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Application for Memphis Academy of Science & Engineering Elementary School Opening in the 2019-20 School Year Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION FORM 2 ASSURANCES FORM 3 SECTION 1 ACADEMICS 1.1 School Mission and Goals 4 1.2 Enrollment Summary 7 1.3 Academic Focus and Plan 9 1.4 Academic Performance Standards 14 1.5 Phase-In/Turnaround Planning n/a 1.6 High School Graduation and Postsecondary Readiness n/a 1.7 Assessments 30 1.8 School Calendar and Schedule 32 1.9 Special Populations and At-Risk Students 33 1.10 School Culture and Discipline 38 1.11 Marketing, Recruitment, and Enrollment 45 1.12 Community Involvement and Parent Engagement 47 1.13 Existing Academic Plan 48 1.14 Performance Management 56 SECTION 2 OPERATIONS 2.1 Governance 57 2.2 Start-Up Plan 61 2.3 Facilities 62 2.4 Personnel/Human Capital 63 2.5 Professional Development 68 2.6 Insurance 73 2.7 Transportation 73 2.8 Food Service 73 2.9 Additional Operations 73 2.10 Waivers 75 2.11 Network Vision, Growth Plan, & Capacity 75 2.12 Network Management 76 2.13 Network Governance 77 2.14 Charter School Management Contracts n/a 2.15 Personnel/Human Capital - Network-wide Staffing Projections 78 2.16 Personnel/Human Capital - Staffing Plans, Hiring, Management, and Evaluation 79 SECTION 3 FINANCES 3.1 Planning and Budget Worksheet 80 3.2 Budget Narrative 80 3.3 Financial Plan (for existing operators required to complete Sections 3.1 and 3.2) 80 SECTION 4 PORTFOLIO REVIEW/PERFORMANCE RECORD 4.1 Past Performance 83 ATTACHMENTS 87 GENERAL INFORMATION Name of school: Memphis Academy of Science & Engineering (MASE) Elementary School Projected year of school opening: 2019-2020 1 Charter authorizer for proposed school: Shelby County Schools Sponsor/Sponsoring Agency: Memphis Bioworks Foundation The sponsor is a not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status: Yes____X _ Model or focus of proposed school: STEM Name of primary contact person (this person should serve as the contact for follow-up, interviews, and notices regarding this application):___Rodrick Gaston______ Mailing address: 1254 Jefferson Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 Primary Telephone: 901-333-1580 Email Address: [email protected] Names, current employment, and roles of all people on school design team: Full name Current job title and employer Position with proposed school Steve Bares CEO of Memphis Bioworks Foundation MASE Board Chair Rodrick Gaston Executive Director (ED) of MASE Executive Director Cameron Cooley MASE Director of Compliance Same Estilien Louis MASE Assistant Principal (AP) Same Jordana Soso MASE Director of Operations Same MASE Board of Directors MASE Leadership Team Name of proposed school leader (if any): Rodrick Gaston Proposed school leader’s current employment: Executive Director of MASE City or geographic community: Memphis, TN Does the proposed school intend to contract or partner with a charter management organization (CMO) or not-for-profit education service provider? No ____X________ Does this applicant have charter school applications under consideration by any other authorizer(s)? Yes___________ No___X_______ Indicate Applicant Type: ☐ New-Start Applicant X Existing TN Operator Proposing New Focus/Grade OR Existing non-TN operator OR Existing ASD operator ☐ Existing Tennessee Operator Proposing Exact Focus/Grade Structure ASSURANCES As the authorized representative of the sponsor, I hereby certify that the information submitted in this application for a charter for MASE Elementary School is true to the best of my knowledge and belief, realizing that any misrepresentation could result in disqualification from the application process or revocation after award; and if awarded a charter, the school: 1. Will operate as a public, nonsectarian, non-religious public school, with control of instruction vested in the governing body of the school under the general supervision of the chartering authority and in compliance with the charter agreement and the Tennessee Public Charter 2 Schools Act; 2. Will follow all federal, state, and local laws and regulations that pertain to the operation of a public school, unless waived according to T.C.A. § 49-13-105; 3. Will provide special education services for students as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Chapter 10, Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 4. Will adhere to all provisions of federal law relating to students who are limited English proficient (LEP), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, that are applicable to it; 5. Will follow all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services; 6. Will utilize this application as a contract with the authorizer, if no other agreement is signed, pursuant to Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-45; 7. Will comply with all provisions of the Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act, including, but not limited to a. employing individuals to teach who hold a license to teach in a public school in Tennessee; b. complying with Open Meetings and Open Records laws (T.C.A. §§ 8-44-101 et seq.; 10- 7-503, 504) (guidance is available from the Office of Open Records Counsel); c. not charging tuition, except for students transferring from another district to the school pursuant to the local board’s out-of-district enrollment policy and T.C.A.§ 49- 6-3003; d. following state financial (budgeting and audit) procedures and reporting requirements according to T.C.A. § 49-13-111, 120, and 127; e. requiring any member of the governing body, employee, officer, or other authorized person who receives funds, has access to funds, or has authority to make expenditures from funds, to give a surety bond in the form prescribed by T.C.A.§ 8-19-101; and 8. Will, at all times, maintain all necessary and appropriate insurance coverage. Rodrick Gaston Signature_____________________________________________________________________________ Rodrick Gaston Printed Name of Authorized Signer Executive Director Title of Authorized Signer 3 CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION NARRATIVE 1. ACADEMIC PLAN DESIGN AND CAPACITY 1.1 School Mission and Goals (1.1 a,b) Mission and Vision The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE) Elementary School’s mission is to prepare students for success in middle and high school, sufficiently prepared in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) such that they can one day confidently choose college and careers in science and engineering, or any field that inspires their interest. The vision of Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering is to be a national model for STEM education. One hundred percent of our elementary level students with have the academic, personal, and social tools they need to be successful in middle school and beyond. Our ultimate aspiration is to produce global citizens with critical thinking skills, the ability to solve complex problems, and the technological sophistication to have a positive impact on the communities in which they live and work. MASE Elementary and Middle/High Schools will earn a national reputation for being a leader in educating minority and at-risk students in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. MASE strives to have our programs nationally recognized among industry leaders and universities for developing competent, articulate, and self-reliant young adults. Please see Section 1.4 for specific, measurable goals aligned with the MASE mission and vision. (1.1 c) Meeting the Purpose MASE Elementary will meet the prescribed purposes for charter schools through the following: 1) Improve learning for all students and close the achievement gap between high and low students. Please see Section 1.3 for how this will be accomplished. 2) Provide options for parents to meet educational needs of students in high priority schools. For more details, see Section 1.2. 3) Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods, and provide greater decision-making authority to schools and teachers in exchange for greater responsibility for student performance. For further information, see Section 1.3. 4) Measure performance of pupils and faculty, and ensure that children have the opportunity to reach proficiency on state academic assessments. Please see Section 1.4 for specific, measurable goals and assessment methods. 5) Create new professional opportunities for teachers. More information may be found in Section 1.1e and 2.5. 6) Afford parents substantial meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children. See Sections 1.1e, 1.10, and 1.12 for details. (1.1 d) Addressing the District’s Priorities MASE uses several data-driven tools and methods for measuring the performance of pupils and faculty members on a continuous basis. In keeping with the expectations of our middle school goals, elementary scholars will be expected to achieve at least 75% or higher on assessments throughout the school year. These assessments include formative and summative assessments given as weekly, benchmark, and/or quarterly exams. The administrators, faculty, staff, and community will develop a strategic plan and implement district, state, and federal requirements, according to the guidelines set forth in law, which include the following: ● Parents will be made aware of their rights to be involved in the Title I program. 4 ● Allow parents to observe the school’s program(s) and visit classrooms. ● Provide parents with student information and progress reports. ● Solicit feedback and suggestions from parents during parent meetings on topics related to their child’s education. ● Provide parents with an explanation of the school’s curriculum and academic assessments, special programs, and local/state requirements that students are expected to meet during parent meetings. ● Provide parents with a copy of the Family Engagement Plan in a language the parents can understand.

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