C.
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE
PROPOSED CHARTER SCHOOL
The applicant for the proposed charter school, if approved by
the authorizer, agrees to operate the educational program described below in
accordance with the provisions described within this document, Arkansas Code
Annotated §
6-23-101 et seq., the State
Board of Education Rules Governing Charter Schools, and the attached
assurances.
Provide a narrative description of the various components of
the proposed charter school by responding to the following prompts:
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:
A. The notice of public
hearing was distributed to the community, certified school personnel, and
parents of all students enrolled at the public school for which the school
district initiated the application.
B. The notice of the public hearing was
published in a newspaper having general circulation in the school district in
which the school will be located at least three weeks prior to the date of the
meeting.
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.
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DISTRICT DATA
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District Name
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|
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District Status
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|
|
LITERACY
2013 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
MATH
201 3 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
Graduation Rate 2012-2013 2013 Report Card Percent
Graduated
|
|
All Students (Combined)
|
|
Targeted Achievement Gap Group
|
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African American
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|
Hispanic
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White/Caucasian
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Economically Disadvantaged
|
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English Language Learners/ Limited English
Proficient
|
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Students with Disabilities
|
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CAMPUS DATA - CAMPUS PROPOSED FOR CONVERSION TO
CHARTER
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District Name
|
|
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Campus Name
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|
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Grade Levels
|
|
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Campus Status
|
|
|
LITERACY
2013 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
MATH
201 3 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
Graduation Rate 2012-2013
2013 Report Card
Percent Graduated
IF APPLICABLE
|
|
All Students (Combined)
|
|
Targeted Achievement Gap Group
|
|
African American
|
|
Hispanic
|
|
White/Caucasian
|
|
Economically Disadvantaged
|
|
English Language Learners/ Limited English
Proficient
|
|
Students with Disabilities
|
|
CAMPUS DATA - HIGH SCHOOL CLOSEST TO THE PROPOSED
CHARTER LOCATION
|
|
District Name
|
|
|
Campus Name
|
|
|
Grade Levels
|
|
|
Campus Status
|
|
|
LITERACY
2013 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
MATH
201 3 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
Graduation Rate 2012-2013
2013 Report Card
Percent Graduated
IF APPLICABLE
|
|
All Students (Combined)
|
|
Targeted Achievement Gap Group
|
|
African American
|
|
Hispanic
|
|
White/Caucasian
|
|
Economically Disadvantaged
|
|
English Language Learners/ Limited English
Proficient
|
|
Students with Disabilities
|
|
CAMPUS DATA - OTHER CAMPUS IN FEEDER PATTERN OF
PROPOSED CONVERSION CHARTER
|
|
District Name
|
|
|
Campus Name
|
|
|
Grade Levels
|
|
|
Campus Status
|
|
|
LITERACY
2013 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
MATH
201 3 ESEA Report
Percentage Achieving or
Advanced
|
Graduation Rate 2012-2013
2013 Report Card
Percent Graduated
IF APPLICABLE
|
|
All Students (Combined)
|
|
Targeted Achievement Gap Group
|
|
African American
|
|
Hispanic
|
|
White/Caucasian
|
|
Economically Disadvantaged
|
|
English Language Learners/ Limited English
Proficient
|
|
Students with Disabilities
|
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.
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GOAL
|
Assessment Instrument for Measuring
Performance
|
Performance Level that Demonstrates
Achievement
|
When Attainment of the Goal Will Be
Assessed
|
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:
A) Employing personnel;
B) Developing and controlling the charter
school budget;
C) Managing
day-to-day charter school operations;
D) Developing and controlling the school
calendar; and
E) Other areas of
autonomy to be afforded to the charter.
Applicant Response:
8. Describe the school improvement plan by
addressing the following:
A) Explain how the
licensed employees and parents of the students to be enrolled in the charter
school will be involved in developing and implementing the school improvement
plan, identifying performance criteria, and evaluating the effectiveness of the
improvement plan.
Applicant Response:
B) Describe a plan for school improvement
that addresses how the charter school will improve student learning and meet
the state education goals.
Applicant Response:
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:
A) Guidance
program;
Applicant Response:
B) Health services;
Applicant Response:
C) Media center;
Applicant Response:
D) Special education;
Applicant Response:
E) Transportation;
Applicant Response:
F) Alternative education, including
Alternative Learning Environments;
Applicant Response:
G) English Language Learner (ELL) instruction
Applicant Response:
H) Gifted and Talented Program.
Applicant Response:
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:
(a) Monitoring compliance with Arkansas
Code Annotated §
6-23-101 et seq. as
determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Education;
(b) Conducting criminal background checks for
employees;
(c) High school
graduation requirements as established by the State Board of
Education;
(d) Special education
programs as provided by this title;
(e) Public school accountability under this
title;
(f) Ethical guidelines and
prohibitions as established by Arkansas Code Annotated §
6-24-101
et seq., and any other controlling state or federal law
regarding ethics or conflicts of interest; and
(g) Health and safety codes as established by
the State Board of Education and local governmental entities.
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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