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Charter schools provide an opportunity to develop innovative educational programs within the public school system, thus providing more choice for students and parents. The Board of Education may consider the establishment of a charter school as provided by State Statute and administrative regulations.
A charter school is a public, nonsectarian, non-home-based school which is accountable, by contract, to the Board. It is subject to all Federal and State laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, emotional, mental, or learning disability.
Enrollment in a charter school must be open to any child who resides within the District. In addition, a charter school shall participate in the voluntary integration program with the Milwaukee Public Schools and the State of Wisconsin Open Enrollment Program in accordance with District guidelines. A charter school may not charge tuition.
A charter school shall be responsible for its own operation, including, but not limited to, preparation of a budget, contracting for services and program and student evaluation. A charter school operating as an instrumentality of the District may abide by current labor contracts. A charter school may negotiate and contract with the District for services.
The application process for a charter school must follow the timeline outlined in the administrative regulations. To be eligible for favorable consideration for charter school status applicants must:
A. Provide all information required by State law and further delineated in the administrative regulations;
B. Review and consider the current version of the "Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, to the extent that the "Principles and
Standards" are consistent with Wisconsin law; C. Demonstrate that the proposed charter school is significantly different than current programming, thus
providing alternative learning opportunities for students;
D. Define all District obligations, i.e., use of facilities, contracted services, etc., with terms of reimbursement
as applicable;
E. Provide a fiscal plan for the proposed contract period including an analysis of expected expenses and
revenues;
F. Specify all State statutes, Board policies and collective bargaining agreements from which waivers are
sought.
Upon approval of a charter school application by the Board, the administration shall negotiate a contract with the charter school applicant(s) for a period of not less than two (2) and more than five (5) years. The contract must be reviewed by legal counsel and approved by the Board no later than June 1 for a charter school due to open in fall of that year. An application for renewal of a charter must be submitted to the Board no later than January 1 of the year in which the charter is due to expire; such renewal Application shall include entailed evidence of student progress.
Revised 2/10
Approved/Adopted: July 13, 2009 |
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