Saint Louis Public Schools

I.              Application Processand Decision-Making

 

A.                         Initial Application Process and Procedures

 

SLPS Office of Charter Partnerships will provide feedback to the proposed applicant after submission. SLPS will have increased scrutiny for charterschool proposals with similar missions and locations of charter schools SLPS already sponsors or may exist in the Saint Louis public education system. SLPS will maintain a thorough charter application process as outlined in section 160.400.11(2), RSMo.

 

SLPS maintains a two-part evaluation process for all potential partnerships. Part 1 is a review of Detailed Proposal(s), completed by the Office of Charter Partnerships, which concludes with a recommendation to advance, not advance, or advance with reservations to Part 2. Part 2 is an opportunity for the Board of Education of the City of Saint Louis to determine the applicant’s fit with the overall education strategy of the Board of Education, which concludes with a potential final approval for sponsorship.

 

The steps of the application process for all potential school partnerships with SLPS is as follows:

 

SLPS External Partner Evaluation Process:

 

PART 1: Detailed Proposal

1.        Detailed Proposal

2.        Review and Request for Additional Documentation

3.        Data Review

4.        Interview(s)- Clarifying Information

5.        Recommendation to Advance or Not Advance to Part 2

 

PART 2: Board Review and Alignment Determination

6.        Capacity Interviews- Board and Leadership

7.        Alignment and Enrollment Analyses

8.        Final Recommendation for Approval

9.        Superintendent Approval

10.      Board Approval

11.      DESE Submission and Approval

 

1.              Part 1: Detailed Proposal

 

The applicant for the proposed charter school shall provide the SLPS Office of Charter Partnerships with a Detailed Proposal, to include the following:

 

§  Mission and vision,

§  Educational need and contribution to the overalleducational community,

§  Internal Governance structureand operations (organizational chart),

§  Governance Relationship to SLPS,

§  Educational program,

§  School size and gradelevels, student recruitment area, including any plans for sequential enrollment,

§  Proposed locationand facilities,

§  Plan for parental and community involvement,

§  Financial plan (including all relevant debt),

§  Anticipated year of openingand full enrollment,

§  Current and historical performance data (when relevant),

§  Describe the uniqueness of the school and how it differs from existing schools in the system,

§  Founding team members and their resumes (not includedin the five pages),

§  Description of the capacity to open and operatethe school, and

§  Contribution to the overalleducational community.

 

The Office of Charter Partnerships will review the application and provide a request for additional documentation, as needed. After a thorough analysis, the Office of Charter Partnerships will invite the applicant for an interview with the SLPS Charter Sponsor Advisory Committee to clarify any missing information. The Committee is comprised of internal individuals with experience in public education, board governance, accounting and finance, data management, marketing, and charter school operations. Subsequently, the Office of Charter Partnerships will make a recommendation for the application to advance, to not advance, or to advance with reservations to Part 2.

 

2.              Part 2: Board Review and Alignment Determination

Upon a recommendation from the Office of Charter Partnerships to advance or advance with reservations, representatives from the Board of Education of the City of Saint Louis will meet with representatives from the Board of the applicant to complete a Leadership and Capacity Interview. SLPS will also complete Alignment and Enrollment Analyses. Final approval is determined through a vote by the Board of Education of the City of Saint Louis.

 

3.              Other Application Considerations

 

a)                           Individuals Making

The charter schoolapplicant must start the processto establish a nonprofit corporation pursuant to Chapter 355, RSMo. and have nonprofit status prior to the application approval.

 

b)                           Third Party Education Service Providers

A charter school that contracts with third party providers of educational design and/or management must include additional provisions and structures within its application that verify rigorous, independent contract oversight by its governing board and the school’s financial independence from the external provider. This includes the following:

 

§  Its governing board is independent from the third-party provider’s management and/or governing board.

§  The school’s finances are separate from the provider’s finances.

§  The school’s financial operations and decision-making are independent of the provider’s operations and governance.

 

c)                            Application Timeline

 

The SLPS application review process may take up to 90 days to review applications and determine if it will sponsor the proposed school. Missouri Statutes require charters be granted by the State Board of Education by January 31 in order to open school the following school year. 160.405.2(1) RSMo. In order to meet this deadline, applications must be received by SLPS by July 1 of the year prior to the school’s opening date. For approval prior to the date required by statute, refer to the table below.

 

Date application must be received by SLPS	Date application must be approved by SLPS	Date application must be received by DESE	State Board of Education votes on application
February (year prior to school’s opening date)	April (year prior to school’s opening date)	June (year prior to school’s opening date)	August (year prior to school’s opening date)
March (year prior to school’s opening date)	June (year prior to school’s opening date)	July (year prior to school’s opening date)	September (year prior to school’s opening date)