New Hampshire Center for School Reform

Newsletter Update

November 12, 2004

We are pleased to bring attention to New Hampshire's progress.

 

IN THIS EDITION:

 

Please direct inquiries to: Susan Hollins  

 

 

 

YEAR IN REVIEW: CHARTER SCHOOLS in NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In July 2003, the law for charter schools changed, allowing a pilot program for 20 charter schools authorized by the State Board of Education. The second authorizer provision  helped New Hampshire qualify for 7.2 million--federal charter school start-up support grants.  

 

To date, 10 charter school applications have been submitted to the State Board of Education; 3 applications were denied; 7 charter schools were authorized. Three (3) schools are operating now; 3 schools will open in January 2005; and 1 school, just approved, will open September 2005. Seven (7) other charter school ideas are incubating around the state.  

 

Charter school thinking and leadership came from all areas and segments of the state—parents, school boards, non-profits, businesses, teachers, state officials, the deaf community, autism specialists, college professors, artists/performers. The 2 questions: 1. What type of independent public school of choice would be beneficial for students in our area? 2. Do we have the stamina and support for this project?

 

Charter schools are not “programs”--they are complete, independent public schools with a separate board of trustees and a separate budget. The charter school is where students choose to attend school instead of the assigned local school.

 

Public school district can now consider redistributing their current students and current resources to create a different and often lower-cost school within the overall public system. All chartered public schools are schools of choice and meet choice requirements of NCLB. All charter schools must be very attentive to achievement, assessment, and accountability

 

Charter schools may emerge from groups of parents and/or teachers or any secular non-profit organization--museums, colleges, human service providers, the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce. Out-of-the-box thinking about choice and redistribution of resources is busting out all over. And this legislative session will hopefully address the few obstacles preventing a successful program.  

 

Click here for New Hampshire charter school activity and info about each project.

 

 

7th CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED

 

Three Goffstown teachers formed New Heights Academy’s design team in October 2003, following months of meetings with students, faculty, parents, and others. This 3:00 to 9:00 choice high school for 11th and 12th grade students will take place right in Goffstown High during hours when the building is free.  Technology, project-based learning, and individual learning plans will define the school.

 

New Heights Academy demonstrates a unique feature of charter schools—they can be for just one grade (e.g. 9th grade), a few grades (e.g. 11 and 12 only) or all grades (e.g. K-12). They can have a calendar and start/end times that is the same or different from a typical public school calendar. For more information about New Heights Academy, contact Ray Dumais.

 

 

EXPERIENTIAL SCHOOL BEING PLANNED

 

Grade 7-12 students wanting an experiential, expeditionary school may have one in Mason if the Venture Learning Charter School design team completes a proposal. The Venture Learning Academy proposal references best practice research for instruction and curriculum. Expeditionary learning, place-based instruction, and authentic curriculum will translate into a school design based on well-established research. These school designers will reach out for collaborative relationships with Outward Bound’s Expeditionary Learning Institute, area colleges, and foundations. For more information or to join the effort, contact Chris Balch.

 

 

FACILITIES AND FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS

 

The Education Commission of the States posts each state’s charter school facility provisions. Helping charter school with facility expenses is highly important for these school’s survival.

 

Charter school facility—location and financing—may be addressed this legislative session as charter school funding is researched. NH Center for School Reform’s October newsletter discussed charter school funding needs and possible solutions.  Top-rated state charter school laws all send state money directly to charter schools, not through local school districts.

 

One facility cost solution is charter schools having right of first refusal for any empty public school building. The reasons are based on need to locate facilities and the reality that all public schools were built with local and state  tax dollars for “public” education, so let the building first be used to continue public education before use for non-public school purposes.

 

States also fund a per pupil facility cost allowance for each charter school student. Covering leases from small per pupil instructional cost allowances is almost impossible.  Per pupil facility cost allowances create a reduced-risk financial environment which in turn opens doors to access 38 million in federal assistance (guaranteeing charter school loans for building purchase and renovation). 

 

 

CHARTER SCHOOL GRANTS!! – YEAR 2

 

Three (3) million dollars awaits charter school projects this school year. The DOE is updating application forms for vision & design grants ($5,000-$10,000) and also start-up grants ($300,000-400,000 for charter schools that are approved to open).  Roberta Tenney, director of the charter school grant program provided an interview and talks about new charter school projects.

 

Our “How to Begin” web page section explains these grant programs: 2004-2005 applications will soon be available.

 

 

PARENT NETWORK AT NHCSR

 

A parent network will now help parents with many questions we receive about “what is a charter school” and “what does the law say about ….”   Questions will be posted at Ask Us on our web site.  A charter school parent will manage the network. Contact  Us for information, resources, and connection related to these interesting choice public schools.

 

 

PUPIL SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN NH

 

Whether a charter or non-charter public school, student safety is highly important in New Hampshire.  In 2000, the NH legislature enacted a pupil safety law requiring all public schools to have policies dealing with bullying and harassment. RSA 193-F:1 Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 imposes a duty to any employee to report incidents on insults, taunts, challenges, whether verbal or physical, that intimidate, provoke a disorderly response. 

 

School Boards or Boards of Trustees are obligated to have a policy that addresses bullying and harassment prevention, and to provide opportunities for educators to prevent and respond. No specific curriculum is required but in-school interventions are clearly implied. Schools have responded to this new requirement through teaching citizenship, peer mediation, conflict resolution, clear school rules about respect and responsibility, and consistent guidelines for intervention.  

 

 

 

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES?

 

Why not catch up? Click Here to access our past School Reform Newsletters. 

 

 

We welcome you to visit our web site, locate our start-up resources and publications, and ask any questions you may have about the basics of charter schools in New Hampshire.