October 4, 2010 the Board of Elementary and Secondary
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October 4, 2010 The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Parental Options 1201 North 3rd Street 5th Floor, Room 5-177 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Dear Erin Bendily and BESE Members: On behalf of the Governing Board of Friends of Louisiana Connections Academy Charter School, Inc., I am pleased to submit our petition for a statewide virtual charter school to serve children in grades K-12 throughout our state. We are keenly aware, as are you, that many Louisiana students are not thriving in traditional school settings, so it is with great hope that we propose this educational program with the proven potential to improve academic outcomes. Our Board has worked diligently to develop our vision for Louisiana Connections Academy, which is captured in the enclosed charter petition. We have also provided a detailed budget documenting the necessary costs of providing this high-quality educational option for Louisiana families. Please let us know if there is any additional information you might need in reviewing our petition. We look forward to meeting with you in person to discuss it in depth. Sincerely, Wade Henderson Governing Board President 5220 S. Belvedere Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 [email protected] LOUISIANA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY CHARTER APPLICATION Submitted to Board of Elementary and Secondary Education October 4, 2010 CONTACT: Wade Henderson Governing Board President 5220 S. Belvedere Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 927-6165 TABLE OF CONTENTS Application Cover Sheets .......................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................... 3 Mission and Vision ..................................................................................... 8 Education Program .................................................................................. 10 Governance, Leadership and Management ........................................... 61 Louisiana Charter Operator Contract Compliance ............................... 83 Facilities and Finance .............................................................................. 84 Budget Forms ........................................................................................... 90 Attachments ........................................................................................... 142 Louisiana Connections Academy Charter School APPLICATION COVER SHEET – PAGE 1 Provide the name of the person that will serve as the primary contact for this Application. One person should serve as the contact for follow-up, interviews, and notices regarding this Application. Please note: contact name and information will be shared with external nonprofit boards and media, see Public Disclosure, page 18) NAME OF CHARTER SCHOOL: Louisiana Connections Academy NAME OF NONPROFIT CORPORATION: Friends of Louisiana Connections Academy PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT BOARD: Wade Henderson MAILING ADDRESS: 5220 S. Belvedere Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 INDICATE THE CHARTER TYPE APPLIED FOR: __ __ 1 _X 2 ____ 4 ____ 5 NAME OF CONTACT PERSON DESIGNATED BY NONPROFIT BOARD: Wade Henderson TITLE/RELATIONSHIP TO NONPROFIT: __Board President MAILING ADDRESS: 5220 S. Belvedere Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 City, State Zip TELEPHONE (day): (225) 927-6165 CELL PHONE: (225 ) 937-8393 EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] ARE YOU APPLYING TO OPERATE MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL? ___YES __X__ NO IF YES, HOW MANY? _____________ NAME OF MANAGEMENT COMPANY (if any): Connections Academy, LLC NAME OF PARTNER ORGANIZATION (if any): N/A PRINCIPAL’S NAME (if selected): Not Yet Selected TELEPHONE (day): ( ) N/A CELL PHONE: ( ) N/A EMAIL ADDRESS: N/A Year 1 Grade Levels: K-12 Year 1 Projected Enrollment: 500 Grade Levels at Full Capacity: K-12 Projected Enrollment at Full Capacity: 1,750 Anticipated First-Year Operating Budget. Revenue: $ 3,873,500 Expenses : $ 3,775,323 Louisiana Connections Academy Charter School Page 1 APPLICATION COVER SHEET – PAGE 2 IDENTIFY SCHOOL FACILITY If applying as a Type 2 or 4 to utilize a school district owned facility, indicate the school name and address of the facility. As a virtual charter school, Louisiana Connections Academy will not require a physical facility for day-to-day learning. Students will work from the setting of their families’ choice, such as the home or a supervised community location. Louisiana Connections Academy does anticipate leasing permanent office space to serve as the school headquarters/teaching center where administrative and teaching staff will work and where families may periodically meet with staff and use school resources. If applying as a Type 5 for an RSD facility in New Orleans, indicate school facility preferences in priority order: Not applicable 1. _____________________________ 2. __________________________ 3. _____________________________ 4. __________________________ 5. _____________________________ 6. ___________________________ If applying as a Type 2 or 5 for a non-RSD or non-school district owned facility provide the address and current or prior use: N/A Address of Back-Up Facility: (recommended, if submitting a non-school district owned facility) N/A I certify that I have the authority to submit this application and that all information contained herein is complete and accurate, realizing that any misrepresentation could result in disqualification from the application process or revocations after award. I understand that incomplete applications will not be considered. The person named as the contact person for the application is so authorized to serve as the primary contact for this application on behalf of the organization. ______________________________________________ Signature of President of Nonprofit Corporation Date Or Local School Board President Wade Henderson 10/4/10 Printed Name of President of Nonprofit Corporation Date Or Local School Board President Louisiana Connections Academy Charter School Page 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Executive Summary is an overview that concisely and effectively illustrates the school plan. 1. Provide an Executive Summary (in three to five pages) for the proposed school that describes the following: a. A clear statement of the mission, academic philosophy and values; Louisiana Connections Academy is a pioneering virtual public charter school whose mission is to maximize academic achievement for students in grades K-12 throughout the state of Louisiana who need an alternative to the traditional classroom. Louisiana Connections Academy fulfills its mission by reaching students for whom a cutting-edge virtual education guided by a philosophy of individualized and flexible instruction provides the best pathway to school success. The school values its ability to provide these students with everything they need to thrive in a virtual environment: top-quality curriculum; specially trained, highly qualified teachers; a powerful Learning Management System; essential technology tools, including a loaned computer and subsidized Internet connection; and very real connections linking school, family and community. b. An overview of the school structure, leadership team and governance; Louisiana Connections Academy is a non-profit Louisiana corporation governed by an independent, highly skilled Governing Board (see Attachments A and B). To fulfill its vision for the school, the Board intends to contract with Connections Academy, LLC, a successful national Education Service Provider (ESP). Connections Academy is a leading provider of virtual public school curriculum, technology and management services that currently contracts with charter schools, school districts, and state departments of education in 20 states, and has amassed an outstanding record of boosting achievement among struggling students and others drawn to the virtual alternative. In 2010-11, Connections Academy schools expect to serve more than 27,000 full-time students. c. A description of the school’s short- and long-term goals (academic and operational); Louisiana Connections Academy will be headquartered in the Baton Rouge area -- to facilitate oversight by the state Louisiana Department of Education, and the General Assembly -- but its virtual nature will make it available to students throughout the state. The school’s Baton Rouge headquarters will be the daily work location for the school Principal and many of the teaching staff, who will benefit from collegial accountability and ongoing professional development. As shown in Attachment F, the goal of Louisiana Connections Academy is to open with up to 500 students in grades K-12 at the outset of school year 2011-12 and grow to 1,750 students by its fifth year of operation. This is well below 1% of the state’s total student population, so the impact on any individual school district will be minor. However, the difference that Louisiana Connections Academy can make for these under-served students is enormous. The following summary goals capture the focused aspirations of Louisiana Connections Academy. The school’s performance will be measured and communicated continuously Louisiana Connections Academy Charter School Page 3 to parents, reported monthly to its Governing Board, and accounted for through an annual report to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Academic Goal 1–Student Performance: Louisiana Connections Academy students will demonstrate mastery of key concepts and academic standards across core academic subjects. o Measurable Objective 1: Louisiana Connections Academy students will