Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 603 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION › Title 603 CMR 1.00 - Charter Schools › Section 1.11 - Renewal of Charters

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A charter school seeking renewal of its charter shall proceed
				as follows:
(1)
Renewal
			 Application
. The charter school shall submit its application for
			 renewal of a charter under
			 603 CMR
			 1.00 no earlier than March
			 1st of the third school year of the relevant charter
			 and no later than August 1st after the end of the
			 fourth school year of the relevant charter. The Board will review renewal
			 applications pursuant to the criteria set forth below and in and M.G.L. c. 71,
			 § 89. For renewal applications received on or before August
			 1st, the Department shall notify the charter
			 applicant of the decision to renew or not to renew the charter and the reasons
			 therefore no later than March 1st following receipt
			 of the renewal application.
The charter school may apply for renewal of its charter under
				renewal application guidelines issued by the Department. Applications for the
				renewal of Horace Mann charters must be submitted with the certification of a
				majority vote of the school committee and local collective bargaining
				unit.
(2)
Renewal Guidelines
. The Department shall issue
			 guidelines describing the evaluation process to be followed in reviewing
			 applications for charter renewal, including protocols for renewal inspections
			 and performance criteria. The decision by the Board to renew a charter shall be
			 based upon the presentation of affirmative evidence regarding the faithfulness
			 of the school to the terms of its charter, including the extent to which the
			 school has followed its recruitment and retention plan and has disseminated
			 best practices in accordance with M.G.L. c. 71, § 89(dd); the success of
			 the school's academic program; and the viability of the school as an
			 organization. The Department will gather evidence regarding these issues from
			 the renewal application and from other information, including but not limited
			 to, a school's annual reports, financial audits, test results, site visit
			 reports, and the renewal inspection report. All charter schools will be
			 evaluated on the same performance criteria as provided in the guidelines,
			 provided, however, that the criteria will take into account each school's
			 charter and accountability plan. Evidence of academic success for all students
			 is essential for charter renewal.
(3)
Term of Charter
.
			 Charters that are renewed shall be for five years from the expiration of the
			 previous charter under such conditions as the Board may establish under
			 603 CMR
			 1.04(7)  and any additional
			 conditions that the Board or Commissioner may specify. If a school fails to
			 comply with any specified conditions, the Commissioner may recommend to the
			 Board that the school be placed on probation or that the charter be revoked as
			 described in
			 603
			 CMR 1.12. Charters of schools that do not
			 file renewal applications shall expire at the end of the fifth year of the
			 charter school's operation, subject to
			 603
			 CMR 1.12.