HOW TO START: THINKING ABOUT A CHARTER SCHOOL

HOW TO START AN APPROVED CHARTER SCHOOL.

Our concept of 4 stages:
• Stage 1: Curiosity
• Stage 2: Initial Interest ... Josiah Bartlett Center Mini-Grant Program
• Stage 3: Moving Forward ... Department of Education Vision & Design Grants
• Stage 4: Starting a School ... Department of Education Start-up Grants
________________________________________
Stage 1: Curiosity
One or more persons thinks “This is interesting. I’d like to know more about this charter school law and option. Maybe I, some people I know, or my school district would be interested.”

Advice: You are welcome to call our office and ask questions (224-0366).
We don’t charge for information. Or you could contact Roberta Tenney at the Department of Education. This web site links you to the charter school law in New Hampshire, how charter schools work, how charter schools fit into the national interest of choice public schools. Read about the approved charter schools and the 20 or more groups incubating ideas in New Hampshire.
________________________________________
Stage 2: Initial Interest    ...    Josiah Bartlett Center Mini-Grant Program
After learning a little about the charter school law and model, one or more persons may want to have funds to hold a few local meetings to see if there is interest and/or need for a school of some type.

Advice: Request an introductory informational program in your area and invite others. You can accomplish this in someone’s home (4-6 people) or in a public forum, e.g. at the library or town office. Our office provides informational seminars at no cost.

The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy has a mini-grant program ($300-500 mini-grants) that provides for the cost of a few ads in the paper, and supplies for a few area meetings with materials copied for distribution. It’s always good advice to try to understand the law and process for developing and running a charter school before you try to use the law.

This mini-grant program is not necessary in order to have a seminar for a few interested people. It is just an option available.
________________________________________

Stage 3: Moving Forward ...    Department of Education Vision & Design Grants
Part of the 36-month Federal Charter School Stimulus Grant

For people wanting to explore their interest, student feasibility, take time to build support or understand parent/community interest, etc., it is possible to ask for a 6-month grant to refine an idea and develop a charter (or decide not to develop a charter). Charter schools are dependent on parent interest. Understanding whether or not there is support is very important.

With or without this “vision and planning” funding, a group can write and submit a charter application. Potential applicants must know the law about who can submit a charter application. RSA 194-B:3, V, states: “Persons or entities eligible to submit an application to establish a charter school shall include:
(a) a nonprofit organization including, but not limited to, a college, university, museum, service club, or similar entity,
(b) a group of 2 or more New Hampshire certified teachers,
(c) a group of 10 or more parents.”
There is a separate provision for an existing public school converting to charter status. One of the education rules requires even parents and teacher groups to submit their proposal as a Chapter 292 non-profit. This is not difficult to do. Click here for forms to create your non-profit, e.g. The Sullivan Country Charter School Association.

New Hampshire’s charter school law does not allow a school district to submit a charter; however, a school district can collaborate, help sponsor, or even create a non-profit organization that then sponsors a charter school application. Charter school applications developed with some university, business, or school district support will have a stronger political and financial position when the decision to authorize or not is considered.

Advice: New Hampshire’s Department of Education federal grants allow for a portion of the 36-month federal grant to be used as a “pre-charter” planning grants (funding to help you cover costs of researching and writing a charter application). The average award in 2005-2006 will be $5,000 to $10,000. There is no requirement that receiving a pre-charter planning grant must conclude with a charter school application. The grant expectation, however, is that the funds will be used by entities authorized to submit a charter application and who are seriously considering the study and design of a charter application.

The Department's application for 2005-2006 design/vision grants is posted on the Department of Education web site.
________________________________________
Stage 4: Submitting a Charter Application
And, if approved, writing a Start-up Grant
Once a charter application is written, submitted, and approved, the group moving forward is awarded a 5-year charter. The State Board of Education is the only body under NH law that can award a charter.

The charter must then be ratified so the school can open and receive funding. New Hampshire has 2 authorizers: 1) the legislative body of the local school district (this is very time intensive but is appropriate for single-district charter schools, and 2) the State Board of Education.

If the charter application is authorized, the work begins. The school must open within 2 years under New Hampshire guidelines. If a federal start-up grant is awarded (through NH’s Department of Education), the school must open after 18 months of the start-up grant award.

The New Hampshire Center for School Reform web site is dedicated to providing technical assistance to groups starting charter schools. Contact us for assistance or to answer questions or for help with charter applications and the authorization process.

Start-up grants are only allowed for 36 months. They are competitive and as of June 2005 NH has only enough funding for 15 start-up grants. Seven have been awarded. If you apply for “planning and vision” funding, the number of months you spend on planning (with federal funding) may be subtracted from the 36-month total time available for federal funds.

Advice: Initial and sometimes complicated first steps include:
a. converting to a Board of Trustees from a sponsoring group which may not be the future Board of Trustees,
b. developing the Board of Trustees’ initial governing policies so it can function with an understood governance system,
c. obtaining Board insurance, as required,
d. setting up a financial office or system, adopting financial management policies, preparing the charter school to be an independent employer
e. setting up an office, contact number, and method of providing information to others (this website lists each project and contact information to help with initial contact)
f. developing an initial personnel system including recruitment and hiring.
g. selecting a bank and establishing bank accounts
h. establishing an EIN (Employer Identification Number) for the charter school
i. selecting a treasurer or fiscal agent who would have check writing authority and short bonding, as required.

Our technical assistance group can help you with these tasks.
For assistance in these areas, contact us.