LOUISIANA STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION JOHN WHITE

1. District Charter RFA: A Guide for Local School Boards and Administrators LOUISIANA STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION JOHN WHITE

2. Agenda Overview: Why, How, and When to Conduct a Charter RFA Two Types of Charter Schools Overseen by Local Districts How to Run Your Process Step by Step Resources for School Districts

3. Overview: Why, How and When to Conduct a Charter RFA

4. Why Conduct a Charter RFA Louisiana Believes is grounded in the idea that the adults who know kids best should decide how to meet their educational needs. Charter Schools grant school leaders and teachers the freedom to make professional judgments about how to best meet kids’ needs. Charter Schools empower parents to choose the school with the educational mission and program that most aligns with their vision for their child’s education.

5. How to Conduct a Charter RFA Follow the Manual! It serves three purposes: Provides an overview of the different types of charters Describes resources for districts Guides district leaders through each step of the RFA process

6. When to Conduct a Charter RFA Key Dates

7. Two Types of Charter Schools Overseen by Local Districts

8. Which Charter Schools do Districts Oversee? Type 1 charter schools are new schools. Type 3 charter schools are conversionsof already existing traditional public schools.

9. Qualifications for Type 1 and 3 Applicants All applicants that apply for a charter from a local district must: Be organized as a non-profit organization Include three certified teachers as part of the team writing the application

10. Unique Qualifications for Type 3 Applicants • Local school boards have the option of requiring applicants for a Type 3 charter to demonstrate support from • amajority of school staff • parents and guardians of a majority of current students

11. Applicants Can Appeal if Denied If any of the following happens, an applicant can appeal to BESE: A district does not run a charter application process A district has a D or F letter grade A district rejects the applicant A district does not issue a decision on an application A district approves an application, but includes conditions that are unacceptable to the applicant

12. How to Run Your Process Step by Step

13. Legal Requirements • BESE requires local schools boards to: • Review and make a decision on each charter application before January 31 • Solicit a review from an independent evaluator • Publish on its website: • The timeline, guidelines, and all forms required for submitting a charter application; • The timeline and process by which the school board will review applications; • The name and contact information for a primary point of contact for charter proposals • Hold a meeting to receive public input before making decisions

14. Step 1: Review the Application Local school boards have the option to add questions or requirements to the application.

15. Step 2: Require Support for Conversions? • Local school boards must choose whether applicants for Type 3 charter schools will be required to demonstrate support from: • At least 50% of school staff • Parents and guardians of at least 50% of current students • The LDOE will publish a supplement to the manual with specific information for districts and sample forms that districts can use if they require applicants to demonstrate community support.

16. Step 3: Choose Key Dates The manual offers districts guidance for each date left to district discretion.

17. Step 4: Publish Application State law requires local schools boards to publish on their websites: The timeline, guidelines, and all forms required for submitting a charter application The timeline and process by which the school board will review applications The name and contact information for a primary point of contact for charter proposals

18. Step 5: Provide Applicant Technical Support Three sources for applicant technical support in specific areas:

19. Step 6: Finalize Agreement with Reviewer Local school boards are required by law to select a third party, unbiased reviewer. School boards should: Use the manual to create an appropriate reviewer contract Choose a reviewer that fulfills all of the key responsibilities the district desires Reviewers provide a positive or negative recommendation for every charter application, but school boards are not required to abide by the recommendations they receive.

20. Step 7: Process Letters of Intent • Benefits of Letters of Intent: • Knowing in advance how many applications will be received • Ability to provide targeted technical support • School districts should: • Choose a Letter of Intent due date • Post Letter of Intent template and due date to website • Choose point person to make Letter of Intent follow-up calls

21. Step 8: Check Eligibility and Completeness Eligibility and completeness checks allow districts to weed out applications that have no chance of being approved because they lack substantial information. Districts should: Process eligibility documentation and completeness using the templates provided in the manual

22. Step 9: Perform Due Diligence Due diligence serves two functions: Provides reviewers with valuable context and background information on applicants Allows district staff to begin considering the approval or denial recommendations they will make to their school board Districts should: Assign a point person for compiling due diligence reports, using the template provided in the manual.

23. Step 10: Write Recommendations and Decide • Before school boards make decisions: • School boards must release a draft recommendation • Applicants must be given an opportunity to respond • School boards must hold a meeting for public input • School district staff writes recommendations based on: • Due diligence • Recommendation of the third party reviewer

24. Resources for School Districts

25. On-Going Technical Support

26. Experts On page 11 of the Manual there is a link to a list of charter experts. Experts are available to work with districts or applicants.