Authorizing Practice - The authorizer develops/maintains protocols for the effective oversight and support of charter schools.
Proficiency: Plan/set mission and vision for authorizer with clear goals that align with the community and geography allowing autonomy for charter schools.
Legal - The authorizer works to understand and implement appropriate legal practices including autonomy and accountability measures within the charter school(s) under their authorization.
Proficiency: Develop/refine authorizer's understanding of legal and philosophical roles and responsibilities
Learning
What is a Charter School?
Wisconsin Charter Schools (DPI’s definition) are public nonsectarian schools created through a business-like contract or “charter” between the charter governance board and an authorizing school board or other chartering authority. The charter defines the missions and methods of the charter school. The chartering authority holds the school accountable to its charter. The charter school motto is "Autonomy for Accountability." (see WRCCS charter school definitions)
Charter Schools: A Short Summary What is a charter school? This video highlights the important distinctions between a public school and a charter school. Format: YouTube video Length: 1:34 minutes
What is a charter school? Accompanying slides View narrated PowerPoint presentation describing how charter schools are different from other public schools in Wisconsin. Format: Narrated slides Length: 7 minutes
Charter School Authorizer Duties
First, review 118.40 (3m) Authorizing entity duties to understand the laws and legal expectations of an authorizer. The following video will explain in more detail.
Authorizing High Quality Charter Schools This infographic explains the multiple roles an authorizer plays in both supporting and holding a charter school responsible. You can use this infographic to help explain the multiple important roles an authorizer plays with charter schools.
Laws Governing Petitions and Initiatives to Create Charter Schools
12 Essential Practices Worksheet Use this resource to help monitor your progress with authorizing charter schools. This checklist can be used to monitor your progress and proficiency as an authorizer. Format: PDF Length: 2 pages
Additional Information
Why Create A District Charter School? This document covers different reasons why school districts in Wisconsin create and design charter schools. Format: PDF Length: 1 page
Building a District Authorizer Portfolio This short YouTube video goes over the basics of creating a portfolio of a charter school for a district authorizer. Format: YouTube video Length: 35 minutes
Applying
Charter School Authorizer Duties
Does your board have the capacity to authorize a charter school?
Search your board’s policy manual for any policies relating to authorizing charter schools and upload that policy to the learning platform. Review the policy and comment on its adequacy. If your board has no policy, identify the questions that such a policy should address.
Address the following questions regarding your board’s readiness to authorize high quality charter schools:
Does your district have the administrative and organizational structures and human and financial resources needed to carry out the duties of a charter school authorizer?
What would be the benefit of chartering a school in your district?
Has your board created an application process? If yes, is it adequate or does it need updating? If not, what would you include in an application process?
How would you balance the protecting of charter school autonomy with the authorizer’s responsibility to provide oversight?
Laws and regulations governing charter schools
What laws, regulations, or responsibilities would concern you as an authorizer of a charter school? Why would they concern you?
Create a list of questions you might ask of a charter school petitioner. Such questions might include “What groups of students are you seeking to serve?” and “How will your school differ from existing schools with students at the same grade levels?” Reflect on the information you would want to have to decide to authorize a charter school.
What results do your board expect from the charter school? What state law and regulation exemptions would you allow?
How would you determine if an exemption is appropriate?
Focusing on lows and regulations for which exemptions are possible, what laws and regulations would you routinely not exempt? Why?
Meet with your legal counsel to better understand your role of authorizing a charter school.
What do you still need to better understand about charter schools?
Why would you consider a charter school?
Based on the definition of charter school and the legal/philosophical roles of an authorizer, why would you consider chartering a school?
Sources
Sources / Research
Wis. Stat. § 118.40 (2015-16)
National Association of Charter School Authorizers (2015). Principles & standards for quality charter school authorizing.
