NH Center for School Reform Newsletter Update #16

New Hampshire Center for School Reform

Newsletter Update, January 27, 2004

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

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Three Charter Schools Open January 2005
The Equestrian Academy Charter School …decision postponed to Feb. 16
Charter School Funding & Anticipation Notes: Confusions Hurt Schools
Making Sense of Charter School Studies: Hope in the Nation’s Charter Schools
A State Where School Choice Looks Easy (Schools Post Openings per Grade)
1^st In Nation Residential School for Foster Teens: DOE and Human Services Effort School
New Resources for Schools:

Legislation Watch on our Web Site for bills introduced in 2005

National Charter School Clearinghouse

Please direct inquiries to: Susan Hollins, Editor

Three Charter Schools Opened This January

After months of facility and procedural requirements, the Laurent Clerc Academy opened its Concord doors, January 18^th. The school’s interior is spacious, clean, newly-carpeted, and will accommodate the full grade 1-8 program. New Hampshire did not have a school serving students who use American Sign Language. The school needed to open before districts could review placement. Laurent Clerc Academy is a choice public school and is open to any student in New Hampshire needing instruction in sign language. A live interview with Susan Brule, School Director, will be aired February 2^nd, Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. —School Talk on WKXL 1450 AM. Student applications are being accepted.

Cocheco Arts & Technology Academy in Dover opened this week (9^th and 10^th students) giving New Hampshire its first arts high school. CATA’s challenges are primarily funding confusions. Charter schools are open enrollment, choice public schools and CATA will accept students from anywhere in New Hampshire. Charter school students are guaranteed the state’s adequacy funding which is passed through school districts. Districts are required to pay on the same timeline as they receive their state funds.

Exeter-based Great Bay eLearning Charter School opened January 25th with 50 9^th-grade students. This unique school-within-a-school charter school is a project-based, technology rich school for students in grades 8-10. Currently Great Bay eLearning Charter School is a school of choice for students from six (6) communities—E. Kingston, Kensington, Stratham, Newfields, Brentwood, and Exeter. A live interview is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2^nd, at 1:00 p.m.—School Talk on WKXL 1450 AM.

The Equestrian Academy Charter School; decision postponed

At least 25 people joined Equestrian Academy Charter School founders in Swanzey, NH, when the State Board of Education heard its proposal January 19th. Questions about statewide interest and funding resulted in a decision postponement to the Board’s February 16^thmeeting. Parents, organizations, and students can contact this school through its website. If approved, founders believe this college-prep + equine studies academy will be a signature charter school for New Hampshire, serving students statewide.

Read our recent press release about the Equestrian Academy Charter School.

Charter School Funding & Anticipation Notes: Confusions Hurting Schools

At least 3 of the 6 newly-operating charter schools are feeling the impact of confusions related to New Hampshire charter school funding. The other 3 operating charter schools have smooth funding relationships with sending districts. Charter high schools were dealt a blow when weighted funding for high school and economically disadvantaged students abruptly ended this year. For some, this meant the weighted 20%-40% per student was no longer available just months after their budgets had been approved at the higher levels. It’s taken months to clarify that districts issue and incur debt for anticipation notes if used. This being New Hampshire’s first year with charter public schools, some confusions are understandable, but all public students should have education funding available.

Report on Charter School Funding: Other States & Other Details.

Making Sense of Charter School Studies: Hope in the Nation’s Charter Schools

Avid readers regularly find conflicting reports of charter school effectiveness. The compendia of research based on annual grade-level tests show charter schools and traditional public schools in a statistical dead heat. But what normed, annual tests do not show is the rapid rate of progress or improved attitude of students attending better-fit schools of their choice. A paper by Jeanne Allen at the Center for Education Reform directs us to research and opinion based on charter school outcomes difficult to measure.

School Choice Made Easy

At the beginning of the year, school boards identify how many spaces per grade are available and open for school choice students. Then, the openings per grade are posted on the school district’s web site. The state has internal procedures to assure state choice funds flow to the right districts for choice students. Where are we? Northhampton, Massachusetts.

1st in Nation Residential School for Foster Children

When different divisions of state government look at resources they spend and common goals and needs, great ideas can result. This California residential school blends resources and talents of the State Department of Education & the State Department of Human Services. Fabulous collaboration. Fantastic school. Everyone wins. Be sure to check out this entrepreneurial school.

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.

This newsletter was designed by Riverbank Communications, LLC

New Hampshire Center for School Reform Newsletter Update, January 27, 2004 We are pleased to bring attention to New Hampshire's progress.

Home	For Charter Leaders	For Parents	NH Projects
IN THIS ISSUE: Three Charter Schools Open January 2005 The Equestrian Academy Charter School …decision postponed to Feb. 16 Charter School Funding & Anticipation Notes: Confusions Hurt Schools Making Sense of Charter School Studies: Hope in the Nation’s Charter Schools A State Where School Choice Looks Easy (Schools Post Openings per Grade) 1^st In Nation Residential School for Foster Teens: DOE and Human Services Effort School New Resources for Schools: Legislation Watch on our Web Site for bills introduced in 2005 National Charter School Clearinghouse Please direct inquiries to: Susan Hollins, Editor
Three Charter Schools Opened This January After months of facility and procedural requirements, the Laurent Clerc Academy opened its Concord doors, January 18^th. The school’s interior is spacious, clean, newly-carpeted, and will accommodate the full grade 1-8 program. New Hampshire did not have a school serving students who use American Sign Language. The school needed to open before districts could review placement. Laurent Clerc Academy is a choice public school and is open to any student in New Hampshire needing instruction in sign language. A live interview with Susan Brule, School Director, will be aired February 2^nd, Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. —School Talk on WKXL 1450 AM. Student applications are being accepted. Cocheco Arts & Technology Academy in Dover opened this week (9^th and 10^th students) giving New Hampshire its first arts high school. CATA’s challenges are primarily funding confusions. Charter schools are open enrollment, choice public schools and CATA will accept students from anywhere in New Hampshire. Charter school students are guaranteed the state’s adequacy funding which is passed through school districts. Districts are required to pay on the same timeline as they receive their state funds. Exeter-based Great Bay eLearning Charter School opened January 25th with 50 9^th-grade students. This unique school-within-a-school charter school is a project-based, technology rich school for students in grades 8-10. Currently Great Bay eLearning Charter School is a school of choice for students from six (6) communities—E. Kingston, Kensington, Stratham, Newfields, Brentwood, and Exeter. A live interview is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2^nd, at 1:00 p.m.—School Talk on WKXL 1450 AM. The Equestrian Academy Charter School; decision postponed At least 25 people joined Equestrian Academy Charter School founders in Swanzey, NH, when the State Board of Education heard its proposal January 19th. Questions about statewide interest and funding resulted in a decision postponement to the Board’s February 16^thmeeting. Parents, organizations, and students can contact this school through its website. If approved, founders believe this college-prep + equine studies academy will be a signature charter school for New Hampshire, serving students statewide. Read our recent press release about the Equestrian Academy Charter School. Charter School Funding & Anticipation Notes: Confusions Hurting Schools At least 3 of the 6 newly-operating charter schools are feeling the impact of confusions related to New Hampshire charter school funding. The other 3 operating charter schools have smooth funding relationships with sending districts. Charter high schools were dealt a blow when weighted funding for high school and economically disadvantaged students abruptly ended this year. For some, this meant the weighted 20%-40% per student was no longer available just months after their budgets had been approved at the higher levels. It’s taken months to clarify that districts issue and incur debt for anticipation notes if used. This being New Hampshire’s first year with charter public schools, some confusions are understandable, but all public students should have education funding available. Report on Charter School Funding: Other States & Other Details. Making Sense of Charter School Studies: Hope in the Nation’s Charter Schools Avid readers regularly find conflicting reports of charter school effectiveness. The compendia of research based on annual grade-level tests show charter schools and traditional public schools in a statistical dead heat. But what normed, annual tests do not show is the rapid rate of progress or improved attitude of students attending better-fit schools of their choice. A paper by Jeanne Allen at the Center for Education Reform directs us to research and opinion based on charter school outcomes difficult to measure. School Choice Made Easy At the beginning of the year, school boards identify how many spaces per grade are available and open for school choice students. Then, the openings per grade are posted on the school district’s web site. The state has internal procedures to assure state choice funds flow to the right districts for choice students. Where are we? Northhampton, Massachusetts. 1st in Nation Residential School for Foster Children When different divisions of state government look at resources they spend and common goals and needs, great ideas can result. This California residential school blends resources and talents of the State Department of Education & the State Department of Human Services. Fabulous collaboration. Fantastic school. Everyone wins. Be sure to check out this entrepreneurial school. 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.
This newsletter was designed by Riverbank Communications, LLC Copyright © 2005 New Hampshire Center for School Reform;