At A Glance
Continuity of Operations (COOP) requests support charter public schools in maintaining instruction by enabling the reassignment of existing charter contracts when needed. The purpose is to ensure uninterrupted educational opportunities for students and families and to preserve equitable access to charter public school education in Washington while a school addresses facility, safety, or operational challenges.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) is an optional step that allows Proposal Teams to signal their intent to apply and enables the Commission to begin planning and engagement. Submission of an NOI supports more effective communication and coordination throughout the process. All official information, materials, and updates will be made publicly available to ensure equitable access for all interested Proposal Teams, regardless of NOI submission.
Policy Context
On October 9, 2025, the Commission adopted the Continuity in Educational Opportunities Policy in principle, signaling its intent to establish a framework for the reassignment of existing charter contracts. The policy is not yet final and is scheduled for a formal adoption vote at the April 23 Commission Meeting.
This RFQ is issued in alignment with that policy direction. Final procedures governing review, contract reassignment, and oversight will align with the policy as formally adopted by the Commission. Any reassignment of a charter contract will occur only through formal Commission action in a public meeting and in accordance with RCW 28A.710. This process ensures future Commission decisions are informed, transparent, and grounded in real conditions. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below.
Information Sessions
April 2, 2026
Information Session #1 at 5:30 PM
Curious about the idea of Continuity, and how that may look throughout policy implementation? Join one of our Information Sessions led by our Executive Director to learn more.
Click “Read More” below or the specific Information Session title header to join!
Zoom Meeting ID: 479 009 8004
April 11, 2026
Information Session #2 at 1:30 PM
Curious about the idea of Continuity, and how that may look throughout policy implementation? Join one of our Information Sessions led by our Executive Director to learn more.
Click “Read More” below or the specific information Session title header to join!
Zoom Meeting ID: 479 009 8004
Process Overview
See below for Notice of Intent form.
Purpose
The Notice of Intent (NOI) is the required entry point into the RFP process. It signals a Proposal Team’s intent to apply and allows the Commission to begin planning and engagement.
What Proposal Teams Submit:
- Proposed school overview
- Mission and educational model
- Initial team members and governance structure
- Proposed grades and enrollment
- Early community engagement
- List of any and all charter support organizations, fellowships, and/or partners supporting your proposal teams.
Commission Staff:
- Track and log NOI submissions
- Review eligibility and nonprofit status
- Notify relevant school districts and partners
- Prepare internal proposal review teams
- Coordinate early engagement opportunities, including informational sessions and
concept presentations
Why This Matters
The NOI establishes a clear and consistent starting point for all applicants and enables structured planning for the review cycle.
Executive Summary & Financial Plan
Purpose
This serves as an early viability checkpoint before full proposal submission.
What Proposal Teams Submit:
• School mission and program overview
• Community need and model design
• Organizational structure
• Facilities plan
• Five-year financial projections
Commission Staff:
• Conduct financial viability review
• Analyze enrollment assumptions and revenue projections
• Identify financial risks and structural gaps
• Facilitate financial working sessions
• Provide written feedback
Why This Matters
It ensures alignment between mission, program design, and financial sustainability before full application development.
Full Proposal Submission
Purpose
This is the comprehensive submission and engagement phase where Proposal Teams demonstrate readiness through written materials and direct interaction with Commission staff
Proposal Sections:
• People – team capacity and community connection
• Model – mission, design elements, student outcomes
• Execution – operations, governance, facilities, launch
• Financial plan and compliance documentation
Submission and Engagement Process:
Proposal Teams submit a complete RFP application and participate in required Exploratory Conversations and Informational Concept Presentations.
Through this phase…
Proposal Teams:
• Submit a complete proposal
• Present key elements of their model, team, and implementation approach
• Engage in dialogue and respond to questions
Commission Staff:
• Review submissions for completeness and readiness
• Facilitate structured conversations and presentations
• Ask clarifying and probing questions
• Document key insights to inform evaluation
• Prepare materials for independent review
Important Notes
• Participation in Exploratory Conversations and Informational Concept Presentations
is required
• These interactions are not scored independently
• They contribute to the overall body of evidence used in evaluation
Why This Matters
It ensures evaluation reflects both the strength of the written proposal and the demonstrated readiness of the Proposal Team.
Purpose
Structured engagements are a standard part of the Full Proposal phase and provide an opportunity for Proposal Teams to further demonstrate their readiness and capacity.
Proposal Teams:
• Present key elements of the proposed school model
• Demonstrate team readiness and operational capacity
• Engage in dialogue and respond to clarifying and probing questions
Commission Staff
• Facilitate structured discussions
• Ask clarifying and probing questions
• Assess coherence, readiness, and alignment with expectations
• Document key insights to inform the overall evaluation
Important Notes
• Participation in structured engagements is optional
• These engagements are not scored as a standalone component.
• It contributes to the overall body of evidence.
Why This Matters
These engagements allow the Commission to consider both written submissions and demonstrated readiness, supporting a more complete and accurate evaluation.
Purpose
Independent assessment of proposals using standardized criteria.
Evaluation Focus:
• Community need and demand
• Team capacity and leadership
• Educational model quality
• Operational readiness
• Financial sustainability
Commission Staff:
• Manage evaluator teams
• Conduct due diligence
• Facilitate interviews and challenge scenarios
• Compile findings and supporting evidence
• Draft recommendation report
Why This Matters
It ensures a rigorous, transparent, and consistent review process aligned with established authorizing standards.
Statement of Assurances – Link Here
Purpose
A final certification confirming compliance with legal and governance requirements.
Key Commitments:
• Nonprofit governance structure
• Compliance with state and federal law
• Financial accountability and transparency
• Equitable access for all students
Commission Staff:
• Verify legal documentation
• Confirm governance and nonprofit status
• Finalize recommendation report
• Prepare materials for Commission decision
• Present recommendation
Why This Matters
It confirms readiness to operate within legal and regulatory expectations.
Commission Role:
• Review recommendation
• Vote on proposal approval
Commission Staff:
• Present evaluation findings
• Support Commission deliberation
• Communicate decisions to proposal teams
• Conduct debrief meetings
• Initiate contracting and onboarding for approved operators
Why This Matters
It ensures decisions are evidence‑based and followed by clear next steps for all applicants.
The Commission’s Continuity of Operations Policy provides a pathway to reassign existing charter contracts when a school closes or a contract is surrendered, revoked, or not renewed.
This approach ensures that:
• Students and families maintain ongoing access to charter public education
• Existing charter authorizations are preserved through reassignment, not newly created or expanded
• The Commission can act to minimize disruption and sustain opportunity
• Decisions are grounded in equity, community need, and system-level stewardship
Your Role
-
Stay Informed
- We’ll communicate in the languages families use at home and share information through several channels, including emails, texts, printed notices, and local community meetings. This ensures every family has clear, accessible updates and opportunities to ask questions.
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Get Involved
- Your feedback plays a central role in every major decision the Commission makes. Whether a school is selecting a new location, adjusting programs, or navigating leadership transitions, your input helps determine the direction and ensures changes support students and families.
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Hold Us Accountable
- The Commission publishes regular public reports that track family engagement, student stability, and levels of community trust. These reports help families understand how decisions are being made, how students are being supported, and how well schools are meeting their commitments.
Our Promise
Every student deserves a learning journey that is safe, stable, and fully supported. Through these policies, we ensure families are heard, school communities stay strong, and students can continue their education without disruption—even when schools move or change.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Commission created this portfolio to provide continuing opportunities to students and families for equitable access to charter public school education in Washington. School disruptions can affect students, families, and communities, and state law emphasizes the Commission’s responsibility to oversee performance, address risk, and support continuing educational opportunities and equitable access. This portfolio helps the Commission:
- Maintain access to public education, especially for historically underserved communities
- Provide students and communities with ongoing educational opportunities and alternatives
- Ensure strong accountability and oversight
- Preserve high‑quality school options and reduce barriers to access
No. These processes focus on continuing existing schools or access, not creating new ones.
- Relocation keeps the same school and operator
- Continuity reassigns an existing charter authorization
No.
Participation is encouraged but not required. The RFQ is not an application and does not guarantee approval. It ensures future decisions are informed, transparent, and grounded in real conditions.
The Continuity Policy is not yet final. The Commission has adopted it in principle and will take final action at a future meeting, so all processes still depend on that approval.
Even before final adoption, the Commission is authorized to gather information, engage stakeholders, and assess feasibility as part of its oversight responsibilities. The RFQ supports this by allowing the Commission to test assumptions early, identify risks and implementation challenges, and ensure that any policy reflects community voice and real‑world conditions.
This early engagement remains valuable because it helps the Commission make informed and defensible decisions, understand community needs and system conditions, and strengthen transparency and public trust.
In principle meaning the Commission approved the direction and intent of the policy, with final approval of full policy language occurring at the April 23rd Commission Meeting in Bremerton, WA.
Participation is open to:
- Current and prospective school operators
- Community organizations
- Families and stakeholders
- Anyone interested in supporting continuing educational opportunities for students
The Commission seeks to understand:
- Documented community need and demand
- Operator capacity and readiness
- Community priorities and concerns
- Opportunities to strengthen equity, access, and outcomes
Information gathered will:
- Inform final policy development
- Shape future processes, including any potential applications
- Support more informed Commission decision‑making
Community voice is central to this work. You can:
- Participate in meetings or engagement opportunities
- Submit feedback directly to the Commission
- Engage through school or community‑led outreach
In some cases, instead of full closure, the Commission may reassign the charter contract to a new, qualified operator, allowing students to continue accessing a charter public school with fewer disruptions.
No.
The operator changes, but the charter authorization continues. A previous operator may apply, but all applicants undergo the same rigorous review.
Through a transparent, public process that may include:
- A Request for Proposals
- Review of academic, financial, and operational capacity
- Community engagement Final decisions occur in a public Commission meeting.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Strong academic plans and track record
- Financial sustainability
- Operational readiness
- Commitment to equity and community The Commission may also provide enhanced oversight or conditional contract terms.
Processes are designed to promote continuing educational opportunities and alternatives for students and families. Specific enrollment details will be communicated clearly based on the situation.
The Commission’s approach is informed by national best practices for charter school authorizing, emphasizing:
- Strong oversight
- Transparent processes
- High standards for quality
This policy advances the Commission’s equity commitments by:
- Ensuring all students have access to high‑quality schools
- Ensuring decisions do not create new barriers
- Ensuring historically underserved communities are supported
Community engagement is required throughout the process and must be facilitated by the proposal teams, including:
- Public meetings
- Surveys and outreach
- Ongoing communication Community input must inform decisions, not simply respond to them.
Community Engagement could look like:
- Families
- Community Organizations
- Fellowships
- Supporting Partners of the Proposal Team
Yes.
All final decisions occur in public Commission meetings where materials are shared, community members can engage, and transparency is prioritized.