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2012−13 S.C. Charter School Planning and Implementation Program Subgrant Technical Assistance

2012−13 S.C. Charter School Planning and Implementation Program Subgrant Technical Assistance. Constance Barnes, Charter Schools Program Office Audrey Shifflett, Grants Program August 15, 2012. Office of School Transformation. 1. Agenda. Updates for Charters General Information

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2012−13 S.C. Charter School Planning and Implementation Program Subgrant Technical Assistance

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  1. 2012−13 S.C. Charter School Planning and Implementation Program Subgrant Technical Assistance Constance Barnes, Charter Schools Program Office Audrey Shifflett, Grants Program August 15, 2012 Office of School Transformation 1

  2. Agenda • Updates for Charters • General Information • Program Overview • Application Requirements • Contact Information and Resources • Submission Process Office of School Transformation 2

  3. Charter Updates On May 14, 2012, Governor Nikki Haley signed into law significant changes to the existing SC Charter School Act. Pertinent changes that will affect new schools are: • §59-40-50 Priority preferences, Board configurations and participation in extra-curricular activities at home-zoned schools were changed. Office of School Transformation 3

  4. Charter Updates • §59-40-60 The SCDE is charged with creating a charter contract template for schools and authorizers (in progress). • §59-40-110 (C) regarding Renewal and revocation. In January 2012, the SCDE issued guidelines to provide clarity on the existing charter law as it pertains to student performance. Office of School Transformation 4

  5. Charter Updates U.S. Department of Education’s Specific Assurances Charter schools must provide evidence of increased student academic achievement for all groups of students described in Section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the ESEA. Authorizers must use increases in student academic achievement for all students described in ESEA as the most important factor when determining to renew or revoke a school’s charter. Authorizers and charters must enter a contractual agreement that student performance of all students described in ESEA is the most important factor when determining to renew or revoke a school’s charter. Office of School Transformation 5

  6. General Information • Deadline for receipt of applications: 12:00 Noon, September 14, 2012 • Approximately $925,000 is available for the planning phase during the 2012−13 funding period • The funding period is 36 months beginning with the planning phase. Office of School Transformation 6

  7. Program Overview • Purpose of Planning & Implementation Subgrant • Eligibility • Targeted Applicant Definition • Competitive Priorities Office of School Transformation 7

  8. Purpose of Planning and Implementation Subgrant To expand the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across South Carolina by providing financial assistance for initial costs associated with planning and program design. Office of School Transformation 8

  9. P& I Program Purpose Planning and Program Design • Post award planning • Refinement of the desired educational results • Refinement of the methods for measuring progress toward achieving desired educational results • Professional development of teachers and other staff who will work in the charter school. Office of School Transformation 9

  10. P& I Program Purpose Initial Implementation • Informing the community about the school • Acquiring necessary equipment and educational materials and supplies • Acquiring or developing curriculum materials • Other initial operational costs that cannot be met from state or local sources (requires prior approval from the SCDE). Costs must meet certain criteria in the 2011 Nonregulatory Guidance and OMB Circular A-122. Office of School Transformation 10

  11. Eligibility Any charter developer group that has met the following criteria is eligible to submit an application for P&I funding: • submitted a charter application to the Charter School Advisory Committee (CSAC), and the proposed authorizer Office of School Transformation 11

  12. Eligibility To receive planning grant funds, the charter applicant must… • meet the definition of a charter school from Section 5210(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) • be recommended for approval by the CSAC • be officially approved by an authorizer • submit requested benchmark documentation. Office of School Transformation 12

  13. Eligibility To receive Implementation Year 1 &Year 2 funds, the charter school must • meet stated benchmarks • submit requested SCDE and USED documentation Note: continuation funding is contingent upon the availability of federal funding and South Carolina’s performance on Charter School Program benchmarks. Office of School Transformation 13

  14. Targeted Applicant a secondary charter school that targets at-risk students and meets twoof the following: • is in a district where there are no other charter schools • is in a district whose report card Absolute Rating was "Below Average" or "At-risk" in the prior school year • is in one of the plaintiff districts in the Abbeville County School District, et al. v. The State of South Carolina, et al. lawsuit. Office of School Transformation 14

  15. Targeted Applicant Plaintiff Districts *Dillon 1 and 2 combined to form Dillon 4, and Marion 1, 2, and 7 combined to form Marion 10. Office of School Transformation 15

  16. Targeted Applicant A targeted applicant must • define “at-risk” in accordance with SBE Regulation 43-274.1 • be able to prove direct services to at-risk children. Office of School Transformation 16

  17. Typical Applicant a charter school that does not meet the eligibility criteria for a targeted applicant. Office of School Transformation 17

  18. Funding • Planning phase may not exceed 18 months and must result in opening the proposed charter school. • Subgrantees have no more than two years to complete the implementation phases. • Continuing awards are contingent upon • receipt of funds from the USED, • subgranteemeeting stated benchmarks and submitting all requested SCDE and USED documentation, and • state’s performance on CSP benchmarks. Office of School Transformation 18

  19. Funding * Based on available funds Office of School Transformation 19

  20. Statutory Requirements • Applicant is responsible for understanding and adhering to program guidelines to remain eligible for continuation funding. • Application must • describe how funds will be used, including use in conjunction with other federal funds (USED); • contain an assurance that the applicant will annually provide information to USED & SCDE to determine if the charter school is making satisfactory progress; Office of School Transformation 20

  21. Statutory Requirements Application must (continued): • contain an assurance that the applicant will cooperate with USED & SCDE in evaluating the proposed program; • describe how the school district in which the proposed charter school will be located will comply with sections 613(a)(5) and 613(e)(1)(B) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and • contain an appropriate GEPA statement. Office of School Transformation 21

  22. Statutory Requirements Annual Independent Audit • Must be conducted by a qualified auditing or accounting firm. • Must be filed annually with the charter school’s authorizer. Office of School Transformation 22

  23. Statutory Requirements Waiver Request • May request to waive federal statutory or regulatory provisions or state or local rules generally applicable to public schools if necessary for the successful operation of the charter school. • Request and justification for any waiver must be submitted as part of the application. • Must identify the specific section of law for which you are requesting a waiver. Office of School Transformation 23

  24. Statutory Requirements Contracting with for-profit third-party? • Subgrantee’sboard of directors should be independent of the contractor. • The contract should be arms-length and able to be terminated with minimal penalties to the charter school. Office of School Transformation 24

  25. Statutory Requirements Planning Funds Benchmarks Office of School Transformation 25

  26. Statutory Requirements Improved Academic Achievement • Charter schools must provide evidence of improved student academic achievement for all groups of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the ESEA. • Authorizers must use increases in student academic achievement for all groups of students as the most important factor when determining to renew or revoke a school’s charter. • Contractual Agreement between authorizer and charter school stating such. Office of School Transformation 26

  27. Required Reporting To move from planningphase to Implementation Year 1, grantees must provide by May 1, 2013: • a revised implementation budget worksheet, • a school data sheet, • a list of negotiated services with the local district, • governing board documentation, and • an annual report on the planning year. Office of School Transformation 27

  28. Required Reporting To move from Implementation Year 1 to Implementation Year 2, grantees must provide by May 1, 2014: • a copy of the annual report submitted to the local authorizer as per the charter contract, • a revised budget worksheet, • an updated school data sheet • a report of major grant activities, • an inventory of assets purchased with funds, • governing board documentation, and • an annual report on Implementation Year 1. Office of School Transformation 28

  29. Required Reporting End of Implementation Year 2 Grantees must submit no later than 30 days from the close of the grant cycle: • a final grant report detailing major programmatic, fiscal, and grant activities; and • a copy of the school’s annual report to its authorizer. Office of School Transformation 29

  30. Competitive Priorities • Priority #1: District without any charter schools (5 points) • Priority #2: Closing achievement gaps (10 points) • Priority #3: At-risk students (10 points) Office of School Transformation 30

  31. Competitive Priorities Priority #1 District without any charter schools (5 points) applicant must be located within a district that currently does not have any authorized or operating charter schools and be: • the first charter school to open in the school district, or • the only charter school in the district at the time of application. Office of School Transformation 31

  32. Competitive Priorities Priority #2 Closing achievement gaps (10 points) applicant must propose to address closing achievement gaps (such as gender, race/ethnicity, poverty, or ability levels) based on the needs of students projected to attend the charter school. Office of School Transformation 32

  33. Competitive Priorities Priority #3 At-risk students (10 points) Applicant proposes to serve at-risk, secondary students and meets at least two of the following: • At-risk criteria 3.A: Report Card Ratings: applicant is located in a district that was “Below Average” or “At-risk” in the prior school year on the SC district report card. Office of School Transformation 33

  34. Competitive Priorities Priority #3, continued • At-risk criteria 3.B: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): 60% or more of secondary schools in the district did not make AYP for the last two years. • At risk-criteria 3.C: Plaintiff districts:applicant is located in one of the school districts listed as plaintiffs in the Abbeville County School District, et al. v. The State of South Carolina, et al. lawsuit. Office of School Transformation 34

  35. Competitive Priorities A maximum of 15 additional points: • Priority 1 only (5 points), or • Priority 1 and Priority 2 (15 points total), or • Priority 1 and Priority 3 (15 points total). Include a justification for the competitive priority points in Section 1 of the Proposal Narrative. Office of School Transformation 35

  36. Application Requirements • Required Application Forms • Program Summary/Abstract • Proposal Narrative • Budget Narrative • Required Appendices Office of School Transformation 36

  37. Application Requirements Required Application Forms • Cover Page Form (SCDECP-101) - sample in RFP – page 19 • Budget Summary Form (SCDEBS-101) – sample in RFP – page 25 Complete these in Adobe Reader (latest version); include as attachment to submission email. Include school name in file title when saving. Office of School Transformation 37

  38. Proposal Narrative Format • Maximum of 30 pages • Times Roman or Arial Font/size 11 point • 1” margins on all sides • Double-spaced; tables or charts may be single-spaced • Convert file to .pdf for submission (Adobe)

  39. Application Requirements Program Summary/Abstract • one-page, double-spaced • include: • project background • mission • intended audience • amount requested • any special features of the proposed school’s operation • whether you’re seeking competitive priority points. Office of School Transformation 39

  40. Application Requirements Proposal Narrative • Section 1: The School and Its Stakeholders (35-point maximum) • Section 2: Financial Sustainability (35-point maximum) • Section 3: Management Plan (30-point maximum) Office of School Transformation 40

  41. Proposal Narrative Section 1: The School and Its Stakeholders Need for the Charter School — Include a clear statement of need for the school in the designated school district or location/region. —Describe the target population (grade levels and ages) —Describe current opportunities available to the target population and the need for additional student learning opportunities. Office of School Transformation 41

  42. Proposal Narrative Section 1: The School and Its Stakeholders Support for and Involvement in the Charter School Describe the degree of support for the charter school and continuing involvement by • Individuals • partner organizations within the community • parents Office of School Transformation 42

  43. Section 1: School and Stakeholders Support for and Involvement in the Charter School, continued • Explain how parents and members of the community will be involved in designing and implementing the charter school. • Include innovative methods to engage parents and community members in planning and governance. • Describe the plan to inform students and parents about the charter school. Office of School Transformation 43

  44. Section 1: School and Stakeholders Support for and Involvement in the Charter School, continued • Describe the relationship between its authorizer/school district chartering agency and the charter school. • Remember to include the specific evidence of support requested in the required attachments Office of School Transformation 44

  45. Proposal Narrative Section 2: Financial Sustainability • Include a clear plan for financial viability of the school beyond the grant-funding period and for the term of the charter (10 years). • Provide evidence of a long-term, sound business plan, based on an awareness of current funding for public schools. • Demonstrate your intent to maintain effective fiscal management practices and show a reasonable promise of sustainability beyond the scope of this CSP grant. Office of School Transformation 45

  46. Proposal Narrative Section 2: Financial Sustainability, continued • Include contingency plans to deal with unanticipated budget reductions due to revenue shortfalls. • Describe any public/private partnerships, including additional grant or funding opportunities. Office of School Transformation 46

  47. Proposal Narrative Section 2: Financial Sustainability, continued • Justify the proposed three-year budget. – Include how you selected the items to be purchased, how you calculated the cost per item, and how budget items will supplement, not supplant, other available revenue sources. • Describe how the funds will be used in conjunction with funds from other federal programs administered by the USED, if applicable. Office of School Transformation 47

  48. Proposal Narrative Section 3: Management Plan • Thoroughly describe the project director’s responsibilities and duties in managing the grant to accomplish the charter school’s objectives. • Include the qualifications and credentials for the position (and resume if applicable) in the required attachments. • Explain how the charter school’s planning initiative and the resulting charter school will be managed. Office of School Transformation 48

  49. Proposal Narrative Section 3: Management Plan, continued • Include an assurance that you will annually provide information required to determine if the charter school is making satisfactory progress toward achieving its objectives. • Describe how the school district in which the charter school will be located will comply with sections 613(a)(5) and 613(e)(1)(B) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in the operation of the charter school. Office of School Transformation 49

  50. Proposal Narrative Section 3: Management Plan, continued • Demonstrate an understanding of and the capacity to comply with the SC Charter Schools Act, including strong board governance and stakeholder engagement. • Include an organizational chart with lines of direct report, school committees, and advisory groups. • Provide a timeline of proposed major grant activities and person(s) responsible for each activity in the required attachments. Office of School Transformation 50

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