Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 15 - Division of Learning Services
Rule 005.15.14-007 - Arkansas Department of Education 2014 District Conversion Charter School Application

1. Describe the results of the public hearing, called by the school board, which was held for the purposes of assessing support for the establishment of this public charter school. Provide copies of supporting evidence.

Applicant Response:

Attach documentation to demonstrate that each of the following requirements of Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-23-302 was met:

2. Give the mission statement for the proposed charter school.

Applicant Response:

3. Describe the educational need for the school by responding to the following prompts. Include the innovations that will distinguish the charter from other schools.

Complete the following charts to include 2013 literacy and mathematics performance assessment data and graduation rates for the district in which the charter would be located and the schools closest to the proposed charter.

Explain the educational need for the charter in light of the academic performance by the district, the campus proposed to be converted, and at the schools in the same feeder pattern as the proposed charter. Explain other significant factors. Be certain to include the source for information presented.

Applicant Response:

If the performance of students at schools and or/districts not noted in the previous charts demonstrate the need for the charter, provide the student performance data and its source and explain.

Applicant Response:

Describe the innovations that will distinguish the charter from other schools.

Applicant Response:

4. On the following table, list the specific measurable goals in reading, reading comprehension, and mathematics, based on the state mandated assessments, and any other assessment tools if used, for improving student academic achievement for each year of the public charter school's initial five-year period. For each goal, include the following:

* The tool to be used to measure the academic performance;

* The level of performance that will demonstrate success; and

* The timeframe for the achievement of the goal.

Explain how the attainment of the goals will demonstrate that the charter is meeting the identified educational need for the school and fulfilling its mission.

Applicant Response:

5. Describe the educational program to be offered by the charter school.

Applicant Response:

6. Explain why a charter school is necessary to better meet student academic needs instead of a traditional district school.

Applicant Response:

7. Explain how the charter school will have more autonomy than traditional schools in the district. Discuss each of the following:

8. Describe the school improvement plan by addressing the following:

9. Describe the process that will be used to ensure curriculum alignment with the Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks and the curriculum requirements of the Common Core State Standards as adopted by the State Board of Education.

Applicant Response:

10. Describe the manner in which the school will make provisions for the following student services, even in those areas for which a waiver is requested:

11. Describe the plan for the school officials to provide an annual report to parents, the community, and the authorizer, separate from the district's annual report to the public, that demonstrates the progress made by the charter school during any previous academic year in meeting its academic performance objectives. (See Arkansas Code Annotated 6-23-202.)

Applicant Response:

12. Describe the enrollment criteria and student admission, recruitment and selection processes for the proposed public charter school.

Applicant Response:

It is affirmed that a random, anonymous student selection method will be utilized in the event that more students apply for admission to the public charter school than can be accommodated under the terms of the charter.

[] Yes

[] No

13. Name any district personnel, and/or leaders of the proposed charter who have any prior involvement in the operation of one or more other charter schools and complete a Prior Charter Involvement template for each individual listed.

Applicant Response:

14. Summarize the job descriptions of the school administrator(s) and other key personnel. Specify the qualifications to be met by professional employees (administrators, teachers, counselors, etc.) of the program. List the types of administrative positions, teaching positions, and support positions for the school.

Applicant Response:

15. It is affirmed that the public charter school will participate in the Arkansas Public School Computer Network, as required by state statute and by State Board of Education rule, for reporting both education data and financial data, including grant funds or private donations received directly by the charter school.

[] Yes

[] No

16. Describe the facilities to be used. Give the present use of the facility and its use for the past three years.

Applicant Response:

The facility will comply with all requirements for accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and all other state and federal laws and local zoning ordinances.

[] Yes

[] No

If the facility does not currently meet these requirements, provide a list of items that will need to be addressed to bring the facility into compliance. Also include a statement of permissible uses for the facility from the local zoning authority, and whether there are any alcohol sales within 1,000 feet of the facility.

Applicant Response:

17. Describe the manner in which the school will make provisions for food services. State whether the proposed charter school will apply to participate in the federal National School Lunch program or other federal nutrition programs.

Applicant Response:

18. Describe how the parents or guardians of the enrolled students and other members of the community will be involved with the school to positively impact the charter school's educational programs.

Applicant Response:

19. List the provisions of Title 6 of the Arkansas Code Annotated (Education Code), State Board of Education rules, and sections of the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts from which the public charter school seeks to be exempted in order to meet the goals of the school. Identify the specific statute, rule, or standard requested to be waived by title and section number if applicable. Provide a brief description of the rationale for each waiver requested.

Applicant Response:

20. Describe the potential impact of the proposed public charter school on the efforts of affected public school district(s) to comply with court orders and statutory obligations to create and maintain a unitary system of desegregated public schools.

Applicant Response:

21. Explain what the charter founders and other leaders are doing or will do to ensure the success of the charter school in perpetuity.

Applicant Response:

2014 APPLICATION

DISTRICT CONVERSION PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

STATEMENT OF ASSURANCES

The signature of the superintendent of the school district proposing the public charter school certifies that the following statements are and will be addressed through policies adopted by the public charter school; and, if the application is approved, the local board, administration, and staff of the district conversion public charter school shall abide by them:

1. The information submitted in this application is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

2. The district conversion public charter school shall be open to all students, on a space-available basis, and shall not discriminate in its admission policy on the basis of gender, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or academic or athletic eligibility.

3. In accordance with federal and state laws, the district conversion public charter school hiring and retention policies of administrators, teachers, and other employees shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, or special need.

4. Any educator employed by a school district before the effective date of a charter for a district conversion public charter school operated at a school district facility shall not be transferred to or employed by the public charter school over the educator's objection.

5. The district conversion public charter school shall operate in accordance with federal laws and rules governing public schools; applicable provisions of the Arkansas Constitution; and state statutes or regulations governing public schools not waived by the approved charter.

6. The district conversion public charter school shall ensure that any of its employees who qualify for membership in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System or the State and Public School Employee Insurance Program shall be covered under those systems to the same extent any other qualified employee of the school district is covered.

7. The district conversion public charter school shall comply with all health and safety laws, rules and regulations of the federal, state, county, region, or community that may apply to the facilities and school property.

8. The employees and volunteers of the district conversion public charter school are held immune from liability to the same extent as other school district employees and volunteers under applicable state laws.

9. The district conversion public charter school shall be reviewed for its potential impact on the efforts of a public school district to comply with court orders and statutory obligations to create and maintain a unitary system of desegregated public schools.

10. The applicant confirms the understanding that certain provisions of state law shall not be waived. The district conversion public charter school is subject to any prohibition, restriction, or requirement imposed by Title 6 of the Arkansas Code Annotated and any rule and regulation approved by the State Board of Education under this title relating to:

11. The facilities of the public charter school shall comply with all requirements for accessibility for individuals with disabilities in accordance with the ADA and IDEA and all other state and federal laws.

_________________________________________ ___________________

Signature of Superintendent of School DistrictDate

____________________________________

Printed Name

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