Charter School Renewal
Charter School Renewal Guidance
Pursuant to Indiana Code § 20-24-2.2-2, the minimum standards for renewal of a charter school include a requirement that the school not remain in the lowest category or designation of school improvement for four consecutive years. Charter schools failing to meet these minimum standards are not eligible to submit a Renewal Request.
Grace Schools Charter Authority LLC., in accordance with IC 20-24-4-1, has developed a charter school renewal process to ensure fair and timely decision making related to charter renewal.
GSCA’s Charter Renewal Application process begins in the Fall in the final year of the term of a school’s charter. Each school authorized by GSCA that wishes to continue being authorized by GSCA, must first submit a Statement of Intent to Seek Renewal by September 1, at the beginning of the final year. Once a Statement is received, GSCA will provide the school with a consolidated performance dashboard summarizing the school’s performance during the term of the charter on GSCA’s Accountability System.
The formal renewal process includes submission of a Charter Renewal Application, a formal site visit, and a public hearing.
GSCA may grant a renewal for any length of time up to fifteen (15) years, with or without additional conditions. If GSCA determines that a school’s charter should be renewed, the school must enter into a new Charter Agreement, incorporating any additional changes requested (and granted by the Board) GSCA’s Accountability System, any further conditions required by GSCA.
Renewal decisions are based on the school’s performance on GSCA’s Accountability System, the contents of the Renewal Application, an interview with the governing board of the school, the school site visit, and public comment. GSCA does not use a specific formula for determining whether or not a school’s charter should be renewed. Each decision is based on the specific history and circumstances of the school.
As evidence of the school’s performance has already been collected by GSCA, the primary purpose of the Renewal Application is to allow the school: (1) to present any important new or supplemental information pertaining to the three categories of the Accountability System, to enable a more comprehensive assessment of school performance; and (2) to articulate a school’s strategies and capacities for sustaining success and continuing to improve over the next charter term.
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[Due by September 1 in the final school year of the term of a Charter Agreement]Â
School submits Statement of Intent to Seek Renewal. The statement should be a letter on school letterhead signed by the chair of the school’s board, indicating the school’s intent to seek renewal of its charter. The statement does not need to provide any specific details or plans and may be submitted electronically to charterschools@grace.edu.
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[After receipt of Intent to Seek Renewal]Â
Within fourteen (14) days of collective receipt of a school’s State Assessment Results, Letter Grade, and 4th Quarter Financial Report, GSCA staff will provide the organizer with a summary of the school’s performance to date on GSCA’s Accountability System and will reach out to the organizer and the school to schedule a meeting or conference call with school leadership (designees of the board and administration) to discuss the Renewal Application.
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[Due by December 31 in the final school year of the term of a Charter Agreement]Â
The organizer submits a renewal application to GSCA staff. Renewal Applications must be concise, complete, and in compliance with the Application and Submission requirements contained in this document. Supplemental documentation not specifically required by the application should be included as exhibits, and be limited to information that meaningfully adds to or supplements existing data, or illustrates or supports plans or strategies discussed in the applicationÂ
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Within fourteen (14) days after receiving a Renewal Application, GSCA staff will reach out to the organizer and the school to schedule a school site visit. Site reviews may be conducted by the GSCA staff or a representative and include: 1) interviews with members of the governing board, leadership, staff, and students; 2) classroom observations; observation of school routines and operations; 4) inspection of physical learning environment; 5) document reviews; 6) anything else GSCA staff determines is relevant to the renewal process.  Â
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[No later than March 20 of the final school year of the term of a Charter Agreement]Â
During the public meeting, GSCA staff will present its recommendation on the renewal request; the applicant will be permitted to make a short presentation; members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the renewal; GSCA members will have the opportunity to ask the renewal applicant questions; and GSCA will vote on the renewal application. The GSCA meeting is open to the public and is recorded. GSCA will determine the date of the meeting based on board member availability. Public notice must be posted both by GSCA and the school at least five (5) business days before the meeting. The school must post notice of the meeting in the same manner it posts notice of its regular board meetings.Â
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[No later than April 1 of the final school year of the term of a Charter Agreement]Â
GSCA will provide the organizer with a final written report summarizing GSCA’s final recommendation on the Renewal Application.