Charter School Authorizer Application

CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER APPLICATION

APPLICANT BOARD AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Founding Board Chair and Contact Information

Primary Point of Contact for Application

PART I: MISSION, VISION, AND EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

A. Mission Statement

Provide a clear, concise (1-2 sentence) mission statement that articulates the school's purpose and core commitment to students:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

B. Vision Statement

Describe the long-term vision for the school and the impact you envision for students and the community:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

C. Theory of Action

Explain how your educational approach will achieve the mission and vision:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

D. Student Outcomes Goals (5-Year Targets)

Specify measurable academic and non-academic goals:

☐ Academic achievement (e.g., state test proficiency, growth percentiles)
☐ Social-emotional development
☐ College and career readiness
☐ Attendance and graduation rates
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Quantify Year 1, Year 3, and Year 5 targets:

PART II: STUDENT POPULATION AND RECRUITMENT

A. Target Community and Service Area

Describe the community you intend to serve (geographic area, demographics, identified needs):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

B. Grade Levels and Configuration

List grades served by year:

C. Priority Populations and Service Commitment

Indicate commitment to serving:

☐ English Language Learners (ELL)

• Describe support: [________________________________________________________________________]

☐ Students with Disabilities (SPED) / IDEA compliance

• Describe support: [________________________________________________________________________]

☐ At-risk students (dropouts, low-income, homeless, foster youth)

• Describe support: [________________________________________________________________________]

☐ Gifted and talented

• Describe support: [________________________________________________________________________]

D. Enrollment Catchment Area

Describe the geographic boundary and any weighted enrollment preferences:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART III: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

A. Curriculum Design

Describe your curriculum framework, instructional materials, and alignment with state standards:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

B. Instructional Methodology

Explain your primary teaching approach (project-based learning, Montessori, classical, STEM-focused, etc.):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

C. Assessment Strategy

• State Assessments: [________________________________]
• Local/Diagnostic Assessments: [________________________________]
• Frequency and Use of Data: [________________________________]

D. Calendar and Daily Schedule

• School Year: [__] weeks starting [__/__/____], ending [__/__/____]
• School Days: [__] instructional days per year
• Daily Schedule: [Sample provided in Attachments]

E. Special Education and IDEA Services

Describe services, accommodations, and inclusive practices for students with disabilities:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

F. English Language Learner (ELL) Services

Describe language support, ESL/bilingual instruction, and reclassification processes:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

G. Gifted and Talented Services

Describe identification and enrichment services:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

H. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Describe SEL curriculum, character education, and mental health support:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART IV: GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP

A. Founding Board Composition

Provide names, titles, roles, and qualifications of board members:

B. Board Member Qualifications and Roles

List minimum qualifications for board service (experience, education, specific expertise):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

C. Board Recruitment and Succession Plan

Describe how you will recruit new board members and ensure continuity:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

D. Conflict of Interest Policy

Summarize your board conflict of interest policy and enforcement mechanism:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

E. Advisory Committees and Stakeholder Governance

Describe any parent advisory committee, student voice structures, or community advisory boards:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

F. Parent and Family Engagement

Describe mechanisms for parent participation in decision-making and school operations:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART V: LEADERSHIP AND STAFFING PLAN

A. Head of School / Director Qualifications and Role

List required qualifications (education degree, years of experience, principal certification, relevant credentials):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

Proposed Director: [________________________________] (if identified)

B. Organizational Chart

[Reference: Attachments - Organizational Chart]

C. Staffing Plan (Years 1-5)

D. Teacher Certification and Credentials

Describe your expectation regarding teacher certification, subject matter expertise, and waivers:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

E. Compensation Philosophy

Describe salary ranges and benefits for teachers and staff:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

F. Professional Development Plan

Describe annual professional development priorities, budget, and delivery model:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART VI: STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND ENROLLMENT

A. Marketing and Outreach Plan

Describe how you will reach families in the target community (events, media, partnerships, languages):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

B. Lottery Design and Weighted Preferences

Describe your lottery process (if oversubscribed) and any weighted preferences for priority populations:

• Priority Groups: [________________________________]
• Weighting Mechanism: [________________________________]
• Open Enrollment Timeline: [__/__/____ through __/__/____]

C. Enrollment Policies and Non-Discrimination Assurance

Confirm non-discrimination by race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, and other protected categories:

☐ School will not discriminate
☐ No tuition charged (except authorized fees)
☐ Open to all eligible students

D. Waitlist Procedures

Describe how waitlist will be managed and communicated to families:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART VII: FACILITIES

A. Building Identification

B. Ownership/Lease Status

☐ Owned by school/nonprofit
☐ Leased (provide term and renewal options)
☐ Under negotiation (attach letter of intent)

Lease Details: [Duration: __________; Annual Cost: $__________; Renewal Options: __________]

C. Code Compliance

Confirm compliance with (or path to compliance with):

☐ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
☐ Fire safety codes and occupancy permits
☐ Health and sanitation standards
☐ Special education accessibility requirements

Compliance Status/Timeline: [________________________________]

D. Facility Expansion Plan

Describe plans for facility growth or relocation to accommodate enrollment growth:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART VIII: OPERATIONS

A. Food Service and Nutrition

Describe meal provision (cafeteria, free/reduced lunch application, NSLP participation):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

B. Transportation

Describe transportation services (busing routes, parent-provided, partnerships with district):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

C. Health Services

Describe school nurse services, emergency medical protocols, and health office staffing:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

D. Safety and Security

Describe security measures, emergency procedures, discipline policies, and crisis management:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART IX: FINANCIAL PLAN AND VIABILITY

A. Revenue Sources (5-Year Projections)

Identify and estimate:

B. Expense Budget (5-Year Projections)

C. Startup Costs and Funding Source

Itemize pre-opening expenses and identify funding sources:

D. Reserves and Debt Management

Describe contingency reserves, cash flow management, and any planned borrowing:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

E. External Audit Commitment

Commit to annual independent audit and describe audit firm selection and financial reporting:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART X: TECHNOLOGY AND DATA MANAGEMENT

A. Student Information System (SIS)

Identify the SIS platform and describe attendance, grades, and transcript management:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

B. Learning Management System (LMS)

Describe online learning tools, if applicable:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

C. Data Privacy and Legal Compliance

Confirm compliance with:

☐ FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
☐ COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)
☐ State student privacy laws
☐ Data security and breach notification procedures

Privacy Policy and Safeguards: [________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART XI: ACCOUNTABILITY

A. Academic Performance Goals and Measurement

Specify goals aligned with state standards and describe measurement methods:

B. Mission-Specific Goals

Describe unique or school-specific accountability measures:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

C. Organizational Goals

Identify operational milestones (financial stability, staff retention, facility readiness):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

D. Authorizer Reporting Schedule and Accountability Measures

Describe frequency and format of reporting to authorizer (annual, quarterly, real-time data dashboards):

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART XII: COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT

A. Evidence of Community Need and Demand

Summarize evidence (surveys, demographic analysis, focus groups, petition signers):

• Survey Results: [__________] respondents; [____]% support
• Letters of Support: [__________] letters attached
• Community Partnerships: [________________________________________________________________________]

B. Community Partnerships

List partnerships with community organizations, businesses, higher education, and other stakeholders:

C. Parent and Family Engagement Plan

Describe communications (newsletters, webinars, conferences), volunteer opportunities, and governance roles:

[________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________]

PART XIII: LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE ATTESTATIONS

Applicant Attestations

The applicant certifies and attests that:

☐ School will operate as a public, non-religious school
☐ School will not charge tuition
☐ Founding board will include parent and community representatives
☐ School will comply with all federal and state civil rights laws (Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA, IDEA)
☐ School will comply with FERPA and state student privacy laws
☐ School will comply with open meetings and open records requirements
☐ School will comply with state assessments and accountability measures
☐ Nonprofit board members and management have no financial interest in for-profit vendors without proper disclosure
☐ Founding team has disclosed all conflicts of interest and criminal history

Nonprofit Status

☐ IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter attached
☐ School will operate as nonprofit (timeline: [__/__/____])
☐ State nonprofit incorporation certificate attached

State-Specific Legal Authority

Applicant acknowledges and will comply with:

• State Charter Law: [State statute citation, e.g., Cal. Educ. Code § 47600 et seq.]
• Authorizer Requirements: [Specific authorizer's statutory authority]
• Performance Contract Terms: [Duration: [__] years; Renewal: Yes ☐ No ☐]
• Revocation Triggers: Applicant understands charter may be revoked for: [State-specific grounds, typically: failure to meet achievement targets, financial mismanagement, violation of law, loss of enrollment, charter violation]

PART XIV: CHARTER AGREEMENT OVERVIEW

Charter Term and Renewal

Grounds for Charter Revocation or Non-Renewal

Applicant acknowledges authorizer may revoke or decline renewal based on:

• Failure to meet academic performance targets for consecutive years
• Violation of federal or state law
• Violation of charter agreement terms
• Financial mismanagement or insolvent status
• Loss of 30% or more of enrollment
• Failure to maintain facilities or health/safety standards
• Repeated noncompliance with authorizer directives

ATTACHMENTS (Required)

Attach the following documents to this application:

Governance Documents

☐ Board Member Biographies – 1-2 page biographical sketches of each founding board member, including education, professional experience, and expertise relevant to school governance

☐ Founder/Leader Qualifications – Resume(s) of proposed Director/Head of School and key leadership team members

☐ Organizational Chart – Visual diagram showing board structure, reporting relationships, and administrative positions

☐ Board Conflict of Interest Policy – Sample board policy addressing financial conflicts, relationships, vendor relationships, and recusal procedures

Financial and Legal Documents

☐ IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter – Tax-exempt status confirmation

☐ State Nonprofit Incorporation Certificate – Articles of incorporation and bylaws

☐ Audit Engagement Letter – Letter from external auditor confirming audit services contract

☐ 5-Year Financial Projections – Detailed budget spreadsheets with assumptions documented

☐ Startup Budget and Funding Documentation – Itemized pre-opening costs with evidence of funding commitments

Educational Program Documents

☐ Sample Curriculum and Instructional Materials – Examples of core curriculum (math, ELA, science, social studies) showing alignment to state standards

☐ Assessment Plan – Detailed description of formative, interim, and summative assessment tools and schedules

☐ School Calendar and Daily Schedule – Sample first-year calendar and daily bell schedule

☐ Student Discipline Policy – Policies addressing student conduct, consequences, due process, and special education protections

Facilities and Operations Documents

☐ Facilities Documentation – Lease agreement or purchase agreement; facility floor plans; ADA compliance certification; fire and occupancy permits

☐ Transportation Plan – Routes, partnerships with district, parent communication procedures (if applicable)

☐ Food Service Plan – NSLP application, meal pricing, free/reduced lunch procedure

☐ Health and Safety Procedures – Emergency response plan, medication administration policy, health office staffing

Community Engagement Documents

☐ Community Needs Assessment – Data on community demographics, educational gaps, and demand (surveys, focus groups, research)

☐ Letters of Support – Minimum [__] letters from parents, community members, or organizations expressing support

☐ Community Partnerships Letters – Signed letters from partners (universities, nonprofits, businesses) committing support and services

Additional Documents (If Applicable)

☐ Operating Agreement (if using school management organization) – Contract with CMO or educational vendor

☐ Special Education Compliance Plan – Detailed description of IDEA, Section 504 services, and special education governance

☐ English Language Learner Plan – Description of ELL identification, programming, and reclassification procedures

☐ Technology Security and Privacy Policy – Data protection, student privacy practices, cybersecurity measures

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

Federal Law:

• 20 U.S.C. § 7221 et seq. (Federal Charter School Program)
• 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (FERPA)
• Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
• Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.

State Charter Law (Sample Citations – Verify for Your State):

• California: Cal. Educ. Code § 47600 et seq.
• Florida: Fla. Stat. § 1002.33 et seq.
• New York: N.Y. Educ. Law § 2850 et seq.
• Texas: Tex. Educ. Code § 12.001 et seq.

Industry Standards and Guidance:

• National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) – New School Application Guidance: https://qualitycharters.org/new-charter-school-application/
• National Association of Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) – Research and Resources: https://publiccharters.org
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) – Charter School Oversight

Note: This template provides a universal framework. Applicants must customize based on their specific state and authorizer requirements. Consult your state's charter school law, authorizer guidelines, and legal counsel before submission.