The Colorado Charter School Handbook: A Guide for Starting and Operating a Charter School Colorado Department 201 East Colfax Avenue, Room 300 Denver, CO 80203-1799 http://www.cde.state.co.us/index_charter.htm of Education 303-866-6771 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1: GETTING STARTED 1. WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL? ......................................................................................................................................... 2 2. PURPOSE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS .................................................................................................................................... 2 3. THE HISTORY OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN COLORADO ........................................................................................... 3 4. STARTING A CHARTER SCHOOL ....................................................................................................................................... 5 A.. First Steps ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 B. Contact Your Potential Authorizer ...................................................................................................................................... 6 C. Contact the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) .................................................................................................... 6 D. The Charter Application Process ........................................................................................................................................ 7 I. Share Your Dream........................................................................................................................................................ 7 II. Creating and Sustaining Interest in the Proposed Charter School ............................................................................ 7 III. Critical Dates for Applicants and New Charter Schools...................................................................................... 8 IV. Appeal Process for Denied Applicants ........................................................................................................................ 9 PART 2: APPLICATION COMPONENTS 1. PLANNING FOR THE CHARTER APPLICATION .......................................................................................................... 10 2. COMPONENTS OF THE CHARTER APPLICATION ..................................................................................................... 11 I.. Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11 a. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 b. Mission Statement .................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 c. Goals, Objectives and Pupil Performance Standards ............................................................................................................................. 12 d. Evidence of Support................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 e. Educational Program ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 f. Plan for Evaluating Pupil Performance ................................................................................................................................................... 14 g. Budget and Finance ................................................................................................................................................................................. 15 h. Governance .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 i. Employees ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 j. Insurance Coverage................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 k. Parent and Community Involvement ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 l. Enrollment Policy ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 m. Transportation and Food Service ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 n. Facilities ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 o. Waivers .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 p. Student Discipline, Expulsion, or Suspension ........................................................................................................................................ 22 q. Serving Students with Special Needs ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 r. Dispute Resolution Process ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23 s. School Management Contracts ................................................................................................................................................................ 23 PART 3: AUTHORIZER RELATIONS 1. AUTHORIZERS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 24 A.. Approval Process ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 I. Local School District .................................................................................................................................................. 24 II. Charter School Institute (CSI) ................................................................................................................................... 25 B. Contract Negotiations ........................................................................................................................................................ 25 C. Reporting Requirements .................................................................................................................................................... 26 D. Educational Management Organizations ......................................................................................................................... 26 PART 4: GOVERNING BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 2. ESTABLISHING CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNANCE ................................................................................................ 29 A.. Governance Structure ........................................................................................................................................................ 30 B. Corporate Documents ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 C. Board Expertise & Training .............................................................................................................................................. 32 D. Strategic Planning & Goal Setting .................................................................................................................................... 33 E. Election of New Board Members ...................................................................................................................................... 34 3. DUTIES OF INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS ................................................................................................................ 35 A.. Duty of Care ....................................................................................................................................................................... 35 B. Duty of Loyalty ..................................................................................................................................................................