Charter Starter Series: Mission, Vision, and Public Outreach Webinar November 2012 Mary Carmichael, Executive Director

What does the Alliance do?

3 “R’s” of Charters:

Steps in Applying for a Charter

Your Charter Should Communicate a Culture of High Expectations Your Task in Writing - Weave together:  Mission and target student population needs  Curriculum and Instructional strategies  Big picture long term overarching goals with measurable short term objectives!  Culture with Values and Beliefs  High Capacity Operations and Governance This will be the “cookbook” for the staff and faculty to implement your vision.

Initial Steps for Success  Visit charter schools  Read related laws and regs  Write a one page executive summary and 30 second elevator speech  Hold Community Meeting(s)  Build a Winning Team  Begin to document student interest  Start a Facebook page or simple website  Pick a Sponsor and Meet with Them  Start writing

What are the needs in your community?

What is the long term vision for the school?

Vision Statement  Not required for the application but will help build support and consensus.  What does day 90 of the first year of school look like?  What innovative solutions are you implementing?  Why is this needed?

Mission Statement page 6 of application/page 1 of review guide (in the past, SCDE working on final version) Charter School Mission Statement Describe why the school proposes to exist as a charter school and explain the need for the school in the district. Also, provide a mission statement—a clear and concise statement (in one or two sentences) that defines the purposes and nature of the school. The mission statement should indicate how the school seeks to make a difference in public education and must support the intent of the South Carolina Charter Schools Act.

What is the Purpose of Charters? Section 59 ‑ 40 ‑ 20. This chapter is enacted to: (1) improve student learning; (2) increase learning opportunities for students; (3) encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods; (4) establish new forms of accountability for schools; (5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site; and (6) assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence (7) create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system, with the goal of closing achievement gaps between low performing student groups and high performing student groups. New

How does your proposed public charter school bring a high quality solution to the table to address those needs?

Mission Statement  One to two sentences  Reflect the purpose of the law  Communicate a tangible, exciting solution you will be working towards  Make it something you can all repeat and engage people in.

Goals, Objectives, and Strategies Mission Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3 Objective 1.1 Objective 2.1 Objective 3.1 Objective 1.1 Objective 3.1 Strategies to reach these goals and objectives may be tied to each objective or all of them.

Possible components  Values  Student population  Curriculum  Instructional strategies  Culture  Big picture long term overarching goal!

Name - Naming the baby – if it is not too late.  Is a rose by any other name still a rose?  You have to live with it and so do others!  Schools already in SC  Look at the acronym  Web addresses – what is available  Need it by the time you incorporate, but it helps to have it sooner.

Public Outreach

Why? Support for Formation of the Charter School i. Charter Committee Provide the names, addresses, and experience/qualifications of committee members. The committee must include at least one certified teacher. The Charter committee will be dissolved shortly after the opening of the school when the school’s first governing board is elected. ii. Evidence of Support Include evidence that an adequate number of parents, teachers, pupils, or any combination support the formation of the charter school. Provide substantial evidence that the proposed charter school will reach its first year’s projected enrollment. Without such evidence, an fiscally sound budget cannot be determined. Demonstrate support from community groups and agencies and include letters in the appendices from these entities that specify their level of commitment to the school. 100%

GRADE 2014– Sixth40 60 Seventh80 Eighth80 Ninth200 Tenth200 Eleventh200 Twelfth200 TOTALS Student Projections – Why?

Hold Community Meetings  Recruit Charter Committee Members  Build a shared vision  Figure out what the real needs are and tweak things  Document community support and student interest

Different Ways to Document Support  Signed letters of interest with the grades of kids  Meetings with dates, sign in sheet, and number interested in the school at the end of the session  Internet survey  Facebook or Gmail Group

Document Student Interest Why? It is tied directly to your budget projections. What MUST be on forms?  Name of Parent  Home and Mailing Address   Phone  Grade in 2014  Sign or e-sign with initials

Start writing application sections  Look at the 2012 application – not going to change much  Focus on Education Program - all grade you plan to apply for will need to be covered. Not just the first year. Tie them  Do not need to identify a facility

Evidence of Support page 6 of review guide  Document all outreach, community support, and actual student interest in enrolling. Document all support you have for this school. Letters of support from the mayor and other community leaders are great, but they really want to see you will hit at least 75% of your enrollment since your budget is based on these numbers. So, if you are planning on having 200 kids that first year, make sure you have 150 signed forms from families stating that they are interested in their children attending your school as presented.  Signed letters of interest with the grades of kids  Meetings with dates, sign in sheet, and number interested in the school at the end of the session  Internet survey  Yahoo or Gmail Group  Document and Submit EVERYTHING!  Must be done prior to May 3 rd.

Relationships are the Key Ingredient to Successful Public Charter Schools  Aligned with both the long term vision for the community and the evolving educational needs  Bring together Human Capital and Community Resources  Engage the community stakeholders – students, families, businesses, taxpayers, etc…  Form strategic committees to advance their mission – education, finance, facilities & governance. What do successful charters look like?

What do we share with the Public?

Communications Steps  Write a one page executive summary  Why  Vision/Mission  Student Population  Geographic Focus  30 second elevator speech  Why and high quality solution you are developing  Start a Facebook page or simple website  Way to communicate, capture interest, build brand

Alignment in Application

PCSASC Charter Incubator  Supports High Capacity Planning Groups and Future School Leaders in Developing a High Performing Public Charter School.  Tailored to meet the unique needs of each group.  Priorities will be given to areas of the greatest needs and to groups with the capacity to create real and lasting change in their community.

Charter Resources The Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina The SC Department of Education Your Sponsor – Local, The SC Public Charter School District or Higher Ed

Questions You Have Remember, Charter Schools: are public schools. are free. do not have admissions tests or other barriers to entrance. are financially accountable non-profit corporations. have autonomy from their school district. & bring innovation and resources into the classroom where they belong.