1) Mission
2) Educational Program
3) Student Assessment

1) Profile of the Founding Board
2) School Governance
3) Length of Contract & Implementation Timetable
4) Evidence of Support

1) Facilities
2) Finances
3) Recruiting & Marketing Plan

1) Admissions & Registration Plan
2) Human Resource Information
3) Transportation

1) Facilities Safety Approval
2) Final Governance Documents
3) Insurance, Final Budgets, & Other

A.  Describe the core philosophy or underlying purpose of the proposed school.

B.  Describe the target student population to be served, including student ages and grade levels at the school.

What reviewers will look for:  Clearly articulated vision for an innovative public school which will lead to improved educational outcomes and greater community ownership of the local school; consistency between mission and the educational programs as a means to achieve this.

A.  Describe the educational program of the school, providing an overview of curriculum objectives and content of the main subject areas.

B.  Briefly outline the instructional methods to be used, including any distinctive instructional techniques to be employed. How will this pedagogy enhance student learning?

C.  Describe how your school will meet the needs of Exceptional Education students, including limited English proficient students.

What reviewers will look for: Innovative teaching methods and curriculum approaches; substantive overview of curriculum; consistency between the mission, curriculum, and student population to be served ; Compliance with applicable regulations to meet the needs of limited English proficient and special needs students in the school program.

A.  Describe your plan to assess student performance in the core academic areas. Please include the current baseline standard of achievement, the outcomes to be achieved and the method(s) of measurement to be used.

B.  Describe the methods used to identify the educational strengths and needs of students and the extent to which educational goals and performance standards are being met.

C.  Describe how students will, at a minimum, participate in the statewide assessment program.

D.  For secondary charter schools, describe the method for determining that a student has satisfied the requirements for graduation in section 232.246, Florida Statutes.

What reviewers will look for: Commitment to high academic standards for all students; well-developed assessment mechanisms; understanding of the state assessment requirements.

A.  Describe the organizing group of initial incorporators that is working together to apply for a charter, including the names of the organizers, their background and experiences, and references for each.

B.  Discuss any business arrangements or partnerships with existing schools, educational programs, businesses, or non-profit organizations.

What reviewers will look for:  A well-balanced group which brings together people with a range of professional skills capable of the organizational, financial, pedagogical, legal, and other tasks required to open a functioning public school; local representation; meets requirements of law.

A.  Describe the governance structure of the school, including the status of the charter school as a public or private employer as required in subsection (7) of the statute.

B.  Describe the administrative management structure of the school.

C.  Describe how the board of directors will be chosen and what steps will be taken to maintain continuity between the founding organizer's vision and that of the permanently established board of directors.

D.  Describe the roles and responsibilities of the governing board, including the relationship of the governing board to teachers and administrators.

E.  Discuss the proposed method for resolving conflicts between the governing board of the charter school and the sponsor.

F.  Discuss the nature of parental involvement in decision-making matters.

G.  Discuss how the charter school will comply with Florida statutes relating to public records and public meetings. (chapter 119, Florida Statues & s. 286.011, Florida Statues)

What reviewers will look for:  Stable, effective, and comprehensive governance model; consistency with mission; clearly defined roles of the board and its interaction with staff; appropriate teacher and parent input in school decision-making; well developed, viable administrative management structure; knowledge of and compliance with public information laws.

A.  State the length of the initial charter term, up to 3 years. Technically, the charter may be terminated before that period, as described in subsection (10) of the charter statute. In any case, the charter school is subject to an annual review of academic progress.

B.  Present a timetable for implementing the charter, which addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet this timetable.

A.  Try to convey as clearly and concretely as possible the scope of community backing for the proposed charter school and its founding board. Document this community support among teachers, parents, students, community members and institutional leaders and others, through the use of letters of support, surveys, or other tangible means.

What reviewers will look for:  Evidence that the founders inspire the confidence of their targeted community;evidence that the program provides an attractive educational alternative to students and parents; breadth of community support extending well beyond the core group of founders.

A.  Describe the facilities to be used and their location, or alternatively, describe your present options for a school building.

B.  Demonstrate how this site would be a suitable facility for the proposed school, including any plans to renovate and bring facility into compliance with all applicable local building codes.

C.  If applicable, discuss any progress, partnership developments, or other future steps towards acquisition of a school building.

D.  Describe financing plans for facilities, if applicable.

What reviewers will look for:  Progress toward identifying and acquiring an adequate school facility.

A.  Describe the financial management and internal accounting procedures of the school.

B.  Present a budget for start-up expenses, covering only the planning and capital expenses necessary before school opening.

C.  Present a 3-year budget covering all projected sources of revenue, both public and private, and planned expenditures.

D.  Do you plan to conduct any fund-raising efforts to generate capital or to supplement the per pupil allocations? If so, briefly explain.

E.  Explain the manner in which the school will be insured, including liability insurance.

What reviewers will look for: Sound financial planning; fiscal viability of the school.

A.  Demonstrate how you will publicize the school to attract a sufficient pool of applicants.

B.  What steps will be taken to reach students representative of the racial and socio-economic diversity in the community, including typically "harder to reach" families?

What reviewers will look for:  A solid plan to attract sufficient students to operate a school; effort to publicize the school to a broad audience in order to foster a student body representative of the local community; and recruitment efforts which seek to ensure a match between the school program and applicants' educational and personal needs.

A.  Describe the admissions procedures and dismissal procedures you will use.

B.  Describe the timetable to be used for registering & admitting students, including a plan for the admission lottery if the number of applicants exceeds the program capacity.

C.  Describe the ways in which the school will endeavor to achieve a racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves.

D.  In the case of an existing school being converted to charter status, suggest alternative arrangements for current students who choose not to attend the charter school.

What reviewers will look for:  Consistency with the mission of the school; a non-discriminatory admissions process; timely and realistic procedures for admitting students; compliance with charter school legislation.

A.  Describe the standards to be used in the hiring process of teachers, administrators and other school staff.

B.  Describe your human resource policies governing: salaries, contracts, hiring & dismissal, and benefit packages.

C.  Describe how the qualifications of the teachers will be described to parents considering the charter school for their children, as required in the charter statute.

D.  What is the targeted staff size, staffing plan, and projected student-to-teacher ratio?

E.  In the case of an existing school being converted to charter status, suggest alternative arrangements for current teachers who choose not to teach in the school after conversion. These suggestions may or may not be adopted by the local school board, which alone bears full responsibility for the placement of any of district employees who choose not to work in the charter school. (Any teacher choosing not to work in the charter school must be treated by the school board in accordance with the existing collective-bargaining agreement or with school board policy in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement.)

What reviewers will look for:  High professional standards for teachers and other staff; commitment to professional development of staff; working conditions and compensation packages which will attract quality staff; compliance with labor laws , fingerprinting and background checks.

A.  Discuss the plans for transporting students to and from school. What arrangements, if any, will be made with the local school district, private providers, or with parents?

B.  Charter schools are responsible for providing transportation for students residing within a "reasonable distance" of the charter school. How has that reasonable distance been defined in your charter transportation plan? What factors helped form the basis for this distance determination?

C.  Describe the policies which will help ensure that transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all students.

D.  If the school district is under court-ordered desegregation, describe how that has been taken into account in the transportation plan.

What reviewers will look for:  A workable, fair, non-discriminatory and cost-effective arrangement for safely transporting students to and from school.

A.  In order to demonstrate the safety and structural soundness of the school and compliance with applicable state minimum building codes and fire protection codes, please submit written documentation of:

• Inspection by a local building inspector;
• Inspection by local Fire Department;
• Compliance with all other federal and state health & safety laws and regulations.

B.  Submit a final site plan.

A.  Submit copies of the school's articles of incorporation, by-laws, contracts, and other documents required by applicable law.

B.  Updated board members' names, addresses, phone numbers, resume's and disclosure information.

A.  Present your school's insurance coverage plans, including applicable health, general liability, property insurance, and Director's and Officer's liability coverage, if any.

B.  Submit updated budgets.

C.  Final school calendars.