Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 281 - Education Department › Title XII - Programs Administration › Chapter 68 - Iowa Public Charter and Innovation Zone Schools › Rule 281-68.4 - Review Process

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Application to the department.
Upon a local school board's
				approval of an application for the proposed establishment of a charter school,
				the local school board must submit the application for such establishment to
				the department. The department shall appoint, at minimum, five individuals
				knowledgeable in student achievement and nontraditional learning environments
				to review each application for charter status. A reviewer shall not participate
				in the review of any application in which the individual may have an interest,
				direct or indirect.
(2)
Ranking of applications.
Applications shall be ranked on a
				point system, and applications shall be recommended in rank order beginning
				with the application with the highest points. In the event that two or more
				applications tie, the applications will be reviewed until the tie is broken.
The maximum points for an application shall be 100. The
				  maximum points for each criterion provided in Iowa Code section 256F.5 as
				  amended by 2010 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2033, section 16, shall be as
				  follows:
a.
Overview.
The mission, purpose, innovation, and specialized focus of
				the charter school. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is
				40.
b.
Organization and
				structure.
The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 10. The
				description of the organization and structure shall include:
(1) The charter school governance and
				bylaws.
(2) The method for
				appointing or forming an advisory council for the charter school. The
				membership of an advisory council appointed or formed in accordance with this
				chapter shall not include more than one member of the local school board. The
				advisory council shall, to the greatest extent possible, reflect the
				demographics of the student population to be served by the public charter
				school.
(3) The organization of the
				school in terms of ages of students or grades to be taught along with an
				estimate of the total enrollment of the school.
(4) The method for admission to the public
				charter school. The admission policy shall support the purpose and specialized
				mission of the public charter school. A lottery process must be described in
				the application for a public charter school in the event that the number of
				applicants exceeds the capacity of the public charter school. The admission
				process shall not discriminate against prospective students on the basis of
				race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,
				religion, ancestry, or disability, except if a charter school limits enrollment
				pursuant to Iowa Code section
				256F.4(3).
(5) The number and qualifications of teachers
				and administrators to be employed. Hiring shall, to the greatest extent
				possible, reflect the demographics of the student population to be served by
				the public charter school.
(6)
				Procedures for teacher and administrator evaluation.
(7) Procedures for identification and
				implementation of professional development for teachers and administrators as
				required under
				281-12.7
				(256,284,284A) and the Iowa teaching standards, including the opportunity to be
				responsible for the learning program at the school site.
(8) A plan of operation to be implemented if
				the public charter school revokes or fails to renew its contract.
(9) The specific statutes, administrative
				rules, and school board policies with which the public charter school does not
				intend to comply.
c.
Facilities/financial support.
The maximum number of points
				that can be awarded is 10. The description of the facilities/financial support
				shall include:
(1) The provision of school
				facilities.
(2) The financial plan
				for the operation of the school including, at minimum, a listing of the support
				services the school district will provide, and the public charter school's
				revenues, budgets, and expenditures.
(3) Assurance of the assumption of liability
				by the public charter school.
(4)
				The types and amounts of insurance coverage to be obtained by the public
				charter school.
(5) The means,
				costs, and plan for providing transportation for students attending the public
				charter school.
d.
Student achievement
The maximum number of points that can be
				awarded is 40. The description shall include:
(1) Performance goals and objectives in
				addition to those required under Iowa Code section
				256.7(21)
				 and 281-Chapter 12, by which the school's
				student achievement shall be judged, the measures to be used to assess
				progress, and the current baseline status with respect to the goals.
(2) The educational program and curriculum
				utilizing different and innovative instructional methodologies that reflect
				sensitivity to gender, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Services
				to be offered to all prospective students, including students with disabilities
				pursuant to the requirements of 281-Chapter 41, English Language Learners
				(ELL), and other students considered "at risk," must also reflect the same
				sensitivities.
(3) A statement that
				indicates how the public charter school will meet the purpose of a public
				charter school as outlined in Iowa Code section
				256F.1(3),
				and the minimum state and federal statutory requirements of a public charter
				school as outlined in Iowa Code section
				256F.4(2).
(3)
State hoard review.
The
				state board shall review the recommendations provided by the department. The
				state board shall, by a majority vote, approve or deny an application within 90
				calendar days of receipt of the application and shall notify applicants within
				5 days of the state board's decision. An approved application shall be a part
				of the contract for the operation of the charter school. The terms of the
				contract for the operation of the charter school shall also outline the reasons
				for revocation or nonrenewal of the charter