(e) The board shall establish the information needed in an application for the approval of a charter
school; provided that the application shall include, but not be limited to, a description of: (i) the mission, purpose, innovation
and specialized focus of the proposed charter
school; (ii) the
innovative methods to be used in the charter
school and how they differ from the
district or
districts from which the charter
school is expected to enroll students; (iii) the organization of the
school by ages of students or grades to be taught, an estimate of the total enrollment of the
school and the
district or
districts from which the
school will enroll students; (iv) the method for admission to the charter
school; (v) the educational program, instructional methodology
and services to be offered to students, including research on how the proposed program may improve the academic performance of the subgroups listed in the recruitment
and retention plan; (vi) the
school's capacity to address the particular needs of limited English - proficient students, if applicable, to learn English
and learn content matter, including the employment of staff that meets the criteria established by the department; (vii) how the
school shall involve parents as partners in the education of their children; (viii) the
school governance
and bylaws; (ix) a proposed arrangement or contract with an organization that shall manage or operate the
school, including any proposed or agreed upon payments to such organization; (x) the financial plan for the operation of the
school; (xi) the provision of
school facilities
and pupil transportation; (xii) the number
and qualifications of teachers
and administrators to be employed; (xiii) procedures for evaluation
and professional development for teachers
and administrators; (xiv) a statement of equal educational opportunity which shall state that charter
schools shall be open to all students, on a space available basis,
and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or academic achievement; (xv) a student recruitment
and retention plan, including deliberate, specific strategies the
school will use to ensure the provision of equal educational opportunity as stated in clause (xiv)
and to attract, enroll
and retain a student population that, when compared to students in similar grades in
schools from which the charter
school is expected to enroll students, contains a comparable academic
and demographic profile;
and (xvi) plans for disseminating successes
and innovations of the charter
school to other non-charter public
schools.
(b) The purposes of establishing charter
schools are: (i) to stimulate the development of
innovative programs within public education; (ii) to provide opportunities for
innovative learning
and assessments; (iii) to provide parents
and students with greater options in selecting
schools within
and outside their
school districts; (iv) to provide teachers with a vehicle for establishing
schools with alternative,
innovative methods of educational instruction
and school structure
and management; (v) to encourage performance - based educational programs; (vi) to hold teachers
and school administrators accountable for students» educational outcomes;
and (vii) to provide models for replication in other public
schools.