the educational program and improve instruction, student learning, programs, and staff development. Educationally disadvantaged populations We intend to serve a large proportion of educationally disadvantaged students. Complete this section. We do not intend to serve a large proportion of educationally disadvantaged students. Skip to the next section. Schools serving a large proportion of educationally disadvantaged students are held to the same Charter School Performance Standards as other schools, but may propose to use additional measures in their charter agreement. If proposing additional measures, describe the comprehensive academic and behavioral goals and objectives in measureable terms (i.e., SMART goals) the school proposes to use. Explain how those measures align with the school s mission, the proposed educational program, and the statewide accountability system. Charter School Proposal

12 Example additional measures Longer time for all students. This option allows a charter school to set an extended timeline by which the school will meet the regular Charter School Performance Standards. Applicants choosing this option must state by when the charter school will meet the regular Charter School Performance Standards (i.e., 3 years, 5 years) and the specific benchmark targets it will meet each year until then. Longer time for continuously enrolled students. This option uses the same targets used in the regular Charter School Performance Standards, but will only include students who were continuously enrolled for two or three full academic years. Closing the achievement gap. This option measures the charter school s progress in closing the achievement gap for its defined educationally disadvantaged subgroup(s). Alternative measure. This option is only available to stand alone charter high schools (not K-12) and only applies to student graduation rate. If the defined educationally disadvantaged subgroup is likely to need longer to graduate, the school may also use a five or six year graduation cohort rate. Evaluation Criteria A response that meets the standard will: Align with the school s mission and educational program. Define measures, metrics, and targets that are SMART. Set high standards for student learning. Present a clear, credible, and sound plan for measuring and reporting the educational performance and progress of individual students, subgroups, and the charter school as a whole, including valid and reliable measures of student outcomes. Explain how the school will use assessment data to drive key decisions aimed at improving academic outcomes. If the school intends to serve a large proportion of educationally disadvantaged students, and proposes acceptable additional measures, a response that meets the standard will: Present performance measures that are a valid and reliable means for determining whether students are meeting performance standards. Ensure that the school will be held to the same performance standards as other public schools. Specify the time frame in which students will be expected to meet the performance standards. Show compliance with all federal accountability standards. Charter School Proposal

13 Identify 3 5 goals particular to the school s purpose, educational philosophy, and organizational priorities. Add rows as needed. Indicator Upholding mission and purpose Measure Metric Board Goal If the school intends to serve a large proportion of educationally disadvantaged students, identify any proposed additional measures. Add rows as needed. Indicator Academic performance and student engagement (additional measures) Measure Metric Board Goal Charter School Proposal

14 5. Governance A governing board will serve a charter school through two phases of its development, startup and governance. The startup board plays an active role in founding the school. Once the initial tasks of gaining a charter and commencing operations have been successfully achieved, board focus should turn to governance of the school. Applicant Instructions List the members of the startup board including their names, current employment, and relevant experience or qualifications for serving on the board. Describe any specific plans for recruitment of additional startup board members, including plans that would involve parental, professional educator, or community involvement in the governance of the school. Complete a Background Information Sheet (pgs ) for each named individual. Evaluation Criteria A response that meets the standard will: Demonstrate the board has the capacity to found and sustain a quality school. Illustrate the governing board s capacity to (1) oversee the effective and responsible management of public funds, (2) be responsible for the school s compliance with its legal obligations, and (3) represent the community well. Establish the governing board s capacity to oversee the successful development and implementation of the education program presented in this proposal. Ensure the governing board is aware and follows Utah s Open & Public Meetings Act in conducting board and committee business. Charter School Proposal

15 REQUIRED INFORMATION Charter School Information 1. Name of proposed charter school 2. Name of applicant 3. Authorized agent 4. Mailing address: Street, City, State, Zip 5. Phone number 6. address 7. District(s) where proposed charter school is located 8. The governing body of a charter school is responsible for the policy decisions of the school. Please indicate the makeup of this body below. (Add lines as necessary) Name Position on Board (e.g., chair, secretary) Type of Member (e.g., parent, business) Profession 9. Year school will start 10. Grades served 11. Requested Enrollment Year 1: Grade K:, Grades 1-6:, Grades 7-8:, Grades 9-12: Total: Year 2: Grade K:, Grades 1-6:, Grades 7-8:, Grades 9-12: Total: Year 3: Grade K:, Grades 1-6:, Grades 7-8:, Grades 9-12: Total: Does proposed grade configuration match resident district grade configuration? Yes No Charter School Proposal

16 12. Is this proposal seeking special treatment under UCA 53A-1a-501.9? Yes No 13. Is this proposal seeking priority consideration under UCA 53A-1a-502.5? Yes No 14. A charter school may apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver of any rule that inhibits or hinders the school from accomplishing its mission or educational goals set out in its charter. List any waiver requests here (i.e., Rule numbers and titles. Provide details regarding the need for the waiver as Attachment B). Signatures WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, do hereby certify that, to the best of our knowledge and belief, the data in this proposal are true and correct. Therefore, this proposal for charter school status and funding is hereby submitted with the full approval and support of the governing body of the proposed charter school. Name of Authorized Agent Signature of Authorized Agent Name of Charter School Board Chair (if different than Authorized Agent) Signature of Charter School Board Chair (if different than Authorized Agent) Charter School Proposal

17 APPENDIX A BACKGROUND INFORMATION SHEET Provide the following information on each startup board member and any individuals responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school who have already been identified. Complete this form, do not include a resume. This page may be copied as many times as necessary.* Name Role with school Expertise Statement of Intent: Using as much space as necessary below, provide a personal statement regarding your role on the governing board (or as administration), expertise you bring to the board (or administration), and commitment to this application as it has been written. Not-for-Profit History: Using as much space as necessary below, provide your nonprofit history that supports your qualifications and relates your experiences to be considered sufficiently qualified to operate a charter school. Specifically address your qualifications and experiences as they relate to the operation and management of a nonprofit corporation, governing board experience, and background in group organization. Employment History: Using as much space as necessary below, provide your employment history that supports your qualifications and relates your experiences to be considered sufficiently qualified to operate a charter school. Specifically address your qualifications and experiences as they relate to the development of academic programs, operations of a school or a small business, and background in financial management. Education History: Using as much space as necessary below, provide information on your educational training (including degrees earned, dates enrolled, and institutions) that supports your qualifications to be considered sufficiently qualified to operate a charter school. WITH THE SIGNATURE BELOW, PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO VERIFY ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOVE FOR CHARTER SCHOOL. I AFFIRM THAT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. Applicant s Signature Charter School Proposal

18 APPENDIX B SCORING CRITERIA STANDARD Meets Applicant self-evaluation Partially meets Does not meet Meets Evaluators Partially meets Does not meet A response that meets standard will: SECTION 1: SCHOOL PURPOSE Identify the purpose(s) of the charter school as outlined in 53A- 1a-503. Present a compelling 1-2 sentence mission statement that defines the purpose(s) of the school Present a coherent and concise vision of what the school will look like in 5-10 years if it is achieving its mission Describe the school's educational foundation and the culture or ethos Describe the anticipated population of the school, including grades served and requested enrollments Explain how the proposed mission, curriculum, teaching methods, and services are likely to meet the needs of the target population Identify the new and creative methods employed by the school to meet the unique learning styles and needs of students, if applying under 53A-1a A response that meets standard will: SECTION 2: MARKET ANALYSIS Describe the education landscape in this community, including specifying clearly what educational goals or programs are not being met currently in the area Identify all public and private schools within a 5-mile radius of the proposed location (create a map). This will be referred to as the target location Describe data that points to trends/shifts within target location specific to school selection Charter School Proposal

19 STANDARD Provide the characteristics of the proposed charter school that sets it apart from others in target location demonstrate how its proposed locations meet the definition of high growth area, if applying under 53a-1A A response that meets standard will: Align with the school s mission, vision, and overall educational priorities If replicating an existing school design: Provide sufficient evidence the replicated design has been effective and successful in raising student achievement Identify specific successful practices Meets Applicant self-evaluation Partially meets Does not meet Meets Evaluators Partially meets SECTION 3: PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION Does not meet Commit to a high level of fidelity to the successful model and minimize tinkering with the model until achieving acceptable results Describe the applicant s capacity to replicate an existing school design If using developed curricula: Identify the school s philosophical approach to educating students Ensure that educational priorities are meaningful, manageable, and measureable, and focus on improving student outcomes Show the selected curricula is consistent with the school s mission, vision, and educational program design If creating own curricula: Present a viable plan for development of the curricula for core academic areas and for ensuring alignment with the Utah Core Curriculum and Core Standards Charter School Proposal

20 STANDARD Describe the framework for development of the curricula for core subjects and identify sound research, experience or theoretical base, and foundational materials that will guide curriculum development Meets Applicant self-evaluation Partially meets Does not meet Meets Evaluators Partially meets Does not meet If focusing on career education: Present a compelling rationale consistent with business and industry needs, student interests, and advisory committee recommendations If focusing on career education: Present a compelling rationale consistent with business and industry needs, student interests, and advisory committee recommendations Identify major methods of instructional delivery and postsecondary and business partners Include a convincing plan for transitioning students to work, further training, or higher education If offering a distance and/or online education program will include: A description of how the school will use technology to provide its curriculum and deliver instruction using the internet or other electronic means The manner in which properly licensed and endorsed teachers will deliver instruction, assess academic progress, and communicate with students to provide assistance The methods to be used to ensure authenticity of student work and adequate proctoring of assessments The types and frequency of communication between the school and the students and the manner in which the school will communicate with parents Charter School Proposal

21 STANDARD If focusing on gifted education: Contain written procedures to systematically identify and serve students identified as academically advanced in all grades Provide a curriculum for the gifted education program that is intellectually and affectively engaging and is taught in a meaningful context If offering early college: Present a plan for college or university affiliation that is likely to further the school s mission, vision, and educational program Demonstrate a substantial likelihood that the school will be successful in establishing the proposed affiliation and the college or university has the capacity and commitment to fulfill its anticipated role A response that meets standard will: Align with the school's mission and educational program Meets Applicant self-evaluation Partially meets Does not meet Meets SECTION 4: PERFORMANCE MEASURES Evaluators Partially meets Does not meet Define measures, metrics, and targets that are SMART Set high standards for student learning Present a clear, credible, and sound plan for measuring and reporting the educational performance and progress of individual students, subgroups, and the school as a whole, including valid and reliable measures Explain how the school will use assessment data to drive key decisions aimed at improving academic outcomes Charter School Proposal

22 STANDARD If serving educationally disadvantaged students: Present performance measures that are a valid and reliable means for determining whether students are meeting performance standards Ensure that the school will be held to the same performance standards as other public schools Specify the time frame in which students will be expected to meet the performance standards Meets Applicant self-evaluation Partially meets Does not meet Meets Evaluators Partially meets Does not meet Show compliance with all federal accountability standards A response that meets standard will: Demonstrate the board has the capacity to found and sustain a quality school Include background information sheet for each named board member Establish the governing board s capacity to oversee the successful development and implementation of the education program presented in this proposal Ensure the governing board is aware and follows Utah s Open & Public Meetings Act in conducting board and committee business Illustrate the governing board s capacity to oversee the effective and responsible management of public funds Illustrate the governing board s capacity to be responsible for the school s compliance with its legal obligations Illustrate the governing board s capacity to represent the community well SECTION 5: GOVERNANCE Charter School Proposal