Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 10 - Education Institutions and Agencies › Part 403 - Board Policies › Chapter 8 - Renewal Policy › Rule 10-403-8.8

Current through June 25, 2024
Charter School Renewal Application and
				  Guidance.
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board (hereinafter
				  "MCSAB") is tasked with approving, overseeing, and holding charter schools
				  accountable. One of its most important functions in fulfilling this mission is
				  to conduct a charter school renewal process once schools reach the end of their
				  approved charter contract term. The 2019-2020 renewal cycle will be the MCSAB's
				  first renewal cycle. Per the law, this document provides the renewal
				  eligibility criteria, a timeline, and an application.
Renewal Timeline
The MCSAB will adhere to the following timeline in the
				  2019-2020 renewal cycle. Any changes or clarifications to this timeline will be
				  provided to renewal schools in writing.
Phase
Description
2019-2020 Timeline
Release of the Charter School Renewal Application
							 and Guidance
By law, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer
							 Board releases the Charter School Renewal Application and Guidance each year
							 before September 30.
Before September 30
Release of Renewal School Performance
							 Reports
By law, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer
							 Board releases a Charter School Performance Report to each school that may be
							 eligible for renewal before September 30.
Before September 30
Letter to Charter Schools in Their Final Contract
							 Year
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board will
							 send a letter to each charter school eligible for renewal based on Academic
							 Performance Framework Indicator 1.
Schools that have reached their final year of a
							 contract term but are rated an "F" after their penultimate contract year will
							 receive a letter informing them that they are not eligible for
							 renewal.
Before September 30 
							 1
Year 5 School Site Visit
The MCSAB and/or external evaluators will perform a
							 Fall 2019 site visit per its usual process for all schools. Findings from this
							 site visit which may update the Performance Report may be incorporated into the
							 MCSAB's review process.
October-November, 2019
Submission of Corrections to the Performance
							 Report
Charter schools must submit corrections, if any, to
							 their Performance Report within 90 days of their receipt of the report for the
							 MCSAB to consider the corrected information in the renewal decision-making
							 process.
Within 90 days of receipt of the Performance
							 Report
Submission of the Application for Charter
							 Renewal
A school seeking renewal must complete and submit
							 the charter school renewal application by 4 PM Central time no later than
							 January 31. Late applications will not be accepted. Schools are strongly
							 encouraged to submit applications prior to the deadline.
No later than January 31, 2020
Application Review
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board
							 staff and/or external evaluators will review the renewal application, the
							 performance report, and any other relevant information about an applicant
							 school collected by the Board throughout the charter contract term.
Within 90 days of application submission
DRAFT Renewal Recommendation Report Delivered to
							 Schools
The MSCAB staff and/or external evaluators will
							 prepare a renewal recommendation report that provides a recommendation
							 to
*
renew
or
*
non-renew and close.
All recommendations to renew will also provide a
							 recommendation for the length of the renewal term and whether any renewal
							 conditions will apply. Per law, the report will further include the staff
							 and/or external evaluators' reasons for their recommendation.
Within 60 days of application submission
Responses and Hearing Requests Due
All schools, particularly schools receiving a
							 recommendation for non-renewal, are allowed to prepare a response to their
							 recommendation and to submit documents which they feel will aid their case.
							 These responses are due at 4 PM Central on December 20, 2019.
Within 14 days of receipt of the Draft Renewal
							 Recommendation Report
Hearing for Non-Renewed Schools
The law allows schools that receive a recommendation
							 of non-renewal to request a hearing. Hearings will occur in January
							 2020.
Within 30 days of request
Final Board Vote
on
Recommendations
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board will
							 vote to accept or deny the renewal recommendation of staff and/or external
							 evaluators. They will also vote to adopt the renewal recommendation report, as
							 finalized, as the resolution of their reasoning that is required by
							 law.
Within 90 days of application submission
Board Resolution Delivered to Schools
Within ten days after taking action to renew or not
							 renew a charter, the MCSAB will provide a report to the charter, including a
							 copy of the Board resolution.
Within 10 days of Board decision
Renewal Decision-Making
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board will use the
				  currently adopted Performance Framework for all 2019-2020 renewal decisions,
				  including determining each school's renewal
eligibility
,
				  renewal
recommendation
, and, if renewed,
renewal
				  term
. The Performance Framework has three domains: academic,
				  financial, and organizational. The MCSAB will consider evidence from all three
				  domains in making renewal decisions and will draw on the Annual Performance
				  Report, school site visit reports, the renewal application, and other official
				  data. For more information about how the Board interprets the provisions of the
				  Performance Framework to create the Annual Performance Report, please see the
				  document entitled "Performance Framework Guidelines for the Annual Performance
				  Report."
Renewal Eligibility Criteria
Per the Performance Framework, the MCSAB will use the
				  following criteria to determine eligibility:
Academic Indicator 1
Financial Performance
Organizational Performance
Eligibility for Renewal
A
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Eligible
Fails to Meet Expectations
Fails to Meet Expectations
Not eligible*
B
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Eligible
Fails to Meet Expectations
Fails to Meet Expectations
Not eligible*
C
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Eligible
Fails to Meet Expectations
Fails to Meet Expectations
Not eligible*
D
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Meets or Approaches Expectations
Additional Evidence Required
Fails to Meet Expectations
Fails to Meet Expectations
Not eligible*
F
Any rating
Any rating
Not eligible
*Unless "evidence and specific circumstances"
				  waivers applied for any financial and organizational performance rating of
				  "fails to meet expectations"
Please note:
F-rated schools are not eligible
				  for renewal; therefore, the MCSAB's closure protocol applies to these schools.
				  Please refer to the Board-adopted protocol for further information.
Additional Evidence Requirements for D-Rated
				  Schools
D-rated schools must meet additional evidence requirements
				  for academic performance in order to be eligible for renewal. These additional
				  requirements take into account the school's performance on Indicators 2-4
				  within the Academic Performance Framework, as follows:
1. Charter schools must earn a rating of
				"meets expectations" or "exceeds expectations" on at least 2 of the 3
				additional indicators (Academic Performance Framework Indicators 2-4) in order
				to be eligible for renewal.
2.
				Schools that only meet one of the three additional indicators may receive a
				waiver from the Board for "evidence of significant growth over the charter
				term." This evidence may include higher than average proficiency or growth
				gains on state assessments over time or other rigorous evidence of growth over
				time. Schools in this circumstance must make their case for this waiver within
				the renewal application, and the Board will determine whether that case
				warrants a waiver.
A summary of these requirements is below:
Indicators 2-4
Criterion Met?
1 of 3 additional indicators met (renewal year
							 only)
No
UNLESS
evidence of significant growth over the
charter term
2 of 3 additional indicators met (renewal year
							 only)
Yes
3 of 3 additional indicators met (renewal year
							 only)
Yes
For Schools That Fail to Meet Expectations for
				  Financial and/or Organizational Performance
Charter schools that meet Academic Performance Framework
				  requirements but have a rating of "fails to meet expectations" in either
				  financial performance or organizational performance must earn a waiver in order
				  to be considered for renewal. The MCSAB will grant a waiver to schools based on
				  whether they can present "evidence and specific circumstances" that warrant the
				  waiver for each domain in which they did not meet expectations.
Renewal Recommendation
All charter schools that are eligible for
				  renewal will be renewed in the 2019-2020 cycle
. However, by
				  law, the MCSAB may impose conditions on the renewal of any school. The MCSAB
				  will use the 2019 Performance Report to determine whether a school should be
				  renewed with or without conditions. The following table describes the criteria
				  that the MCSAB will use to impose conditions. Schools must meet
all
of the criteria for "no conditions" to receive an
				  unconditional renewal. Schools that meet
any
of the criteria
				  for "will impose conditions" will receive a conditional renewal. The MCSAB will
				  determine whether conditions will apply to schools that do not meet all of the
				  criteria for an unconditional renewal but that also do not meet any of the
				  criteria for a mandatory conditional renewal based on the findings of the
				  renewal recommendation report.
Renewal Type
Academic Expectations
Financial Performance
Organizational Performance
No conditions
Meets or Exceeds Expectations on every
							 indicator
Meets Expectations with no indicator scores of "no
							 credit"
Meets Expectations with no metric scores of 0 or
							 1
May impose conditions
Approaches Expectations on any indicator
Meets Expectations with at least one indicator score
							 of "no credit"
OR
Approaches Expectations
Meets Expectations with at least one metric score of
							 0 or 1
OR
Approaches Expectations
Will impose conditions
Fails to Meet Expectations on any
							 indicator
Fails to Meet Expectations
Fails to Meet Expectations
Renewal Term
In the 2019-2020 renewal cycle, the MCSAB will base the
				  length of any granted renewal term primarily on the school's grade as announced
				  in Fall 2019 (after Year 4 of the initial term). The following decision table
				  will apply:
Academic Indicator 1*
Renewal Outcome
Renewal Term Eligibility
Minimum
Additional Years Possible
Maximum
A
Full- or Short-Term Renewal
4 years
1 year, if financial
and
organizational performance "Meets Expectations"
5 years
B
Full- or Short-Term Renewal
4 years
1 year, if financial
and
organizational performance "Meets Expectations"
5 years
C
Short-Term Renewal
3 years
1 year, if financial
and
organizational performance "Meets Expectations"
4 years
D
Short-Term Renewal
3 years
None
3 years
Please note
: Any school that receives an F
				  after its fifth year (in Fall 2020 for 2019-2020 renewal schools) must be
				  closed, per statute, regardless of whether a renewal term was earned. This
				  closure requirement will be included in the new contract.
Application Instructions
The MCSAB requests that all charter school renewal
				  applications abide by the following instructions. Charter applications that do
				  not conform to these guidelines may be returned, and applicants may be asked to
				  re-submit the information in the requested format.
Formatting and Submitting Applications Page
				  Formatting
All narrative responses should use Times New Roman, Calibri,
				  or Arial and a font size of 12. Tables may have a font size of 10. Margins
				  should be 1 inch in all directions. Single-spaced responses are acceptable, but
				  information must be readable. All documents should use page numbers for
				  reference and should have in the top, left-hand header the name of the section
				  as specified below. Please adhere to the requested page limits in order for the
				  application to be processed as efficiently as possible.
Submission Format
The renewal application will be accepted digitally through
				  Epicenter. Please do not submit paper copies of any document to the MCSAB as
				  these will not be considered. Schools that have trouble with Epicenter should
				  contact charterschools@mississippi.edu for support.
Schools must merge all of their application materials into a
				  single, continuously numbered document prior to submission. The table below
				  lists the section headers corresponding to each application section and page
				  limits schools must use for the document.
Schools should change
				  all incidents of "School Name" to their own name.
Section
Required Header Name
Page Limits
Executive Summary
Executive Summary_School Name
2
Application Checklist
Application Checklist_School Name
1
Record of Performance
Effective Academic Program
Effective Academic Program_School Name
15
Additional Academic Evidence_School Name
20
Financial Success
Financial Success_School Name
10
Financial Policy Manual_School Name
20
Additional Financial Evidence_School
							 Name
20
Organizational Success
Organizational Success_School Name
15
Additional Organizational Evidence_School
							 Name
20
Future Plans
Mission, Vision, and Essential Terms
Essential Terms_School Name
5
Governance
Governance Plan_School Name
10
Governance Documentation_School Name
20
Fiscal Plan
Fiscal Plan_School Name
10
Budget_School Name
10
Facility Plan
Facility Plan_School Name
5
Grades and Enrollment Plan_School Name
5
Proposed Grades and Enrollment
Enrollment Projection Table_School Name
1
Due Date
Per the Renewal Timeline on pages 2-3, the application is
				  due to Epicenter by 4 PM Central no later than January 31, 2020.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Charter schools
				  are
strongly
encouraged to submit their
				  application early in order to receive an earlier decision, as is in the best
				  interests of charter school families.
Application for Charter Renewal
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
FORM
This form will allow the
				  MCSAB to briefly summarize your application. Please use the
Executive Summary template
for this section
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Please title
				  the Executive Summary as
Executive Summary School
Name
in the header. The Executive Summary
				  should not exceed 2 pages.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST:
FORM
This form will ensure
				  that a charter school submits all required information and will
allow the MCSAB to quickly assess the completeness of the
				  application. Please use the
Application Checklist template
for this section
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Please title
				  the Application Checklist as
Application Checklist_School
Name
in the header. The checklist should not
				  exceed 1 page.
RECORD OF PERFORMANCE
The MCSAB considers a charter school's record of performance
				  not only in the year prior to renewal but for the entire term in determining
				  whether a school should receive renewal with or without conditions. This
				  section allows a charter school to provide the MCSAB with additional context
				  about its academic performance. It is especially important for D-rated schools,
				  which must meet additional evidence requirements in order to be eligible for
				  renewal. Please see the section of this document entitled "Renewal Eligibility"
				  for information about eligibility for renewal.
Effective Academic Program
The Performance Framework requires all charter schools to
				  provide students with an effective academic program. In this section, schools
				  should make their case that they provide an effective academic program for
				  students.
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
Schools
				  should submit a narrative making their case for renewal. Please respond to the
				  questions below relevant to your school.
*
For schools rated A, B, or C based on
				  2018-2019 data:
1. Please
				summarize the school's history of academic performance over the five-year term,
				with special emphasis on the most recent state data. Include information about
				the school's challenges and its accomplishments. Use evidence.
2. For any Academic Performance Framework
				indicator rating of "approaches" or "fails to meet expectations" for the
				2018-2019 school year, please describe what factors the school believes explain
				its performance and whether any improvements were undertaken during the charter
				term.
*
For schools rated D based on 2018-2019 data:
				  D-rated schools must meet additional evidence requirements or satisfy the
				  waiver provision in order to achieve renewal. Please answer the following
				  questions to justify a positive renewal recommendation:
1. Please summarize the school's history of
				academic performance over the five-year term, with special emphasis on the most
				recent state data. Include information about the school's challenges and its
				accomplishments. Use evidence.
2.
If the school met at least 2 of 3 additional indicators (an indicator
				rating of "meets" or "exceeds expectations"):
Please describe what
				factors the school believes explain its performance, particularly as to the
				indicator that the school did not meet, and whether any improvements were
				undertaken during the charter term.
3.
If the school met only 1 of 3
				additional indicators:
Schools meeting only 1 of 3 additional
				indicators must receive a waiver from the MCSAB to be renewed. The waiver
				requires that schools "demonstrate evidence of significant growth over the
				charter term." Please describe the evidence that the school has demonstrated
				significant growth over the charter term. This response should be detailed and
				include quantitative analysis over the entire term .
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The
				  school is invited to submit any additional evidence related to its academic
				  performance that it believes will help it make its case for renewal. D-rated
				  schools are required to submit additional evidence.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
*
Required:
Please title the
				  Effective Academic Program narrative as
Effective Academic Program_School
				  Name
in the header. Please limit this sub-section to 15 pages.
*
As Relevant:
Please title
				  any additional evidence as
Additional Academic Evidence_School
				  Name
in the header. Please limit this sub-section to 20 pages.
Financial Success
The Performance Framework requires all charter schools to
				  demonstrate financial success by receiving a meets or approaches expectations
				  on the Financial Performance Framework. The information requested in this
				  section will provide more context to the MCSAB as they make renewal decisions.
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
:
Please answer the following questions related to the
				  school's financial success:
1. Please
				provide an overview of the school's financial history, including its challenges
				and accomplishments as well as its financial model.
2. Please describe the evidence that the
				school has achieved a sustainable financial model during the initial charter
				term.
3. For any financial
				indicator on which the school did not receive full credit in the 2019
				Performance Report, please explain the circumstances leading to lower
				performance and any actions already undertaken to improve performance in the
				future.
4. If the school is under
				any financial corrective action plans, including as imposed by the Mississippi
				Department of Education, please explain the reason, the status of the plan's
				implementation, the required corrective actions, and the date the work will be
				complete.
5. If the school has any
				outstanding Notices of Concern or Breach related to its financials, please
				explain the reason, the status of the Board's imposed corrective actions, and
				the date the work will be complete.
6.
For any school whose Financial
				Performance Indicator rating was "Fails to Meet Expectations" in the 2019
				Performance report:
Please explain what "evidence and specific
				circumstances" warrant a waiver from the Board in order to allow the school to
				be renewed. Be very specific.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
:
The school must submit is financial policies and procedures
				  manual. It is also invited to submit any additional evidence related to its
				  financial performance that it believes will help it make its case for renewal.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
*
Required:
Please title the
				  Financial Success response as
Financial Success_School Name
in the
				  header. Please limit this response to 10 pages.
*
Required:
Please title the
				  school's financial policies and procedures manual as
Financial Policy
				  Manual_School Name
in the header. Please limit this response to 20
				  pages, if possible.
*
Optional:
Please title any
				  additional evidence as
Additional Financial Evidence_School Name
in the header. Please limit this attachment to 20 pages.
Organizational Success
The Performance Framework requires all charter schools to
				  demonstrate organizational success by receiving a meets or approaches
				  expectations on the Organizational Performance Framework.
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
:
Please answer the
				  following questions related to the school's organizational success:
1. Please describe the evidence that the
				school has fulfilled its vision, mission, and Essential Terms as listed in its
				charter contract.
2. For any
				metric on which the school was rated a 0 or 1 in the 2019 Performance Report,
				please explain the circumstances leading to lower performance and any actions
				already undertaken to improve performance in the future.
3. If the school has any outstanding Notices
				of Concern or Breach related to its organizational performance, please explain
				the reason, the status of the Board's imposed corrective actions, and the date
				the work will be complete.
4. If
				the school is under any corrective action plans imposed by the Mississippi
				Department of Education for any federal program, including special education,
				please explain the reason, the status of the plan's implementation, the
				required corrective actions, and the date the work will be complete.
5.
For any school whose
				Organizational Performance Indicator rating was "Fails to Meet Expectations" in
				the 2019 Performance report:
Please explain what "evidence and
				specific circumstances" warrant a waiver from the Board in order to allow the
				school to be renewed. Be very specific.
ATTACHMENT:
The school is
				  invited to submit any additional evidence related to its organizational
				  performance that it believes will help it make its case for renewal. Please
				  combine documents into one attachment.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
*
Required:
Please title the
				  Organizational Success response as
Organizational Success_School
				  Name
in the header. Please limit this response to 15 pages.
*
Optional:
Please title any
				  additional evidence as
Additional Organizational Evidence_School
				  Name
in the header. Please limit this sub-section to 20 pages.
FUTURE PLANS
This section of the renewal application allows each charter
				  school to detail its plans for the next charter term, specifically the areas in
				  which the school plans to make changes or improvements. The MCSAB will consider
				  this information in determining what conditions to impose, if any, and in
				  developing the proposed contract for charter renewal.
Vision, Mission, and Essential
				  Terms
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
If the
				  school seeks any changes to its vision, mission, and/or Essential Terms as they
				  are listed in its current contract, please answer the following:
1. Please describe the proposed changes to
				the school's vision, mission, and/or Essential Terms.
2. For each changed element, please describe
				the school's rationale for the change, including any evidence to support the
				school's ability to provide a high-quality learning environment if the change
				is accepted.
If the school wishes to make no changes to its vision,
				  mission, and/or Essential Terms, please write "Not Applicable" in the submitted
				  document.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Title the
				  proposed changes as
Essential Terms_School Name
in the header. Do
				  not exceed 5 pages.
Governance
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
As charter
				  schools grow, they sometimes find it necessary to change their governance
				  structure to ensure continued success. If the school has plans to change its
				  governance structure, please provide the following:
*
the school's justification for needing a new
				  governance structure,
*
the actual governance structure proposed, and
*
the school's explanation as to how the new
				  governance structure will support student achievement at the school.
The response should provide details explaining changes to
				  the by-laws or articles of incorporation, if any. If the proposed changes
				  require starting or spinning-off a new organization or merging with another
				  organization, the response should clearly explain the new organization as
				  started or merged as well as the organization being merged with the charter
				  school. If the school wishes to make no changes to its governance structure,
				  please write "Not Applicable" in the submitted document.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In
				  order for the MCSAB to assess the ability of the new governance structure to
				  provide effective oversight, please submit changes to the by-laws or articles
				  of incorporation, as relevant. If the school intends to start or spin-off a new
				  501(c)3 or merge its 501(c)3 with another, please submit the 501c3 letter of
				  the new entity or legal paperwork attesting to the merger. Please combine
				  documents into one attachment.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
*
Required:
Title the
				  Governance Plan as
Governance Plan_School Name
in the header.
				  Please limit this sub-section to 10 pages.
*
As Relevant:
Title any
				  necessary supporting documentation as
Governance Documentation_School
				  Name
in the header. Please limit this sub-section to 20 pages.
Fiscal Plan
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
:
Please describe the school's fiscal plan over the next
				  charter term, including expected needs, fiscal goals, and plans for
				  fundraising. Explain how this plan will support the educational program of the
				  school and why this plan is feasible at this stage of the school's
				  development.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
:
The school is required to prepare a proposed five-year
				  budget using the
Budget template.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
:
*
Required:
Title the Fiscal
				  Plan as
Fiscal Plan_School Name
in the header. Do not exceed 10
				  pages.
*
Required:
Please title the
				  proposed five-year budget as
Budget_School Name
in the header. Do
				  not add additional tabs to the workbook; do not exceed 10 pages.
Facility Plan
NARRATIVE RESPONSE
:
Please describe the school's planned facility for the next
				  charter term, including relevant details such as whether the school plans to
				  move to a new facility, or renovate or expand its current facility, and how the
				  facility plan will enable the school to fulfill its educational program. If the
				  school plans to move, please provide details about the new facility or the
				  status of the search for a new facility. If the school has no plans to change
				  its facility, please submit a document stating so and explaining how the
				  current facility is adequate for the school's educational program and
				  enrollment.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
:
Title the Facility Plan as
Facility Plan_School
				  Name
in the header. Limit this section to 5 pages.
Proposed Grades and
				  Enrollment
NARRATIVE RESPONSE:
If the
				  school intends to add or subtract grades or otherwise alter its current
				  enrollment, please describe the school's plan and explain how the school will
				  continue to provide an effective education with the new grade structure and/or
				  enrollment. If the school will not change its grades or enrollment, please
				  write "Not Applicable" in the submitted document.
ATTACHMENT:
Please complete the
Grades and
				  Enrollment template
with the school's proposed grades and enrollment.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
*
Required:
Please title the
				  Grades and Enrollment Plan as
Grades and Enrollment Plan_School
				  Name
in the header. Please limit this document to 5 pages.
*
Required:
Title the Grades
				  and Enrollment template as
Enrollment Projection Table_School Name
in the header. This sub-section should not exceed 1 page.
1 In years in which the Mississippi
				  Department of Education delays the release of school grades until October, the
				  Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board will delay this letter until the
				  business day following the release of grades.