Based on these statements, we can categorize the schools roughly into five groups: those that have a child - centered or progressive educational philosophy and typically seek to develop
students» love
of learning, respect for others, and creativity (29 percent
of students); those with a general or traditional educational mission and a focus on
students» core skills (28 percent
of students); those with a rigorous academic emphasis, which have mission statements that focus almost exclusively on academic goals such as excelling in school and going to college (25 percent
of students); those that target a
particular population of students, such as low - income
students, special
needs students, likely dropouts, male
students, and female
students (11 percent
of students); and those in which a certain aspect
of the curriculum, such as science or the arts, is paramount (7 percent
of students).
(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.