STATE OF LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. Box 94064, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9064
Toll Free #: 1-877-453-2721
http://www.louisianaschools.net
April 11, 2011
Dear Charter School Applicant,
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is pleased to release its 2011 Request for Applications (RFA) for Types 2, 4, and 5 charter schools. In its review, approval, and oversight of charter schools, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is guided by a vision to ensure academic excellence and improved student performance in all schools. Thus, we expect charter schools to maintain high academic standards, implement supportive and inclusive policies, and exemplify strong leadership and governance models.
The charter school landscape in Louisiana is changing rapidly. In New Orleans, for example, 71 percent of students attend public charter schools – a number that continues to rise. Further, other communities are beginning to embrace charter schools as a mechanism for increasing academic performance and expanding choices for students and parents. This year, the LDOE is particularly seeking charter applications that present plans for turning around failing schools and providing communities and families more high-quality public school options. In LDOE recommendations to BESE regarding the approval of Type 5 charter applications and in school assignments made by the Recovery School District (RSD), strong preference will be given to applications that have:
· Received a favorable recommendation by independent reviewers; and
· Demonstrated a strong partnership between a recognized community-based organization affiliated with the school for which it applied (i.e., school alumni association, school PTO) and a charter operator with a demonstrated track record of success, as evidenced by a successful grant application to the Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition.
If the application for an RSD direct-run school includes a partnership as described above, describe that partnership in section B.7 in the main application.
In addition to the regular charter RFA, this summer the LDOE will identify schools, currently under the jurisdiction of the RSD, that are eligible for return to the Previous Governing Authority (PGA), in accordance with Bulletin 111.
This year’s application and application process have undergone major structural changes, although the content applicants are expected to submit remains largely the same. The application process will, for the first time, give applicants the opportunity to submit revised components of the application prior to final BESE approval. The LDOE will also expand access to information sessions regarding the application process by hosting the majority of these sessions via online webinar and by recording and posting webinars for unlimited access on the LDOE website.
Finally, to ensure that all applicants are provided with an equal opportunity to present a case for their application, the LDOE has established firm deadlines for submission and will not accept materials that are submitted after deadlines have passed.
Included in this packet is information concerning the application submission process and the evaluation timeline. If you have any questions, please contact our Office of Parental Options at 225-342-3640 or . Thank you for your interest in serving Louisiana’s children.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Pastorek
State Superintendent of Education
Louisiana Charter Schools Overview
The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is accepting applications from qualified nonprofits to operate Type 2, Type 4 and Type 5 charter schools. Educators, community and civic nonprofit boards, parents, and teachers have the opportunity to create schools that will provide high quality educational outcomes and respond to the needs of the community. Charter schools are public schools operated independently and are required to serve all eligible children, with the education of at-risk students being the overriding purpose.
Charter schools in Louisiana are required to provide appropriate curricula, aligned professional standards and support, engaging models of parental and partnership programs, and strategic planning to leverage and grow resources for the school. Schools are held accountable for academic results, responsible school leadership, and fiscal and operational management. In some cases, charter schools will be responsible for turning around failing schools and providing students in underserved communities with an opportunity to receive a high quality education. In all cases, parents are afforded the option to choose a charter school if they believe that school best meets the needs of their child.
This Request for Applications (RFA) and the resulting evaluation process are rigorous and demanding. The process is meant to ensure that charter school operators possess the capacity to implement sound strategies, practices and methodologies. Successful applicants will clearly demonstrate high levels of expertise in the areas of education, school administration and management; experience in implementing various research-based pedagogy and differentiated instruction; and high expectations for excellence in professional standards and student achievement. A successful charter school application will include:
· A clear, concise, and compelling mission statement that communicates high academic standards for all students;
· A proven educational philosophy, instructional approach and curriculum that results in improved student performance, including students identified as at-risk;
· A plan for professional standards that provides integration of varied learning styles and specialized needs of students;
· A strong, diverse, and experienced nonprofit board or local school board committed to take the helm of school governance, administration, management and instruction;
· An organized plan to recruit, retain, train and engage educational staff, parents, students, and the community-at-large; and
· A solid financial plan for short-term and long-term organizational solvency and viability.
The Louisiana State Legislature first passed the Charter School Demonstration Programs Law in 1995. With more than fifteen years of experience with charter schools, BESE is seeking to grant charters to applicants who have clearly demonstrated their ability to achieve high academic results. To ensure consistency among expectations and standards, each applicant for a Type 2, 4 and 5 charter school must complete the application and applicable addendum. Previous governing authorities must also complete the application, Addendum 8 and any other applicable addenda.
Accountability
The success of charter schools in Louisiana and across the country hinges on the ability of schools and authorizers to remain true to charter school principles of autonomy and accountability. A nonprofit corporation or local school board is accountable to BESE for meeting student, financial, legal, and contractual performance standards. BESE has implemented rigorous standards and expectations for its charter schools through an Evaluation Framework (see Framework for the Evaluation of Louisiana Charter Schools at the end of this document).
Accountability BESE will annually evaluate the performance of charter schools against standards in the following three categories:
1. Student Performance – Charter schools are required to make demonstrable improvements in student performance over the term of the charter. Schools are required to administer all state standardized tests and must adhere to academic standards as provided in the Evaluation Framework, including demonstrating Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Schools are required to serve and meet the needs of students with exceptionalities.
2. Fiscal Management – Schools must demonstrate the proper use of public funds and future financial viability, as evidenced by annual balanced budgets, sound audit reports, and timely financial reports conforming to generally accepted accounting standards for fiscal management.
3. Legal/Contractual Performance – A nonprofit corporation or a school board holds the charter agreement and is responsible for complying with terms in the charter school contract and all applicable laws. The charter school board of directors and/or trustees is a public body and, among other things, is required to adhere to public meeting and public information laws.
BESE will evaluate charter schools through an ongoing series of reports and board actions. Approved charter schools are granted a five-year initial agreement, contingent upon results of the reporting requirements at the end of the third year. Schools unable to demonstrate academic progress or unable to comply with legal/contractual or financial requirements may face sanctions or charter revocation.
Autonomy In exchange for the accountability list above, charter school operators experience substantially greater authority to make decisions related to the following:
· Personnel Decisions
· School Management and Operations
· Finances
· Curriculum
· School Day and Calendar
· Education Service Provider agreements
Types of Charter Schools
This RFA is designed for applicants desiring to operate BESE-authorized charter schools (Types 2, 4 and 5) as well as previous governing authorities applying to operate Recovery School District schools eligible for return to local control.
The Louisiana Charter School Demonstration Law was developed with the intent to always include at-risk student populations in our charter schools. All charter applicants are required to serve at-risk students as defined by La. R.S. 17:3973. All charter schools are also required to comply with the federal mandates of NCLB and to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. The following is a description of each type of charter, along with unique requirements of each type.
TYPE 2 CHARTER SCHOOLS
Except in the event of a charter school proposed to be located in a district in academic crisis, Type 2 charter applications are only considered by BESE if a Type 1 or Type 3 charter application has been denied, not acted upon within 90 days, or in which an application is accepted but unacceptable conditions have been placed on the operator by the local school board where the Type 2 charter school will be located. A proposal for a Type 1 charter school that would otherwise be made to a local school board except that the local system is in academic crisis may be made to the state board as a Type 2 proposal. Type 2 charter school applications are considered for new schools or conversions of pre-existing schools. Type 2 charter schools may serve any student residing in the state.
Applicants applying as a Type 2 charter school must clearly articulate the need, desire and purpose for the charter school. Additional information and specific questions for Type 2 charter applicants are located in the Eligibility Documentation document.
TYPE 4 CHARTER SCHOOLS
The charter agreement for Type 4 schools is held between BESE and the local school board. Type 4 charter schools may be proposed as new schools or a conversion of a pre-existing school. The charter school shall serve students residing in the local school board's attendance zone, unless an agreement is reached with another local school board to allow students from the local school parish to attend.
Type 4 charter applicants must articulate a clear understanding of the difference between a traditional public school and a charter school. Additional information and specific questions for Type 4 charter applicants are located in Eligibility Documentation document. If a Type 4 proposal is rejected by BESE, the applicant shall have the ability to resubmit their application to BESE during the same application cycle.
TYPE 5 CHARTER SCHOOLS
Pre-existing schools that have been transferred to the Recovery School District (RSD) due to unacceptable academic performance are eligible to become restructured as Type 5 charter schools. The charter contract is held between a nonprofit board and BESE. Schools that are no longer labeled as Academically Unacceptable after five years shall have the opportunity to decide if they would like to return to their local parish school board.
Type 5 charters, by definition, are likely to serve lower performing students. Applicants must present effective strategies for improving performance of these students. Selective admission criteria are not allowed for Type 5 charter schools. Type 5 charter applicants should review the Eligibility Documentation document for specific requirements to be met during the Eligibility Review.
The following chart provides an overview of the various types of charter schools operating in Louisiana. While each is defined differently by status of authorizer and reporting structure, each of the schools holds a primary purpose, which is to offer a free, appropriate public education for all students.
TYPE
/DEFINITION
/AUTHORIZER
/FUNDING SOURCE
/LEGAL STATUS AUTHORITY FOR EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS
1
/New Start-up
/Local School Board
/Local School Board
(Local, State, Federal Funds)
/Nonprofit Corporation (charter agency)
2
/New Start-up or Conversion of pre-existing school
(must be first denied by local school board)
/BESE
/State Department of Education
(State and Federal Funds)
/Nonprofit Corporation (charter agency)
3
/Conversion of pre-existing school
/Local School Board
/Local School Board
(Local, State, Federal Funds)
/Nonprofit Corporation (charter agency)
4
/New School or Conversion of pre-existing school
/BESE
/Local School Board
(Local, State, Federal Funds)
/Local School Board
5
/Pre-existing school transferred for low academic performance
/BESE
/State Department of Education
(Local, State, Federal Funds)
/Nonprofit Corporation (charter agency)
Financial Support
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) will calculate state funding pursuant to the regulations governing these schools. State funding to Type 4 and Type 5 charters is through the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP); funding to Type 2 charters is through general fund appropriation. Charter schools receive funding based on enrollment, and payments are made on a monthly basis.
The following information is provided in order to help applicants develop their budgets. BESE does not guarantee this level of funding for FY 2013-14; however charter school applicants should use these per pupil amounts to project budgets. These per pupil amounts reflect both state and local revenues.
TYPE 2 CHARTER SCHOOLS
Schools start the fiscal year with an allocation based on an estimated enrollment. Actual student counts are required to be submitted periodically throughout the fiscal year. Both the per-pupil amount and the enrollment count will be updated and reflected in adjustments to the initial allocation. Student membership audits will be conducted to verify enrollment. Fiscal year 2012-13 adjustments will occur on selected dates as follows:
· The December payment will be adjusted to reflect actual enrollment as reported in the Student Information System (SIS) database on October 1. Funding will be equal to the district’s per-pupil amount times the actual enrollment. Monthly payments will be adjusted to reflect the change.