KIDS’ COLLEGE

ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL

Charter Application to the State of New Mexico

July 1, 2010

1

Kids’ College Academy Charter School1

  1. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Titles and Subsection Items / Page Number(s)
I. TABLE OF CONTENTS / Page 1
II. Application Cover Sheet/notice of intent/Abstract / Page
III. StatementS of Assurances/ASSURANCE THAT ALL GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS HAVE READ THE COMPLETED APPLICATION / Page
IV. Charter School Mission and Statement of need / Page
V. EDUCATIONAL PLAN / Page
  1. CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
/ Page
  1. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
/ Page
  1. STUDENT PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
/ Page
  1. PLAN FOR EVALUATING STUDENT PERFORMANCE
/ Page
  1. SPECIAL POPULATIONS
/ Page
VI. FINANCIAL PLAN / Page
  1. BUDGET
/ Page
  1. FISCAL MANAGEMENT
/ Page
VII. GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT PLAN / Page
  1. GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
/ Page
  1. DESCRIPTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY
/ Page
  1. PARTNERSHIPS (IF applicable)
/ Page
  1. SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
/ Page
  1. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
/ Page
  1. STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES AND DISCIPLINE POLICY
/ Page
  1. FACILITIES
/ Page
  1. OTHER STUDENT SERVICES
/ Page
VIII. REQUIREMENTS / Page
  1. LEGAL LIABILITY AND INSURANCE COVERAGE
/ Page
  1. WAIVERS
/ Page
  1. APPENDICES (include Table of Contents for Appendices)
  • Appendix A The School’s proposed personnel policies;
  • Appendix B The School’s proposed student discipline
  • Appendix C A completed Form 910B5;
  • Appendix D A completed 5-Year Budget Plan;
  • Appendix E Bibliography of Citations
  • Appendix F Acronyms List
  • Appendix G Kids’ College Academy Charter Core Values
  • Appendix H Partial Content Standards for KCAC
  • Appendix I Instructional Strategies and Best Practices
  • Appendix J Evaluation and Assessment of Student Performance
  • Appendix K KCAC Strategic Planning; School-wide Systems
/ Page
  1. APPLICATION COVER SHEET/ NOTICE OF INTENT/ABSTRACT

School Information:

Name of Proposed Charter School Kids’ College Academy Charter K-8 School

School Address (if known) Unavailable at this time/target Downtown Albuquerque Metro

School Location (City/Town) Southwest Quadrant/Downtown Metro Area

School District within which the school will be located New Mexico Public Education Department Charter School

Contact Information:

Primary Contact Person Cecilia Martinez-Sanchez

Address 6817 Avenida La Costa NE

City Albuquerque State New Mexico Zip 87109

Daytime Tel (505) 821-3354 Fax (505) Not available

Alternate Tel (505) 681-4234 E-mail

Secondary Contact Person Fred Sedillo

Address 6015 Los Hermanos Ct. NE

City Albuquerque State New Mexico Zip 87111

Daytime Tel (505) 553-6020 Fax (505) Unknown at this time

Alternate Tel (505) 604-8060 E-mail

Partner Organizations (if applicable):

Unavailable at this time

Enrollment Information:

NOTE: If the charter school will be located in a school district that has a total enrollment of not more than one thousand three hundred (1,300) students, the charter school’s proposed enrollment for all grades, in combination with any other charter school’s enrollment for all grades, will neither equal nor exceed ten (10) percent of the total MEM of that school district [6.80.4.9.C.6 NMAC]

Grade span at full enrollment Kindergarten through Eighth Grade

Total number of students at full enrollment *390.

* 360 students K through 8th Grades; 30 students for preschool program if pursued and funded.

Complete the chart. Indicate phase-in grades if applicable.

School Year / Grade Levels / Total Projected Student Enrollment
First Year 2011-12 / Kindergarten – 3rd / 160 Students
Second Year 2012-13 / Kindergarten – 4th / 200 Students
Third Year 2013-14 / Kindergarten – 5th / 240 Student
Fourth Year 2014-15 / Kindergarten – 6th / 280 Student
Fifth Year 2015-16 / Kindergarten – 7th-8th / 320 Student

* Second year of operation, KCAC will research and pursue funding for preschool program.

Notice of Intent:

6817 Avenida La Costa NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109

January 7, 2009

Dr. Don Duran

Assistant Secretary, Charter School Division

5600 Eagle Rock Avenue

Room 227

Albuquerque, NM 87113

Dear Dr. Duran:

This letter is written to inform you of our intent to establish a bilingual/multicultural charter school which will serve Kindergarten through 8th grade students. It is our intent to establish this school to meet the needs of our bilingual/multicultural families throughout the city of Albuquerque. Our focus will include reading, mathematics, science, technology with an emphasis in dual language instruction and school to career enrichment activities.

We believe all children can learn by providing an integrated curriculum which addresses the different learning styles of all students. Our approach will address Linguistic,Logical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and the Naturalist intelligenceway of learning. We believe all families should have an opportunity to choose the best educational setting and process for their children.

In order to accomplish our goals we believe parents are their children’s first teachers and by reaching out to all our families we will form an ongoing partnership which will support our goal of ensuring all of our students are performing at their proficiency level and above in order to ensure all children work to reach academic success in learning and in serving as responsible citizens for their future and the future of our community. Parents will be included in the educational and governance process of the school through ongoing parent workshops which will enhance their ability to support the education of their children. Our goal is to form a partnership which will include parents, students, community, and staff who will continuously work in acollaborative manner, in order to develop a culture of life-long learning for all.

We will measure student success by using formative and summative assessments in all content areas. Students will learn to set their own individual academic goals and track their progress using technology and data notebooks. The New Mexico State standards will serve as our guide for developing and planning our curriculum.

We anxiously await your approval as we begin the application process for 2011. Please feel free to contact Cecilia Martinez-Sanchez at 505-821-3354 should you have any questions regarding our charter school.

Sincerely yours,

Cecilia Martinez-Sanchez

CC: Winston Brooks

PO Box 25704
Albuquerque, NM 87125

Organizers

Cecilia Martinez-SanchezFred Sedillo

6817 Avenida La Costa NE6015 Los Hermanos Ct., NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109Albuquerque, NM 87111

505-821-3354505-821-9517

Fax 505-821-3354

Elyse SedilloCarol Carriaga

6015 Los Hermanos Ct., NE2010 Blake Road, Sw

Albuquerque, NM 87111Albuquerque, NM 87105

505 -821-9517505-417-1767

Abstract of Proposed Charter School:

The Kids’ College Academy Charter (KCAC) staff, parents and students are committed to its mission, “To prepare Kindergarten through eighth (K-8) grade students from diverse cultures, in collaboration with parents and community, to develop career paths, become bilingual, multicultural, autonomous, life long learners who will positively impact their community with their high performing skills, achievements and career goals by providing every student with a strategic data-driven instruction.

KCAC will provide every student with strategic data- driven quality instruction, by creating and implementing a well executed approach to continuous improvement in every classroom and throughout the school. We will develop school-wide systems and classroom systems that will exemplify a culture of learning for all of our stakeholders.

We will model visionary leadership by insuring that our delivery of instruction in all classrooms includes best practices in all content areas. English as a Second Language (ESL) and Guided Language Acquisition Design (G.L.A.D.) strategies will be an integral part of all instruction in order to provide all students research based opportunities to master their skills in reading, written language, math, science, social studies and technology. In alignment with our goals and mission, students will develop the skills necessary forfuture career paths as well as higher level learning.

The KCAC staff will demonstrate ongoing communication with all stakeholders in order to continuously improve their own teaching practice in order to meet the needs of all students. Staff will be readily available to meet with parents regarding any concerns parents may have. KCAC learning community will use the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) process to strategically work onacademic areas of growth. Each classroom will have a PDSA showing their strategic plan for improvement along with on-going pre and post data for reflection, celebration and development of on-going action plans.

The KCAC learning community will showcase and celebrate the successes of our students, staff and parents by having presentations and symposiums to model student learning and student achievements. We will use our website, along with newsletters to inform our community of our work and successes.

Parent involvement and parent education will be a strong component of our work at KCAC. We will engage parents in our parent involvement academic sessions in order to help parents help their children at home in the academic areas of reading, writing and math. In addition, parents will be invited to health and wellness sessions for themselves and their families, technology classes. ESL and GED classes will be initiated so parents can raise their own education levels, qualify for better paying jobs and improve the overall economic status of their families.

The KCAC staff is committed to implementing our Core Values that will ensure a highly effective school-wide integrated system with integral parts that will work together to achieve performance excellence for all stakeholders.

  1. STATEMENTS OF ASSURANCES / ASSURANCE THAT ALL GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS HAVE READ THE COMPLETED APPLICATION

These forms must be signed by a duly-authorized representative of the governing body of the proposed charter school and submitted with the final application. An application will be considered incomplete if it is not accompanied by the Statements of Assurances and an assurance from each governing body member that they have read the completed application and agree to its submission.

STATE OF NEW MEXICO)

)

COUNTY OF )

I, Cecilia Martinez-Sanchez, after being duly sworn, state as follows:

1.My name is Cecilia Martinez-Sanchez and I reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2.I am the authorized representative of the governing body of the proposed Kids’ College Academy Charter School to be located at near the Southwest Quadrant/Dowtown Metro Area, I certify that, if awarded a charter:

  1. The CHARTER SCHOOL’s admission process shall not discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, national origin, color, ability level, or age.
  2. If more students apply than can be accommodated, The CHARTER SCHOOL shall admit students on the basis of a lottery.
  3. The CHARTER SCHOOL’s admission processes shall be in compliance with Section 22-8B-4.1 NMSA 1978.
  4. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall be a nonsectarian, non-religious, and non-home-based public school.
  5. Except as otherwise provided in the Public School Code, the CHARTER SCHOOL shall not charge tuition or have admission requirements.
  6. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall comply with all state and federal health and safety requirements applicable to public schools, including those health and safety codes relating to educational building occupancy.
  7. The governing body shall not contract with a for-profit entity for the management of the CHARTER SCHOOL.
  8. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws and rules related to providing special education services.
  9. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall avoid apparent and actual conflicts of interest when administering grants and entering into contracts for equipment and services.
  10. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall comply with conflict of interest provisions identified in the New Mexico Procurement Code, Section 13-1-128 et seq. NMSA 1978 and the Prohibited Sales Act, Section 22-21-1 et seq. NMSA 1978; and the federal regulations at 34 CFR 75.525 and 80.36.
  11. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall ensure that criminal background checks are conducted on all employees in accordance with Section 22-10A-5 NMSA 1978.
  12. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall develop written procurement procedures and conduct all procurement transactions in a manner that provides open and fair competition.

(Statements of Assurances page 2 of 4)

  1. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall comply with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title VI
  2. of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
  3. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall provide equitable access to and participation in its federally assisted program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs.
  4. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall be economically sound and the fiscal management shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations and rules relative to fiscal procedures.
  5. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall provide to the Public Education Commission by the sooner of the end of the planning year or within ten (10) days of receipt of any federal or state stimulus funds a detailed plan indicating how the CHARTER SCHOOL will manage its fiscal responsibilities, the plan will include a description of the internal control procedures that the charter school will utilize to safeguard assets, segregate its payroll and other check disbursement duties, provide reliable financial information, promote operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with all applicable federal statutes and regulations and state statutes and rules relative to fiscal procedures.
  6. Meetings of the CHARTER SCHOOL Governing Body shall comply with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, Sections 10-15-1 et seq., NMSA 1978.
  7. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall adopt policies and procedures of the governing body, that address governance, relationship to staff, professional development, the role of the governing body in policy-making, personnel decisions, budgeting, and operation of the school, including how decisions will be made.
  8. The Governing Body or head administrator of the CHARTER SCHOOL shall recognize and work with employee labor representatives, if any.
  9. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall produce a certificate of occupancy prior to opening a facility for use as a school; the facility shall meet all applicable federal and state health, safety and code requirements and be suitable for use as a school.
  10. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall develop and maintain a plan for addressing code, accessibility, health and safety requirements as well as operation, maintenance and repair of any facility it seeks to use as a school.
  11. The CHARTER SCHOOL shall develop personnel policies that comply with all applicable federal and state labor laws, regulations and rules implementing them and shall submit the policies to the Public Education Department for comment prior to the hiring of any employees.

I hereby certify that the information submitted in this application for a charter is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand thatI am the authorized representative of the governing body of this proposed charter school.

[Signatures required on next page]

(Statements of Assurances page 3 of 4)

______

[Signature]Date

______,governing body member, or authorized representative, of the proposed Kids’ College Academy Charter School.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this _____day of ______, 20___.
[Notary Seal:]
______
[signature of Notary]
______
[typed name of Notary]
NOTARY PUBLIC
My commission expires: ______, 20____.

(Statements of Assurances page 4 of 4)

SIGNED STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE THAT EACH GOVERNING BODY MEMBER HAS READ THIS APPLICATION AND AGREES TO ITS SUBMISSION TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION

This form must be signed by each governing body member of the proposed school and submitted with the final application. An application will be considered incomplete if it is not accompanied by this Assurance document. (Please “copy” and paste this form for each school governing body member to sign, and then submit all signed forms with the final application.)

STATE OF NEW MEXICO)

)

COUNTY OF ______)

1.My name is Cecilia Martinez-Sanchez and I reside in Albuquerque New Mexico.

2.I am a member of the governing body of the proposedKids’ College Academy Charter School to be located at near the Downtown Metro Area . I certify that I have read this charter application in its entirety and hereby agree to its submission to the Public Education Commission.

______,

[Printed Name]

______

[Signature]Date

  1. Kids’ College Academy Charter School Mission and Statement of Need

(Knowledge, Culture, Achievement, Careers)

IV.A.1. Kids’ K- 8 College Academy Mission

To prepare Kindergarten through eighth (K-8) grade students from diverse cultures, in collaboration with parents and community, to develop career paths, become bilingual, multicultural, autonomous, life long learners who will positively impact their community with their high performing skills, achievements and career goals by providing every student with a strategic data-driven instruction.

Kids’ K-8 College Academy Charter (KCAC) Core Values:

1. Visionary Leadership

The academic leadership team at the KCAC will ensure that all students receive a strategic delivery of instruction in all content areas with an emphasis on meeting the needs of all students inclusive of bilingual, second language students and special education students.

  • We will use data driven instruction to accomplish our goal of having all students perform at their proficiency and advanced levels in reading, written language and math.
  • We will model best practices for all content areas using English as Second Language (ESL) and Guided Language Acquisition Design (G.L.A.D.) strategies.
  • We will implement the learning goals and objectives outlined for each special education student as specified in the students’ IEP or 504 Plan.

2. School-Wide Visionary Leadership

  • Staff will demonstrate visionary leadership in their classrooms, grade levels, goal teams, and in their work with parents and students in order to help students become proficient and advanced in all content areas.
  • Staff will demonstrate visionary leadership by always using best practices in their delivery of instruction, integrating ESL and G.L.A.D. strategies in all content areas.
  • Staff will demonstrate visionary leadership by actively participating in their grade level and goal team work.
  • Staff will collaborate with creating enriched thematic units that will challenge all students to meet and exceed grade level standards and above.
  • Staff will engage special education students within the learning community by providing supports, modifications and accommodations so that they may access the curriculum standards at their grade level.

3. Learning Centered Education