School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 3-95.1

BUSINESS AND NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS

Charter School Review Team, Application, Contract Review and Renewal Process

A. Establishment of Review Team

Prior to consideration by the School Board, each charter school application will be reviewed by the Review Team. The review team shall be comprised of the following individuals: Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, Chief Information Officer for Technology, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Support Services, Director of the Office of Programs for Exceptional Children, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Director of Business Services, and two members of the general public, one of whom supports the charter school concept.

The Executive Assistant to the Superintendent shall chair the Review Team and act as the division contact for questions about the charter school application process. All questions from charter school applicants prior to the actual submission of an application must be submitted in writing to the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. Responses from the school division will be provided to the applicant in writing.

The review team shall be responsible for: (1) recommending to the Superintendent the criteria for reviewing charter school applications; (2) evaluating all charter school applications based upon criteria approved by the Superintendent; (3) recommending to the School Board either rejection of an application or advancement into contract negotiations with an applicant; (4) participating, with the assistance of legal counsel, in contract negotiation with an applicant; (5) monitoring charter school progress; (6) making recommendations regarding revocation, non-renewal, or renewal of a charter school contract, including the renewal term of charter contracts.

B. Application

1. A charter school application can be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent.

2. An annual informational meeting will be held for potential applicants during the first two weeks of July.

3. An original plus twelve (12) copies of the completed application, together with a $700.00 application fee must be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent.

4. For applicants who propose to open a charter school for the year 2002-03 school year or subsequent years, the application must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 31 (or the following Monday if August 31 falls on a Saturday or Sunday).

5. The application deadline will be extended only in exceptional circumstances.

C. Review of Charter School Applications

1. All applicants received in the Office of the Superintendent by the established deadline shall be reviewed by the review team. Each member of the review team shall review each component of the application and rate the component as acceptable or unacceptable based upon established criteria approved by the Superintendent. A copy of the criteria shall remain on file and may be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent.

2. When necessary to evaluate an application, the division contact person may request an applicant to resubmit an application or to submit information required to complete an application. If the division contact requests resubmission of an application or the submission of additional information and the applicant fails to comply within thirty (30) days of the request, the application may be denied.

D. School Board Decision

1. Annually during the month of November the review team will make a recommendation to the School Board either to reject an application or to enter into contract negotiations with an applicant. The recommendation by the Review Team will be based on the established criteria used to evaluate the application.

2. The School Board shall hold a hearing for the purpose of taking public comment and permitting the applicant to present its charter school concept to the School Board before a decision is made by the Board to reject an application or move forward with contract negotiations.

3. The decision of the School Board whether to reject an application or to move forward with contract negotiations is final and not subject to appeal.

E. Charter Contract

1. Once the School Board accepts the recommendation of the review team to move forward with contract negotiations, the charter school applicant and the review team, with the assistance of legal counsel, shall negotiate a contract which contains all agreements between the School Board and the charter school.

2. The school division and the charter applicant shall sign a final contract no later than ninety (90) days prior to the opening of the school year for which the charter school is scheduled for operation.

F. Charter School Renewal Procedures

An existing charter school seeking renewal of its contract must submit the requested documents by October 1 of the school year in which the charter expires.

The charter school renewal application must contain, but shall not be limited to, the following information:

1. A report on the progress of the charter school in achieving the goals, objectives, program and performance standards for students and any other terms and conditions agreed to in the charter contract;

2. A financial statement, on forms prescribed by the Board of Education, that discloses the costs of administration, instruction, and other spending categories for the charter school and that has been concisely and clearly written to enable the School Board and the public to compare such costs to those of other schools or comparable organizations;

3. Any other information required by the School Board in its application for renewal.

The review team shall make a recommendation to the School Board regarding the non-renewal or renewal, including renewal term, of the charter contract.

G. Revocation of a charter

The School Board may revoke a charter contract if:

1. The charter school violates the conditions, standards, or procedures established in the charter school application;

2. The charter school fails to meet or make reasonable progress toward achievement of the content standards identified in the charter contract;

3. The charter school fails to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management;

4. The charter school, through any member of its management committee or through any member of its senior management, violates any provision of law;

5. The charter school violates a material term of the charter contract; or

6. The School Board determines that it is not in the public interest or the welfare of the students within the division to continue the operation of the charter school.

The review team is responsible for periodic monitoring of charter school progress and shall be responsible for making recommendations regarding the revocation of a charter to the School Board.

 

Approved by Superintendent:                 March 22, 1999
Revised by Superintendent:                   February 28, 2001
Revised by Superintendent:                   February 28, 2008