Timeline
Timeline for the New Charter School Application
Please note that dates in the Timeline may be changed.
Orientations
The Commission has arranged four in-person* orientations at various locations. The purpose of the full work-day orientation is to deepen understanding of the Commission’s expectations as articulated in the New Charter School Application, how applications will be evaluated, the purpose and format of public forums, and changes that have occurred to the New Charter School Application since the last cycle.
*This year due to COVID-19, the two orientations will be conducted virtually
Notice of Intent (NOI)
Prior to application, the nonprofit organization must first submit a Notice of Intent To Apply (NOI). The purpose of the NOI is to aid in New Charter School Application planning for the Commission, as well as inform the public of the location of the proposed charter school. The NOI is nonbinding, and applicants may choose not to pursue a full proposal.
Proposal
Applicants must submit proposals via the Commission’s online file sharing program, Box. Once received, applications will be reviewed for completeness. Applicants must deliver hard copies of their proposal to Commission office once their electronic proposal has been deemed complete. Completed proposals will be reviewed by state and national evaluators with expertise in the fields of student achievement/performance, school operations/governance, and finance.
Please visit our Application Archive to view previously submitted proposals.
Capacity Interview
Applicants who submit a completed proposal will be invited to an in-person* Capacity Interview. The Capacity Interview is an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate their team’s capacity to open a high-quality charter school, as well as answer specific questions about their proposal. The Capacity Interview is facilitated by the state and national expert evaluators reviewing the applicant’s proposal.
*This year due to COVID-19, the Capacity Interviews will be conducted virtually
Public Forum
Applicants who submit a completed proposal must participate in a Public Forum facilitated by the Commission. Everyone is invited to the Public Forum, which provides an opportunity for the parents, community members, local residents, and school district board members and staff to learn about and provide input on the proposed charter school. Applicants are asked to share with the Commission and the public an overview of their proposed school. The Public Forum will be facilitated by the Commission and held as close as possible to the location* of the proposed charter school.
This year due to COVID-19, the Public Forums will be conducted virtually
Examples of past public forum transcripts may be viewed on our Application Archive pages.
Recommendation Report
Based on the charter school applicant’s proposal and Capacity Interview, the evaluation team provide their findings to Commission staff who then prepare an official recommendation report. The report will recommend either approval or denial of a proposal. The recommendation is then submitted to the Commission for their consideration. The report is also made available to the applicant. The recommendation report is nonbinding and the Commission has final authority to approve or deny a proposal.
Examples of past recommendation reports may be viewed on our Application Archive pages.
Resolution of Approval or Denial
The Commission will pass approval or denial resolutions for applicant proposals. The resolutions are presented by a Commissioner at a regularly scheduled Commission meeting and are voted upon by a quorum of Commissioners. Commission meetings are open to the public. The outcome of the resolution is then reported to the Washington State Board of Education. Applicants whose proposals are approved will enter into a five-year contract with the Commission, to be executed within ninety days of the resolution of approval. Applicants whose proposals are denied are welcome to reapply in subsequent application cycles.
Examples of past resolutions may be viewed on our Application Archive pages.