Educare DC Public Charter School Charter School Application Submitted to DC Public Charter School Board March 3, 2014 Educare DC Public Charter School Charter School Application Table of Contents Page # APPLICANT INFORMATION SHEET 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 PROPOSED PLANS A. Educational Plan 4 1. Mission and Purpose of Proposed Public Charter School 4 2. Goals and Student Academic Achievement Expectations 12 3. Charter School Curriculum & Student Performance 16 4. Support for Learning 29 B. Business Plan 43 1. Planning and Establishment 43 2. Governance and Management 50 3. Finance 56 4. Facilities 61 5. Recruiting and Marketing 61 C. Operations Plan 63 1. Student Policies and Procedures 63 2. Human Resource Information 66 3. Implementation of the Charter 77 FORMS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS 79 D. Certifications (Assurances Form) 80 E. Budget 82 F. Résumés, Board Member Agreements and Statements of Interest and 102 Qualifications G. Conflict of Interest 159 H. EDCPCS Demographic Analysis 163 I. Required Documents1 165 J. Curriculum Sample 481 Applicant Information Sheet New Charter School Request for Approval This application is a request to establish and operate a Public Charter School as provided in the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Name of Proposed Charter School: f:i.u ~ T2C Pukll0 Cduwtv /!t/1/Jo/ B~Md ~~Du Address: _3-=3~I.:__jt.U,¥JUL.If..~~~~~----L.:::....::...._=...:.....:~-7'F-~/_t.-_6_0_b_O....:..._~_ _ ___ Daytime Telephone: .$12 ·J'ftj r-'fOQ:jFax: 'J/J-3'/{, -.?1S{{ Email: fA.UU'14firM@. edu.uttt41£Nit't . 0 Name of Person Authorized to Negotiate: --!.../e-=~=-_~_--"-"''-'--'""'-L?-T------------ d­ (Must be memberoflocalfounding group an rf1J: . e n;r jiated with an educational service provider.) / Authorized Signature: -----t--4-F---f'---..,q...<~frLt-rbA-~(/---- Proposed Start Date: --¥-L~...J£_ _ _ __ Proposed Year One Budget: $ ________ Start-up Information Total Number of Students/ Year Starting Age/Grade Highest Age/Grade Enrollment Ceiling One !t/;--J:-3 fre -~ '/ II? 1\vo Pre ---Jt-3 Pre-t-r /If fre ---Jc.3 Capacity Prt -It- t 111 Proposed Location of School (address or area of city): 6'1P l11l4.t4rlra. dvt-. ;NG wMttrr:;:PnJ De Name of Educational Service Provider (if applicable): _________ ___ ____d IJ0/7 Type of Application (Check One) CJ Conversion of Exisiting Public School ~ Con ver s i on of Existing Private School CJ New School If conversion, name the school being converted: __.fiM,£>C~UJ..N.--=:...=......:D:.......:::u'------------­ lf conversion, do you wish to retain the existing school site? tiJ Yes CJ No LEA Status: Will the school elect to be treated as a Local Education Agency (LEA) for purposes of Part 8 of the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973? ~ Yes CJ No 15 EDCPCS Page 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Praised by President Obama as a “catalyst for change,” Educare DC is a research-based, early education program that is committed to changing the academic outcomes of at-risk children. Educare DC opened in 2012 in Ward 7, recognizing the unique and challenging need for additional high-quality preschool in the District of Columbia’s highest poverty-stricken areas. Since then, has also attracted students and their families from Wards 5 and 8. With its innovative, full-day, year-round educational school for children, ages 3–5, Educare DC presently is serving 85 preschool students in a new, state-of-the art building, specifically designed for young children, families, and staff, with capacity to grow to approximately 119 children. As an outgrowth of the existing Educare DC program, Educare DC Public Charter School (“EDCPCS”) will be developed as a conversion charter school for PK-3 and PK-4 students. Committed to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty for students from families at or below the poverty line and ensuring that all young children arrive at kindergarten healthy, happy, and prepared to learn, Educare DC is part of a national network of 20 exemplary early learning schools, called the Educare Learning Network, that has generated strong student and family outcomes in communities across the country. The power of the Educare model of early education is derived from its core elements—data utilization, embedded professional development, high- quality teaching practices, and intensive family engagement. Educare DC implements these four components in a comprehensive, intentional, and sustained way to deliver a high-quality, intensive early childhood education program. This approach has a proven track record built over the last decade and supported by extensive research, showing that Educare children arrive at elementary school on par with more advantaged peer groups on measures of school readiness, have better language and literacy skills than their non-Educare peers, and develop strong social- emotional skills essential for success in school and in life. Other important elements of the Educare model that have contributed to its positive impact on at-risk children include the small staff-student ratios (3:17), “looping”/continuity of care, and on-site family support and engagement services. Essential to the school’s success is its highly effective curriculum, The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, which focuses on four areas of development—physical, cognitive, language, and social- emotional—and supports all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners. Aligned, with the District of Columbia Early Learning Standards for Pre-Kindergarten and the District of Columbia Common Core Early Learning Standards, The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool balances teacher‐planned and child‐initiated learning, emphasizing responsiveness to children's strengths, interests, needs, and learning styles. Leading the charge to convert the PK-3 and PK-4 portion of this unique program to a charter school are Educare DC’s experienced leader and high-quality staff, a board of directors committed and invested in its success, and skilled technical assistance advisors who work collaboratively to bridge gaps, overcome challenges, and develop strategies, activities, and resources to support the school. The impact of their efforts has not gone unnoticed, with parents of students spreading the word about this highly effective school, resulting in the doubling of enrollment since Educare DC opened just 2 years ago. Educare DC has embraced its connection to the community, partnering with organizations to help serve young, low-income children and their families and collaborating with neighborhood organizations. Once chartered as EDCPCS, we will continue our commitment to the community and bring this proven educational program and our expertise to other charter EDCPCS Page 2 schools and traditional district schools, providing increased educational opportunities and choices for parents and students in the District of Columbia area. EDCPCS Page 3 A. EDUCATIONAL PLAN 1. Mission and Purpose of Proposed Public Charter School Educare DC Public Charter School promotes children’s positive development to foster their physical, social-emotional, and academic growth to to prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond by providing a safe and enriching environment, research-based curriculum, dedicated and highly qualified staff, and by building strong partnerships with families. Philosophy EDCPCS believes that young children who have the opportunity to experience the world as predictable and supportive develop strong, emotional foundations essential for learning. The EDCPCS model draws from a wide range of research-based practices that foster learning environments that support young children who are growing up in stressful, impoverished communities. Research shows that vocabulary growth among children from low-income homes lags behind that of their more advantaged peers. Without intentional intervention, this gap, which is evident at 18 months of age, only continues to widen. EDCPCS believes that: data-driven instruction and supports for effective teaching and continuous program improvement are critical elements in high-quality, early childhood education; parents as partners in children’s education is essential to students’ academic success; and a focus on language and literacy, social-emotional development, and problem-solving and early mathematical concepts will prepare all children, including those at risk, to succeed in school and in life. EDCPCS focuses its educational mission on the interactions between children, families, and school staff. EDCPCS encourages children to learn through exploration and play, while striving to create intentional and meaningful experiences for the cognitive and social-emotional development of each child. With a focus on literacy and mathematics, EDCPCS guides children to learn through their positive and high-impact interactions with school staff, other children, their families, and the warm, nurturing environment created in every EDCPCS classroom. Materials are carefully selected to reflect the learning expectations and intentionality that is the underpinning of the play and exploration so that both cognitive and social/emotional concepts can be built. Our ultimate goal is to prevent the achievement gap and build the skills and competencies needed for young learners to be prepared for success in kindergarten and beyond. Enrollment Matrix At the time of its conversion to a charter school in September 2015, it is anticipated that EDCPCS’s enrollment will already be at full capacity, or 119 students, and enrollment will remain