1. Charter School Update
DAC
May 10, 2018

2. What are charter schools?
Independent
Public-part of state’s program
Non-Profit Governing Boards
Authorized to Operate by Sponsor
Charters (Contracts) with Authorizers

3. Opening a Charter School
Individual, group, municipality, or legal entity submits state application to sponsor (school district/university)
Sponsor reviews/approves or denies
Approves- “state” charter is “negotiated.”
Denies---goes away or goes to DOE for appeal
Applications to convert current schools to charter can also be submitted.

4. Independent Operated by non-profit governing board
Can be managed by entity other than governing board-ESP
Sponsor is not responsible for operation
Monitoring by authorizer: $, student performance, compliance with statutes, and adherence to charter (contract);renew or non-renew/terminate charters

5. Sponsors must provide:
Contract management
FTE and data reporting
ESE administration
Some school lunch administration
Test administration support
Information services
Student performance data

6. Public Funded like all other FL public schools
Sponsor administrative fee
Federal funds choice-Services or $
Must be open to all applicants in district
Are exempt from many education statutes

7. Statutory Purposes/Principles
Meet high standards of student achievement
Offers flexibility/choice opportunity
Promote enhanced academic success and financial efficiency
Provide parents with info-reading/learning year in year

8. Purposes (continued) Improve student learning/achievement
Increase learning opportunities for all children, with special emphasis on low- performing and reading
Encourage use of innovative methods
Measure student outcomes

9. Optional Purposes Create innovative measurement tools
Provide rigorous competition with public school district
Expand capacity of public school system
Mitigate impacts of new residential dwellings
Create new professional development opportunities for teachers

10. Charter School Requirements
Non-sectarian
Admit eligible students as per statute (preferences)
Cannot charter tuition/fees*
Meets health, safety, civil rights rules
Provide required instructional days
Cannot violate antidiscrimination laws
Maintain financial records as required
Submit financial reports to district
Report progress to district/maintain website

11. Exemption from Statutes—are exempt from all except:
All applying to charter schools ( )
Student assessment/accountability
Provision of services to SWD*
Civil rights/discrimination
Student health, safety, and welfare
Public meetings/records, inspection

12. No Exemption (continued)
Maximum class size by school level
Compensation and salary schedules
Work reductions
Contracts with instructional personnel
Performance evaluations (instructional/administrative)
Transportation****
Virtual Schools*****

13. Employees Teachers must meet state certification requirements.
All must be background screened.
All must either be public or private employees.
Charter school administrators are not required to be certified.

14. Charter Schools Authorized by LCS
Current/New Applications*
Closed
SAST
SASC
GCA
TSMA
Plato Academy*
Tallahassee Classical*
Steele-Collins CCHS Life Skills Imagine Woodville STARS**