Public Comment

General Information

Welcome to the Public Comment Forum!

Through this forum, the charter community and other stakeholders have an opportunity to voice their position on a potential rule or policy and provide valuable information on how it may impact you and your community. Your feedback will assist the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools (Board) and improve its services to the charter community.

We appreciate you taking the time to participate in this forum and look forward to hearing from you.

Proposed Revisions to the New Charter Application Instructions 

A.R.S. §15-183 requires that an applicant seeking to establish a charter school shall submit a written application to a proposed sponsor, and that the application, application process and application time frames shall be posted on the sponsor’s website and shall include the following, as specified in the application:

1. A detailed educational plan.

2. A detailed business plan.

3. A detailed operational plan.

4. Any other materials required by the sponsor.

Pursuant to A.A.C. R7-5-201, by March 31 of each year, the Board shall approve and make available on ASBCS Online an application for a new charter for a specified annual application cycle.

As it does each year, Board staff is proposing revisions to the New Charter Application Instructions and Criteria for the FY 2019 application cycle. Many of the changes are technical in nature or intended to increase transparency and clarity for applicants regarding the processes conducted by Board staff and the TRP during the application process. Substantive changes to the presentation of the instructions and evaluation criteria in each section, as well as weighting of the evaluation criteria are also proposed.

Proposed Revisions to the New Charter Application Instructions

Posting period: January 22, 2019–February 10, 2019

Please submit your feedback in writing to the Board during the posting period using one of the following options:

1. Written comments may be emailed to [email protected].

2. Written comments may be mailed to the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, P.O. Box 18328, Phoenix, AZ 85005

3. Written comments may be delivered to the Board office located at 1616 W. Adams St., Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85007

For all responses please provide the following information:

  • First and last name

  • Mailing Address

  • E-mail Address

  • Organization (optional)

Specific-School Academic Goals Recommendations

A.R.S. §15-183(R) requires that in implementing its oversight and administrative responsibilities, the Board must adopt a performance framework that includes “the academic performance expectations of the charter school and the measurement of sufficient progress toward the academic expectations.” The purpose of the Academic Performance Framework (“academic framework”) is to communicate the Board’s academic expectations for ensuring all schools provide a learning environment that will improve pupil achievement and provide an additional academic choice for parents and pupils.

 

In the academic framework, State Accountability is the default indicator used to evaluate the academic performance of all charter schools sponsored by the Board. In addition, this indicator considers state designations for school improvement.

 

The academic framework also recognizes that there are charter schools serving preponderant populations of at-risk students that are not included in the State’s criteria to obtain Alternative School status and has provided an opportunity for those schools to request use of school-specific academic goals in place of State Accountability, as seen in Appendix A of the academic framework. If at least 70% of the students served by a school operated by a charter holder are identified as needing special education services or are homeless, the charter holder may apply to use school-specific academic goals to determine the charter school’s Overall Rating. Board staff is recommending to add a risk factor that takes into consideration a higher than average English Language Learner student population. The Board is requesting feedback from the charter community on this item.

Appendix A: School Specific Academic Goals of the Academic Performance Framework and Guidance

Posting period: December 19, 2018 – January 9, 2019

Please submit your feedback in writing to the Board during the posting period using one of the following options:

1. Written comments may be emailed to [email protected].

2. Written comments may be mailed to the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, P.O. Box 18328, Phoenix, AZ 85005

3. Written comments may be delivered to the Board office located at 1616 W. Adams St., Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85007

 

For all responses please provide the following information:

  • First and last name
  • Mailing Address
  • E-mail Address
  • Organization (optional)

Rulemaking

COMING SOON!