Starting a charter school in Arizona is an intensive project and you should expect the process to take several years. Even though it is possible to complete the process quicker, it is a complex process and many teams spend six to eight months planning before starting the application process. Below is a summary of the process.
Understand the Landscape
There are currently 556 charter schools in Arizona and increasing, serving approximately 200,000 students. This makes up about 31 percent of the state’s public schools and 17 percent of all public school students. Charter schools are held accountable to the same, if not stricter standards, as public district schools and must abide by Arizona charter school laws. In order to open a charter school, developers must submit an application to an authorizing body. The current authorizing bodies in Arizona are: 1) The State Board for Charter Schools, 2)Colleges and Universities with more than 15,000 students. Currently, the only authorizer actively accepting proposals is the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.
Understand the Timeline
Charter school development is at least a two-year process for planning and implementation. The Arizona State Board for Charter Schools requires school developers to submit a charter application in May each year. The application is reviewed and ultimately approved or denied in December.
Form a Team
Starting a charter school demands a wide range of support and expertise. An ideal founding team consists of at least a few committed individuals with diverse skill sets. Consider including individuals on the founding team with expertise in various areas, such as education, business/finance, fundraising, community relations, marketing, facilities, technology, governance, human resources and law.
Engage the Community
In order to best meet the needs of a community, the founding team must fully understand it. It is imperative that the school’s founding team conducts in-depth research on the student population to be served and their educational needs. Actively networking with parents, community leaders, and local legislators will ensure the school is providing an academic choice that is representative of its population.
Set up Methods of Accountability
Charter schools are held accountable to the same, if not stricter, standards as other public schools, including participation in state standardized assessments, annual submission of a financial report and independent audit, and oversight from a governing board. The school academic and operational plans should include methods for monitoring student progress towards academic goals, sound financial internal controls, and a governing plan that includes an independent governing board composed of competent, mission-aligned individuals.
Define the School’s Vision and Mission
Aside from a school’s name, its vision and mission is the most succinct and informative articulation of a school’s reason for existence. A vision statement should be succinct and give a clear articulation of what the school will ultimately achieve. A mission statement defines what the school intends to do, generally how it is accomplished, and for whom. Not only will the mission serve as the guideline for all current and future decisions, but it will also act as a communication tool for parents and community members. With this one statement, potential founders, board members, and staff must be able to decide if the school reflects their own educational values and seeks to achieve a like-minded vision.
Define Success
It is essential for each charter school to have a detailed plan for measuring and monitoring student success. Some questions to consider: What are the measurable goals for the performance of the organization and for students? What are the benchmarks for comparison? What research is available that supports the proposed plan to achieve these goals? What will the school’s students be able to accomplish by the time they leave the school?
Understand Funding
Like any public school in Arizona, charter schools receive per pupil funding from the state. Additional state or federal funding may be received based on the school’s unique student population. Payments are typically received at the first of every month starting in August. It is common that charter schools seek philanthropic funds to supplement the state and federal aid. In the start-up phase, charter schools can seek significant start-up grants through a competitive process.
Commit to Ongoing Training
The founding team should seek assistance and training to ensure the charter proposal is thoroughly developed, incorporating proven best practices. The founding team should also have a strong commitment to ongoing professional development, such as training offered by The Center For Student Achievement, for the board of directors, school administration, and faculty throughout its operation. This commitment should be reflected in the development plans for the school, including the proposed school’s budgets.
Find a Facility
Securing a facility that meets the needs of the proposed school that is also located in the school’s target area is one of the toughest challenges new charter schools face. The development team should begin researching costs and potential school sites as early as possible.
Develop and Submit the Charter Application
Developing a charter school is a time intensive and demanding endeavor, and not one to be taken lightly. The New Charter School Application is much more than a business plan; it is a contract with the state. A charter application includes a school’s comprehensive program of instruction along with a detailed business and operating plan and may take several months to a year to complete. Visit the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools for more information on the new charter school application.
This is the process in a nutshell. Good luck if you decide to embark on
this journey!
