1. Pre-Applicant Training
The SCPCSD as a Charter Sponsor - Our Priorities and Our Responsibilities
Dana C. Abbott
Chief of New Schools and Accountability

2. Overview What is a charter sponsor/authorizer?
What is charter sponsorship/authorizing?
What is quality charter authorizing?
What are the SCPCSD’s legal responsibilities as a charter sponsor/authorizer?
What are the SCPCSD’s priorities as a charter sponsor/ authorizer?

3. What is a Charter Authorizer?
Typically:
A sponsor of a charter school
The entity that awarded approval of the charter and oversees the charter school’s performance throughout the charter term
In SC:
A local school district, the SCPCSD, or an institution of higher learning (HEI)
Local Education Agency (LEA)
Retains responsibility for special education and for ensuring that students enrolled in the charter school are served in a manner consistent with LEA obligations under applicable federal, state, and local law

4. What is Charter Authorizing? (NACSA Principles and Standards)
A powerful strategy for ensuring charter schools are excellent and equitable public schools
Complex work requiring the exercise of professional judgment and constant and thoughtful balancing of diverse and often competing interests
A highly developed and continually developing profession focused on ensuring charter schools deliver on the charter promise

5. What is Quality Charter Authorizing? (NACSA Principles and Standards)
Approving only those charters with the greatest likelihood of providing a quality education for all children
Closing schools that fail children, communities, taxpayers
Strengthening the performance and accountability of all charter schools
Fostering and growing great charter schools

6. Our Responsibilities as a Charter Sponsor
adopt national industry standards of quality charter schools and authorize and implement practices consistent with those standards
-Provide technical assistance to persons or groups preparing or revising applications
-Approve/deny charter applications
-Negotiate and execute sound charter contracts
-Monitor the performance and legal/fiscal compliance of schools
-Collect and analyze data to support ongoing evaluation
-Conduct or require oversight activities
-Collect an annual report from each school
-Notify schools of deficiencies and provide reasonable opportunities to correct
-Take corrective actions/exercise sanctions short of revocation in response to deficiencies
-Determine whether each school merits renewal or revocation
-Provide parents and the public information about those charter schools authorized by the sponsor
permanently close any charter that satisfies the automatic closure provision

7. OUR PRIORITIES AS A CHARTER SPONSOR1 2 3
AUTHORIZE GREAT SCHOOLS & HOLD SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR RESULTS.
ENSURE ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS.
CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR OPERATORS TO THRIVE.

8. What You Can Expect from Us If We Become Your Sponsor
Accountability for equal access, equitable treatment, and academic excellence
Expectation of and respect for charter autonomy and charter accountability
Differentiated oversight
Rewards and sanctions based on performance
Performance evaluation/data analysis you can use to continuously improve
Respect and transparency
Supports that do not inhibit your autonomy or substitute your capacity
A culture of continuous improvement
A student-centered, rather than an adult-centered culture