Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. The BESE charter
school application shall be prepared as a request for applications. Each
request for applications shall consist of sections that provide applicants with
information on charter schools in Louisiana, an explanation of the application
process and timelines, charter school application questions, and any other
information which is necessary for an applicant to be able to respond to the
charter application questions.
B. A
framework of all BESE requests for applications, which shall include an
assurance that all required sections are or will be included in the final
request for applications, must be submitted to BESE by the department prior to
the release of the request. In cases of a type 5 charter operator voluntarily
relinquishing its charter, the state superintendent of education may issue an
emergency request for applications and BESE shall be notified of such action
within two business days. The Department of Education may accept charter
applications in a single submission or may structure a process to accept
applications in a set of sequential, cumulative submissions.
C. The charter school application questions
contained in the BESE request for applications shall consist of questions in
the following areas: executive summary, education program design and capacity,
organizational plan and capacity, and financial plan and capacity.
D. The charter school application questions
for all types of charter schools shall address the following:
1. an executive summary;
2. the role, scope, and mission of the
proposed public charter school, including identification of the targeted
student population and the community the school hopes to serve;
3. admission requirements, if any, that are
consistent with the school's role, scope, and mission may be established in
accordance with that permitted in
R.S.
17:3991 and this bulletin;
4. a description of the jurisdiction within
which a pupil shall reside or otherwise be eligible to attend a public school
in order to be eligible for admission;
5. for each elementary and middle charter
school, other than a type 2 charter school, a description of the geographic
boundaries circumscribing the neighborhood immediately surrounding the charter
school from which students residing within may be given preference for
enrollment in accordance with
R.S.
17:3991;
6. the grades to be served each year for the
full term of the charter contract;
7. minimum budgeted and maximum enrollment
per grade per year for the term of the charter contract;
8. evidence of community engagement
throughout the development of the charter application;
9. a description of how the proposed charter
school fulfills one or more of the purposes specified in the charter school law
and this bulletin;
10.
Repealed
11. Repealed
12. Repealed
13. evidence that the curriculum meets
Louisiana grade progression and ultimately graduation requirements and sets
students up to master Louisiana state standards;
14. the school plan for identifying and
successfully serving students with disabilities, English language learners,
students who are academically behind, and gifted and talented students, as
applicable, in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations;
15. school rules, regulations, and
disciplinary practices consistent with the requirements of
R.S.
17:252 and that provides adequate due
process;
16. Repealed
17. Repealed
18.Repealed
19. Repealed
20. Repealed
21. a clear description of the roles and
responsibilities for the governing board, the school's leadership and
management team, and any other entities shown in the organization
chart;
22. Repealed
23. Repealed
24. Repealed
25. Repealed
26. proposed governing bylaws;
27. explanations of any partnerships or
contractual relationships central to the school's operations or mission,
particularly education service providers;
28. the school's plans for providing
transportation, food service, and all other significant operational or
ancillary services;
29. procedures
for parents and staff to file complaints and for the charter to
respond;
30. Repealed.
31. description of the school's financial
plan and policies sufficient to permit a government audit, including financial
controls and audit requirements;
32. management and accounting practices to be
employed;
33. a description of the
insurance coverage the school will obtain;
34. start-up and five-year budgets with
clearly stated assumptions;
35.
Repealed
36. Repealed
37. academic, organizational, and financial
goals to be achieved within the contract term, and how results will be measured
and assessed;
38.
Repealed
39. Repealed
40. Repealed
41. provisions regarding liability
issues;
42. Repealed
43. Repealed
44. Repealed
45. Repealed
46. Repealed
47. provisions regarding the inspection and
operation of all fire prevention and safety equipment at the school;
48. a plan for collecting data in accordance
with
R.S.
17:3911;
49. a description of any proposed corporate
partnerships as specified in Chapter 39 of this bulletin.
50. Repealed
51. Repealed
52. a detailed, hybrid learning plan which
outlines the circumstances under which the plan would be implemented and
details regarding the school plan to acquire and disseminate technology, track
and monitor attendance, utilize a learning management system, provide technical
support, and communicate with students, families, and staff.
53. Repealed
54. Repealed
E. For a proposed public charter school that
intends to contract with an education service provider for substantial
educational services, management services, or both types of services, the
request for proposals shall additionally require the applicants to:
1. provide evidence of provider success in
serving student populations similar to the targeted population, including
demonstrated academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, and organizational
effectiveness;
2. provide the
contract or MOU setting forth the proposed duration of the service contract;
roles and responsibilities of the governing board, the school staff, and the
service provider; scope of services and resources to be provided by the service
provider; performance evaluation measures and timelines; compensation
structure, including clear identification of all fees to be paid to the
management organization; methods of contract oversight and enforcement;
investment disclosure; and conditions for renewal and termination of the
contract; and
3. disclose and
explain any existing or potential conflicts of interest between the school
governing board and proposed service providers or any affiliated business
entities.;
4. provide a detailed
plan outlining the mechanisms by which the charter board will oversee and will
hold the management organization or vendor to agreed-upon terms, as well as the
conditions under which the contractual relationship may be terminated;
and
5. provide rationale for
consideration of an education service provider and evaluation of all providers
considered.
F. For a
public charter school proposal from an applicant that is an education service
provider or is using an education service provider that currently operates one
or more schools in any state or nation, the request for proposals shall
additionally require the applicant to provide evidence of past performance and
current capacity for growth, financial audits, and details regarding any
previous, pending, or current litigation.
G. Type 1 and type 2 charter school
applications shall describe how the charter school will serve the percentage of
required students defined in the charter school law and in
§2713 of this bulletin.
H. In the case of a proposed virtual charter
school, the request for applications shall additionally require the applicants
to provide:
1. a testing plan that meets the
requirements set forth in Section 317 of Bulletin 118;
2. a plan for delivering instruction in the
event of technical and other course delivery problems which prevent normal
course delivery;
3. a summary of
data protection and recovery procedures in the event of catastrophic system
failure;
4. a staff/teacher
acceptable use policy for technology that complies with
R.S.
17:3996(21);
5. a school electronic communication policy
that complies with the federal Child Internet Protection Act and
R.S.
17:100.7, including information on school
Internet safety and filtering practices and policies;
6. a plan for providing professional
development appropriate to the delivery method used and the acceptable use and
electronic communication policies;
7. a plan for providing adequate, timely, and
appropriate technical support to students, teachers, facilitators, and
instructional coaches;
8. a plan
for providing orientations to enrolled students, their parents, and their
instructional coaches on the course delivery model prior to the beginning of
the class;
9. a plan outlining the
nature, frequency, and location of all required and optional in-person meetings
and interactions between parents and school faculty, including but not limited
to parent/teacher conferences, open houses, and school community
meetings;
10. a plan for verifying
student participation and performance, including specific intervention
procedures the school will take when students are not participating as
required;
11. a plan for complying
with Title 28, Chapter 11, §1119, Health Screening as part of enrollment and
the ongoing functioning of the school;
12. a plan for student engagement, attendance
and truancy; and
13. a plan to
provide at least 20 percent of instruction to struggling students
in-person.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:6(A)(10),
17:3981, and
17:3991.
