Proposal Requirements

The proposal is the document submitted to a school district board describing your plans to open a charter school. It contains the details of how the proposed school will look once it is opened and must contain the information listed below. I divided the requirements into two groups. One group represents the requirements of the Lowell School District. The other group represents the requirements of the State of Oregon. The lists contain some duplicate items, but I wanted to make sure and list both of them to ensure that we are satisfying both groups. The Lowell School District requirements are taken from Policy LBE-AR. The State requirements are taken from ORS 338 and the State of Oregon Charter School Handbook.

Information Required by the Lowell School District

  1. The identification of the applicant; – Completed
  2. The name of the proposed public charter school; – Completed
  3. A description of the philosophy and mission of the public charter school [and how it differs from the district’s current program and philosophy]; – Item 1 – Completed Item 2 – Completed
  4. A description of any distinctive learning or teaching techniques to be used; – Completed
  5. A description of the curriculum of the public charter school; – Completed
  6. A description of the expected results of the curriculum and the verified methods of measuring and reporting results that will allow comparisons with district schools; – Completed
  7. The governance structure, public charter school board membership, selection, duties and responsibilities; – Completed
  8. The projected enrollment including the ages or grades to be served; – Completed
  9. The target population of students the public charter school is designed to serve; – Completed
  10. The legal address, facilities and physical location of the public charter school and applicable occupancy permits and health and safety approvals; – Completed
  11. A description of admission policies and application procedures; – Completed
  12. The statutes and rules that shall apply to the public charter school; – Completed
  13. The proposed budget and financial plan including evidence that the proposed budget and financial plan are financially sound; – Completed
  14. A description of the financial management system for the public charter school and a plan for having the financial management systems in place at the time the school begins operating. – Completed
    1. A sound financial management system must have:
      1. Accounting and financial record-keeping procedures which reflect Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP);
      2. Procedures reflecting cash management, investment practices and financial reporting;
      3. Balance sheets reflecting assets, expenditures and liabilities;
      4. Segregation of duties for individuals performing cash management and investment practices; and
      5. Processes for reflecting annual review of such systems by both charter school and sponsor. – Completed
  15. The standards for behavior and the procedures for the discipline, suspension or expulsion of students; – Completed
  16. The proposed school calendar, including the length of the school day and length of the school year; – Completed
  17. A description of the proposed school staff and required qualifications of teachers including a breakdown of professional staff who hold a valid teaching license issued by Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) and those who do not hold a license but are registered with TSPC (At least one-half of the full-time equivalent teaching and administrative staff of the public charter school shall be licensed.); – Completed
  18. The date upon which the public charter school would begin operating; – Completed
  19. The arrangements for any necessary special education and related services for students with disabilities who qualify under IDEA and special education or regular education and related services for students who qualify under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 who may attend the public charter school; – Completed
  20. Information on the manner in which community groups may be involved in the planning and development process of the public charter school; – Completed
  21. The term of the charter; – Completed
  22. The plan for performance bonding or insuring the public charter school, including buildings and liabilities; – Completed
  23. A proposed plan for the placement of public charter school teachers, other employees and students upon termination or nonrenewal of a charter; – Completed
  24. The manner in which the public charter school program review and fiscal audit will be conducted; – Completed
  25. In the case of a district school’s conversion to charter status, the following additional criteria must be addressed: – Not Applicable
    1. The alternate arrangements for students who choose not to attend the public charter school and for teachers and other school employees who choose not to participate in the public charter school;
    2. The relationship that will exist between the public charter school and its employees including terms and conditions of employment.
  26. The district will not complete the review required under ORS 338.055 of an application that does not contain the required components listed in ORS 338.045 (2)(a-x). A good faith determination of incompleteness is not a denial for purposes of requesting state board review under ORS 338.075; – No Action Required
  27. In addition to the minimum requirements enumerated in ORS 338.045 (2)(a) – (x), the district, under ORS 338.045 (3), may require the applicant to submit any of the following information as necessary to add detail or clarity to the minimum requirements or that the Board considers relevant to the formation or operation of the public charter school:
    1. Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
      1. Description of a curriculum for each grade of students, which demonstrates in detail alignment with Oregon’s academic content standards; – Completed
      2. Description of instructional goals in relationship to Oregon’s academic content standards and benchmarks; – Completed
      3. A planned course statement class taught in the program, including related content standards, course criteria, assessment practices and state required work samples that will be collected; – Completed
      4. Documentation that reflects consideration of credits for public charter school course work a student may perform at any other public school; – Completed
      5. Explanation of grading practices for all classes and how student performance is documented; – Completed
      6. Explanation of how the proposed academic program will be aligned with that of the district. (If an applicant is proposing an elementary level public charter school, please describe how the curriculum is aligned at each grade level with the district’s curriculum, including an explanation of how a student in the public charter school will be adequately prepared to re-enter the district’s public school system after completing the charter school’s program.); – Completed
      7. Description of the student assessment system, including how student academic progress will be measured at each grade level and any specific assessment instruments that will be used; – Completed
      8. Description of the plan for reporting student progress to parents, students and the community; – Completed
      9. Description of policies and procedures regarding diplomas and graduation; – Completed
      10. Description of policies and practices for meeting the needs of students who are not successful in the regular program; – Completed
      11. Identification of primary instructional materials by publisher, copyright date, version and edition for each academic content area in each grade; – Completed
      12. Identification of major supplementary material in core academic content areas and the criteria for use with students; – Completed
      13. Description of how the public charter school will meet the unique learning needs of students working above and below grade level, including but not limited to talented and gifted students; – Completed
      14. Description of how the public charter school staff will identify and address students’ rates and levels of learning; – Completed
      15. Description of strategies the public charter school staff will use to create a climate conducive to learning and positive student engagement; – Completed
      16. Documentation that demonstrates improvements in student academic performance over time (both individual and program/grade level) from any private alternative school operated by the public charter school applicant, if applicable; – Completed
      17. Description of how teachers will utilize current student knowledge and skills to assist in the design of appropriate instruction; – Completed
      18. Identification of how the public charter school will provide access to national assessments such as PSAT, SAT and ACT, if applicable; – Completed
      19. Description of parental involvement, content of planned meetings and how the school will adjust any meeting to meet the needs of working parents; – Completed
      20. Description of distance learning options available to students, including the grade levels and amount of instruction offered to students, if applicable. – Completed
    2. State and Federal Mandates/Special Education
      1. Description of how the public charter school will meet any and all requirements of No Child Left Behind, which also specifically addresses adequate yearly progress (AYP) and the safe schools aspects of the law. – Completed
      2. Description of how the public charter school will collect AYP information on all subgroup populations in the school; – Completed
      3. Description of specific program information regarding curriculum and how specially designed instruction is delivered for special education students. (Include methodologies, data collection systems and service delivery models used.); – Completed
      4. Description of how the public charter school will serve the needs of talented and gifted students, including screening, identification and services; – Completed
      5. Description of how the public charter school will deliver services and instruction to English Language Learners (ELL), including descriptions of curriculum, methodology and program accommodations; – Completed
      6. Description of how the public charter school will work with the district to comply with Section 504 accessibility requirements and nondiscrimination requirements in admissions and staff hiring; – Completed
      7. Explanation of how the public charter school will work with the district to implement Child Find requirements; – Completed
      8. Explanation of how the public charter school will work with the district to manage IDEA 2004 mandates regarding eligibility, IEP and placement meetings; – Completed
      9. Explanation of how the public charter school will work with the district to implement accommodations and modifications contained in the IEP or Section 504 plan; – Completed
      10. Explanation of how the public charter school will work with the district to include parents in implementing IEPs;- Completed
      11. Explanation of how the public charter school intends to work with the resident district of any IEP student to provide special education services.- Completed
    3. Teacher Certification
      1. Identification regarding the training and/or certification of staff, including areas of industry training, endorsements and Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) licensure; – Completed
      2. Explanation of how the public charter school will meet the federal mandate of “highly qualified” teachers contained in No Child Left Behind; – Completed
      3. Identification of which teachers are Oregon Proficiency-based Admission Standards System (PASS) trained by content areas and year of training or re-training, if applicable;- Completed
      4. Explanation of how the public charter school will comply with TSPC requirements for all staff, including all TSPC Oregon Administrative Rules pertaining to its staff.- Completed
    4. Professional Development
      1. Provide the public charter school’s plan for comprehensive professional development for all staff; – Completed
      2. Identification of how the public charter school’s licensed staff will obtain their required Continuing Professional Development units for licensure renewal. – Completed
    5. Budget
      1. Explanation of projected budget item for PERS contributions that would be required of the public charter school; – Completed
      2. Description of planned computer and technology support;- Completed
      3. Description of planned transportation costs, if applicable;- Completed
      4. Explanation of projected budget items for teaching salaries and other personnel contracts; – Completed
      5. Explanation on facilities costs, including utilities, repairs, and rent;- Completed
      6. Copies of municipal audits for any other public charter school operated by the public charter school applicant, if applicable.- Completed
    6. Policy
      1. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt which address expectations of academic standards for students and transcripting of credits; – Completed
      2. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt on student behavior, classroom management, suspensions and expulsions, which must contain an explanation of how the charter school will handle a student expelled from another district for reasons other than a weapons violation; – Completed
      3. Descriptions and copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding corporal punishment; – Completed
      4. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding dispensing of medication to students who are in need of regular medication during school hours; – Completed
      5. Description of procedures on how the public charter school will handle disciplinary referrals and how they will impact student promotion and advancement; – Completed
      6. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding reviewing and selecting instructional materials; – Completed
      7. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding solicitation/advertising/fundraising by nonschool groups; – Completed
      8. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding field trips; – Completed
      9. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding student promotion and retention; – Completed
      10. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding student publications; – Completed
      11. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding staff/student vehicle parking and use; – Completed
      12. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding diplomas and graduation, and also participation in graduation exercises; – Completed
      13. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding student/parent/public complaints; – Completed
      14. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding visitors; – Completed
      15. Copies of any policy that the public charter school intends to adopt regarding staff discipline, suspension or dismissal. – Completed
    7. Other Information
      1. Plans for use of any unique district facilities including, but not limited to, gymnasiums, auditoriums, athletic fields, libraries, cafeterias, computer labs and music facilities; – Completed
      2. Plans for child nutrition program(s); – Completed
      3. Plans for student participation in extracurricular activities pursuant to Oregon School Activities Association and Board policy, regulations and rules; – Completed
      4. Plans for counseling services; – Completed
      5. Explanation of contingency plans for the hiring of substitute professional and classified staff; – Completed
      6. Description of how the public charter school will address the rights and responsibilities of students; – Completed
      7. Description of how the public charter school will handle situations involving student, possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs, weapons, flammable devices and other items that may be used to injure others; – Completed
      8. Copies of program reviews conducted by other school districts that may have referred students to another public charter school operated by the public charter school applicant, if applicable; – Completed
      9. Description of the typical school day for a student, including a master schedule, related activities, breaks and extracurricular options; – Completed
      10. Description of how student membership will be calculated, including a description of the type of instruction and location of instruction that contributes to Average Daily Membership (ADM). – Completed
      11. Documentation and description of how long most students remain in the program, and documentation of student improvement in academic performance, disciplinary referrals, juvenile interventions, or any other disciplinary action while in the program; – Completed
      12. Explanation of the legal relationship between the public charter school and any other public charter school, if applicable. (Please provide any contracts or legal documents that will create the basis of the relationship between the entities. Please also provide all financial audits and auditor’s reports.); – Completed
      13. If a public charter school applicant is operating any other public charter school, documentation that the public charter school applicant has established a separate Oregon nonprofit corporation, legally independent of any other public charter school in operation; – Completed
      14. If a public charter school applicant has not secured a facility at the time of submitting a public charter school proposal, a written and signed declaration of intent that states: – Completed

     

If given any type of approval (conditional or unconditional), the public charter school applicant promises to provide to the school district liaison, at least sixty (60) days before the intended date to begin operation of the public charter school, proof that it will be able to secure, at least thirty (30) days before the intended date to begin operation of the public charter school, a suitable facility, occupancy and safety permits and insurance policies with minimum coverages required by the school district in school board policy and administrative regulation LBE that sets forth the requirements and process for the school board in reviewing, evaluating and approving a public charter school.

If the public charter school applicant fails to provide proof of an ability to secure a facility and all necessary occupancy and safety permits and insurance that is required by the school district as a condition of approval by the due date, it will withdraw its application to begin operation of a public charter school for the upcoming school year.

By signing this document, I affirm that I am authorized to make the promises stated above on behalf of the public charter school applicant. I understand that failure to fulfill the conditions listed above will result in an approval becoming void, and will automatically revoke any type
Public Charter Schools – LBE-AR 8
of approval that the school board previously granted to the public charter school applicant.

Name _______________ Date _______________
On behalf of the [ADD APPLICANT’S NAME]

Information Required by the State of Oregon

  • Names of the key school founders with specific information about each person’s role within the proposed school and their relevant experience or expertise – Completed
  • Name of the charter school – Completed
  • Philosophy and mission of the school – Completed
  • Curriculum – Completed
    • Academic programs need to be research-based and proven to be effective for the target population.
  • Expected results of the curriculum and the verified methods of measuring and reporting objective results That will show the growth of knowledge of students attending the public charter school and allow comparisons with public schools – Completed
  • Distinctive learning or teaching techniques – Completed
  • Governance Structure – Completed
  • Projected Enrollment and the ages or grades to be served – Completed
  • Target Population – Completed
  • Legal address, facilities, and physical location (if known) – Completed
  • Admission policies and proposal procedures- Completed
  • Statutes and rules that apply to the school- Completed
  • Standards for behavior and a description of discipline, suspension or expulsion of students- Completed
  • Proposed budget and financial plan and evidence that the proposed budget and financial plan for the public charter school are financially sound- Completed
  • Financial management system including evidence of how it will meet the requirements of ORS 338.095 and a plan for having it in place at the time the school begins operating;- Completed
  • Proposed school calendar including the length of the school day and school year.- Completed
  • Projected date the school will begin operating. – Completed
  • Description of staff members and required qualifications of teachers. – Completed
  • Arrangement for any special education and related services provided pursuant to ORS 338.165 for children with disabilities who may attend the school.- Completed
  • Information on how the community will be involved in the planning and development. – Completed
  • The term of the charter. – Completed
  • The plan for performance bonding or insuring the school including buildings and liabilities. – Completed
  • The proposed plan for placement of teachers, staff and students upon the termination or non-renewal of a charter. – Completed
  • The manner in which the program review and fiscal audit will be conducted. – Completed
  • If an existing public school is being converted into a charter school: – Not Applicable
    • Arrangements for students and staff who choose not to participate in the new charter school.
    • The relationship that will exist between the public charter school and its employees, including evidence that the terms and conditions of employment have been addressed with affected employees and their recognized representative, if any.

The school district board may require any additional information the board considers relevant to the formation or operation of a public charter school.

The proposal must meet all state and federal laws.

Timeline

  • School Board
    • Within 60 days of receipt of a proposal the school district board shall hold a public hearing on the provisions of the proposal.
    • The school district board must approve a proposal or state in writing the reasons for disapproving a proposal within 30 days after the public hearing
    • A disapproved proposal may be updated and resubmitted. The school district board must approve or disapprove the resubmitted proposal within 20 days.
    • Upon request by a school district, the State Board of Education may grant an extension of any timeline if the district has good cause for requesting the extension
  • Institution of Higher Education
    • Within 60 days after receiving a proposal, the institution of higher education must approve or disapprove the proposal.

Evaluation Criteria

The school district board shall evaluate a proposal in good faith using the following criteria:

  • The demonstrated, sustainable support for the public charter school by teachers, parents, students and other community members, including comments received at the public hearing.
  • The demonstrated financial stability of the public charter school, including the demonstrated ability of the school to have a sound financial management system that is in place at the time the school begins operating and that meets the requirements of ORS 338.095.
  • The capability of the applicant, in terms of support and planning, to provide comprehensive instructional programs to students pursuant to an approved proposal
  • The capability of the applicant, in terms of support and planning, to provide comprehensive instructional programs to students pursuant to an approved proposal.
  • The extent to which the proposal addresses the information required in ORS 338.045.
  • Whether the value of the public charter school is outweighed by any directly identifiable, significant and adverse impact on the quality of the public education of students residing in the school district in which the public charter school will be located
  • Whether there are arrangements for any necessary special education and related services for children with disabilities pursuant to ORS 338.165
  • Whether there are alternative arrangements for students and for teachers and other school employees who choose not to attend or who choose not to be employed by the public charter school

Alternatives To School Board Sponsorship

If the school district board disapproves the original proposal and the resubmitted proposal the applicant may:

  • Appeal the decision of the school district board to the State Board of Education (SBE).
    • The SBE will attempt to mediate a resolution between the applicant and the school district board
    • They may recommend to the applicant and school district board revisions to the proposal
    • If the school district board does not accept the revisions to the proposal and the applicant agrees to the sponsorship, the SBE may become the sponsor of the charter school.
    • At any time during the appeal process the SBE may reject a proposal if the school fails to meet the requirements of ORS 338.
    • An applicant may seek judicial review of an order of the SBE. If the court finds that the decision of the SBE is not supported by substantial evidence in the record, the court shall enter a judgement directing the SBE to sponsor the charter school.

OR

  • Submit a proposal to an institution of higher education
    • “Institution of higher education” means a community college operated under ORS chapter 341, an institution of higher education listed in ORS 352.002 or the Oregon Health and Science University.
    • The main campus must be located within 25 miles of the proposed public charter school.
    • Each institution of higher education may become the sponsor of only one public charter school.
    • The proposal can be identical to the one disapproved by the school board or one that is modified to take into consideration the characteristics of the institution of higher education.
    • The same evaluation criteria used by school boards is used by the institution. They also have the following additional criteria that they can use to disapprove the proposal.
      • Determination that the proposal does not align with the mission of the institution of higher education.
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