(1) The
institute charter school application is a proposed agreement upon which the
institute charter applicant and the institute negotiate a charter contract. At a
minimum, each institute charter school application includes:
(a) An executive summary that outlines the elements of the application and
provides an overview of the proposed institute charter school;
(b) The vision and mission statements of the proposed institute charter
school;
(c) The goals, objectives, and student performance standards the proposed
institute charter school expects to achieve, including but not limited to the
performance indicators specified in section 22-11-204 and applicable standards and
goals specified in federal law;
(d) Evidence that an adequate number of parents and pupils support the
formation of an institute charter school;
(e) Descriptions of the proposed institute charter school's educational
program, student performance standards, and curriculum;
(f) A plan for evaluating student performance across the curriculum, which
plan aligns with the proposed institute charter school's mission and educational
objectives and provides a description of the proposed institute charter school's
measurable annual targets for the measures used to determine the levels of
attainment of the performance indicators specified in section 22-11-204 and
procedures for taking corrective action if student performance at the school falls
below the described targets;
(g) Evidence that the plan for the proposed institute charter school is
economically sound, including a proposed budget for a term of at least five years.
The institute charter application shall also describe the method for obtaining an
independent annual audit of the proposed institute charter school's financial
statements consistent with generally accepted auditing standards and circular A-133 of the United States office of management and budget, as originally published
in the federal register of June 30, 1997, and as subsequently amended.
(h) A description of the governance and operation of the proposed institute
charter school, including the nature and extent of parental, professional educator,
and community involvement in the governance and operation of the proposed
institute charter school, that is consistent with the standards adopted by rule of the
state board pursuant to section 22-2-106 (1)(h);
(i) An explanation of the relationship that will exist between the proposed
institute charter school and its employees and the proposed institute charter
school's employment policies;
(j) A proposal regarding the parties' respective legal liabilities and applicable
insurance coverage, which insurance coverage shall include, at a minimum,
workers' compensation, liability insurance, and insurance for the proposed institute
charter school's facility and its contents;
(k) The proposed institute charter school's expectations and plans for
ongoing parent and community involvement;
(l) A description of the proposed institute charter school's enrollment policy,
consistent with the requirements of section 22-30.5-507 (3) and rules adopted by
the state board pursuant to section 22-2-106 (1)(h), and the criteria for enrollment
decisions;
(m) A statement of whether the proposed institute charter school plans to
address the transportation or food service needs of its students while they are
attending the school. The proposed institute charter school may choose not to
provide transportation or food services, may choose to develop or form a charter
school collaborative as described in section 22-30.5-603 to provide transportation
or food services, or may choose to negotiate with a school district, board of
cooperative services, or private provider to provide transportation or food services
for its students. If the proposed institute charter school chooses to provide
transportation or food services, the application shall include a plan for each
provided service, which plan, at a minimum, shall specifically address serving the
needs of low-income and academically low-achieving students, complying with
insurance and liability issues, and complying with any applicable state or federal
rules or regulations.
(n) A facilities plan that details viable facilities options that are consistent
with section 22-32-124 and that includes the reasonable costs of the facility, which
are reflected in the proposed budget;
(o) A list of the waivers of statute and state rules that the proposed institute
charter school is requesting. For each requested waiver of a statute or state rule
that is not an automatic waiver, the institute charter school application must state
the rationale for each requested waiver and the manner in which the proposed
institute charter school plans to meet the intent of the waived statute or rule.
(p) Policies regarding student discipline, expulsion, and suspension that are
consistent with the intent and purpose of sections 22-33-106 and 22-33-106.1,
provide adequately for the safety of students and staff, and provide a level of due
process for students that, at a minimum, complies with the requirements of the
federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq.;
(q) A plan for serving students with special needs, including budget and staff
requirements, which plan shall include identifying and meeting the learning needs
of at-risk students, students with disabilities, gifted and talented students, and
English language learners;
(r) A dispute resolution process, as provided in section 22-30.5-107.5; and
(s) If the proposed institute charter school intends to contract with an
education management provider:
(I) A summary of the performance data for all of the schools the education
management provider is managing at the time of the application or has managed
previously, including documentation of academic achievement and school
management success;
(II) An explanation of and evidence demonstrating the education
management provider's capacity for successful expansion while maintaining quality
in the schools it is managing;
(III) An explanation of any existing or potential conflicts of interest between
the governing board of the proposed institute charter school and the education
management provider; and
(IV) A copy of the actual or proposed performance contract between the
governing board for the proposed institute charter school and the education
management provider that specifies, at a minimum, the following material terms:
(A) Performance evaluation measures;
(B) The methods of contract oversight and enforcement that the governing
board will apply;
(C) The compensation structure and all fees that the proposed institute
charter school will pay to the education management provider; and
(D) The conditions for contract renewal and termination.