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Tennessee Charter Schools

Who is TCSA?. We are the leader in the charter school movement in Tennessee.Fully functioning board with an annual operating budget of approximately $175,000.In existence since 1998, name change in 2005.Work with 16 of 18 Tennessee charter schools.. Who is TCSA?. Steve Bares, Chair MASEGreg

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Tennessee Charter Schools

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    1. Tennessee Charter Schools Charter Starter Workshop: Memphis Nov 6, 2010

    2. Who is TCSA? We are the leader in the charter school movement in Tennessee. Fully functioning board with an annual operating budget of approximately $175,000. In existence since 1998, name change in 2005. Work with 16 of 18 Tennessee charter schools.

    3. Who is TCSA? Steve Bares, Chair MASE Greg Thompson, Secretary KIPP Diamond Derek Joyce MAHS Charles Gerber Promise Academy Charles Grant Smithson Craighead John Eason drafted first charter school bill in 1993 Sheri Catron Principal at COSLA Matt Throckmorton, ED founded own charter school

    4. Agenda Introduction to charter schools. TN State Law Application Process and timelines Board formation Curriculum, Character Ed. and Academics Facilities and Financing Business Operation Student Eligibility and Enrollment First Day of School Activities in Tennessee Resources for Starting a Charter School

    5. Charter Schools Nationally Charters first mentioned as an educational tool in the 1970s when New England educator Ray Budde suggested districts allow teachers to create schools doing something different.

    6. Charter Schools Nationally 1970s New England educator Ray Budde. 1980s Albert Shanker, former President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) published an article suggesting entire districts be chartered.

    7. Charter Schools Nationally 1970s New England educator Ray Budde. 1980s Albert Shanker of AFT. Mid-1980s Colorado experiments with parent controlled and run schools within school districts.

    8. Charter Schools Nationally 1970s New England educator Ray Budde. 1980s Albert Shanker of AFT. Mid-1980s Colorado experiments. Late-1980s Philadelphia begins to operate schools within a school. calling them charters.

    9. Charter Schools Nationally 1970s New England educator Ray Budde. 1980s Albert Shanker of AFT. Mid-1980s Colorado experiments. Late-1980s Philadelphia begins charters. 1991 Minnesota passed first Charter School legislation. California follows in 1992.

    10. Charter Schools Nationally Minnesota model highlights three key elements. Opportunity Choice Accountability

    11. Tennessee Purpose 49-13-102 Improve learning, address achievement gap. Options for parents. Innovative teaching methods. Measure performance towards proficiency. Professional opportunities for teachers. Parental involvement in education.

    12. Since Minnesota in 1991 1995 19 states have charter school laws. 1997 President Bill Clinton in State of the Union address calls for 3000 charter schools by 2002. 2008 40 states and Washington DC and Puerto Rico have charter school laws, with over 5,100 charter schools enrolling 1.8 million students enrolled.

    13. Tennessee charter school history First bill proposed in 1993 First bill passed in 2002 Law amended in 2005 and 2008. By 2007 Tennessee had 13 charter schools, with first closure (accountability in action.) By 2010 Tennessee has 34 charter schools, with 18 applications in process. Student eligibility is considered weakest in entire nation. Out of all states Tennessee law is considered in the bottom 10. Making progress with work to do!

    14. 2. Tennessee State Law 49-13 (read Title 49, Chapter 13) is the section of law allowing charter schools. Highlights 49-13-103 Application 49-13-105 Statute, Rules and Regulations 49-13-107 21 parts of application 49-13-108 & 109 Application approval and Denial 49-13-111,112, &113 Funding, Enrollment and Transportation 49-13-122 Revocation of charter

    15. Application Process Deadline for submission is October 1. (April 1 in Nashville) Approved application must open following August. Applications may be submitted prior to October 1. Law requires LEA to act within 60 days. Application submitted February 1 must be acted on by April 1 timeframe.

    16. Application Process Once submitted LEA normally will provide a letter within 15 days if application not complete. You are able to complete. By end of 60 day period LEA will take action. Applications denied will be given 15 days to adjust, LEA will hear again. Very normal for all applications to be denied during first hearing. If denied second time, can appeal to State Board of Education. State Board approved one charter applicant in Chattanooga, one in Nashville.

    17. The Application Mission Statement. Instructional goals and methods. Plan for evaluating Student performance. Operating budget. Method for conducting annual audits. Timeline for operation to include days of instruction. Proposed Rules and Policies. Names and Addresses of Board members -cont-

    18. The Application Student enrollment plan, no discrimination. Code of behavior and discipline. Compliance with health and safety laws. Qualifications of teachers and staff. Information on sponsors of school. Financial procedures. Plan for management and administration of school. -cont-

    19. The Application Copy of By-laws. Statement of Assurance (will follow the laws.) Types and amounts of insurance held. Plans for transportation. Equity investors or bond to ensure ability to finance school.

    20. Board Formation First step in creating a charter school is to form a Board of Directors. Number one struggle for any 501(C)(3) is governance, direct measure of boards effectiveness. Ideally, 7-15 member board. Trained, fully understands mission and purpose of charter school. Essential for a successful charter school application process.

    21. Curriculum, character Ed and Academics Charter schools must teach to State Standards. Charter schools must employee certified teachers. Charter schools must administer TCAP and Gateway. Free to choose any focus and mission so long as prepares for State tests based on State Standards. Governor is creating new, higher Standards. Currently Tennessee has lowest standards in Nation.

    22. Curriculum, character Ed and academics Charter schools nation wide tend to focus on either character education or academics. Successful models provide strong background for both. Nation wide most charter schools rely heavily on strong, disciplined character education. Charters are frequently loosely associated with churches. As Feds say," No God on the government dime.

    23. Facilities and Financing Number one struggle nationwide and in Tennessee: Facilities. Can purchase from private entity, lease from private or LEA. 4 of 18 charters lease from LEA. 4 of 18 lease from religious group. 1 charter school owns facility.

    24. Facilities and Financing Once approved first funding will take place from Federal Implementation Grant via TN Dept of Ed/Eric Hilgendorf PhD. This is a 3-year grant generally in the $650,000 range. General operating funds is paid 10 times yearly, based on a formula developed by the LEA. In the $7,600 per student range.

    25. Facilities and Finance All schools seek philanthropic support Most schools receive small amounts, measured in the tens of thousands. Few charter schools receive substantial amounts. Plan to create your charter school based on Federal Implementation Grant and General Operating.

    26. Business Operation You are creating a self sustaining business. Must provide a yearly audit, due December 31 of each year. Must balance your books. If you go into the red no one will bail you out. Most common reason for charter school failure in America is financial mismanagement. Recommend very strong financial plans, outsourcing to experts, strong board.

    27. Student Eligibility and Enrollment Tennessee has most restrictive Student Eligibility Laws in nation. Students must come from schools on High Priority list, or Students that have personally failed TCAP or Gateway in Reading or Math, or Free or Reduced Price Lunch. In this order, with lottery once full.

    28. Student Eligibility and Enrollment As Founders of a charter school your children may enroll. In addition, children of teachers may also enroll.

    29. First Day of School From approval to first day of school is roughly seven months apart. Your application needs to be a very workable blue print of how your school will operate. Research is key to ensure that what you want to do in your school can work remove guess work from equation. Borrow heavily from models that work. Quality Framework from TCSA, developed from California, Colorado, Arizona, Florida and NAPCS.

    30. Charter School Activities in Tennessee Charter schools didnt just happen in America. It took actively engaged parents and professionals to persuade political and education leaders to allow. Tennessee is very restrictive. We actively engage founders, board members, educators, parents, business community and supporters in spreading the Charter School Message. Your turn next!

    31. Resources for Starting your own Charter School TCSA will provide basic assistance and direction. We do not draft charters. We encourage charter schools to use outside vendors for quality control. Vendors available to help every single aspect of creating and operating a charter school. Greatest resource TCSA can provide is to ensure you have these needs met.

    32. Questions?

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