1996 M4R IX CANADIANAN CHARTER SCHOOL HANDBOOK Revised February, 1996 ALBERTA EDUCATION ASSISTANCE If y ou need assistance please contact: RonBabiuk 427-7484 or 427-2952 Fax: 422-1400 Education Manager, Charter Schools Alberta Education 10th Floor, 11160 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 0L2 Internet: [email protected] Calgary Regional Office 297-6353* Fax: 297-3842 Room 1200, Rocky Mountain Plaza Alberta Education 615 Macleod Trail, SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 4T8 *Callers from outside of Edmonton and Calgary dial 310-0000 to be connected toll-free Copyright © 1995, the Crown in Right of Alberta as represented by the Minister of Education. Permission is given by the copyright owner for any person to reproduce this publication or any part thereof for educational purposes and on a non-profit basis. ALBERTA EDUCATION CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA Alberta. Alberta Education. Charter school handbook. ISBN 0-7732-1831-9 Rev. ed. 1 . Charter schools ~ Alberta. 2. School management and organization ~ Alberta. 3. Educational change ~ Alberta. 4. School-based management ~ Alberta. I. Title. LB2806.3 A333 1 996 371 .04 TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview 1 What is a Charter School? 1 Charter Schools are Public School 3 Things to Consider Before Preparing An Application 5 Who Can Apply for Charter School Status? 6 Making Application for Charter School Status 6 Questions and Answers 9 Eligibility 9 Governance 9 Accountability 11 Programs 13 Students 14 Teachers 14 Grants 15 Applications 16 Charter School Application Form 18 The Charter 23 Declaration 27 Checklist 28 Acceptance Statement 32 Rejection Statement. 33 APPENDICES Appendix 1 School Act 34 Appendix 2 Charter School Regulation 37 Appendix 3 Monitoring Authority 44 iii Digitized by the Internet Arcliive in 2015 https://arcliive.org/details/charterschoollianOOalbe OVERVIEW The Alberta Charter School Initiative We live in a dynamic world which requires us to respond to new challenges, opportunities, and technologies. Albertans always have been open to new ideas, concepts, and developments. Our education system reflects this openness to change. Today, more than ever, our education system must move in new directions to prepare students for the next century and the changing nature of the world in which they live. Recognizing the need for educational change, on March 31 , 1 994, the Honourable Halvar C. Jonson, Minister of Education, introduced Bill 19, The School Amendment Act, 1994, which provided for the establishment of charter schools. These schools would be autonomous public schools which would provide innovative or enhanced means of delivering education to improve student learning. On May 25, 1994, Bill 19 was proclaimed into law making Alberta the first province in Canada to take such a bold initiative. This handbook has been prepared to assist Albertans in understanding the provincial charter school concept, to assist charter organizers with their planning and preparation for establishment of charter schools, and to assist those responsible for processing charter school applications. WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL? A charter school is a public school providing a basic education in a different or enhanced way to improve student learning. Alberta, through its system of public schools, has been continually expanding the range of educational services available to students to improve their learning. The addition of charter schools to its system of public education, is a continuation of this precedent. The expectation for the educational services offered by charter schools is that they will be different from what is locally available and likely will vary from one charter school to another. Charter schools must demonstrate the potential to improve the learning of students. In general, charter schools will complement the educational services provided in the local public system. They represent another opportunity for successful educational practices to be recognized and be adopted by other public schools for the benefit of more Albertans. Although charter schools likely will vary across the province, there are certain common characteristics that set them apart from other public schools. Charter School Handbook 1 Charter: A charter is an agreement between a school board or the Minister of Education and an individual or group regarding the establishment and administration of a school. Essentially, the charter describes the unique educational service the school will provide, how the school will operate, and the student outcomes it i ntends to achieve. If t hey are prepared to establish the charter school within their jurisdiction, local school boards will recommend that the Minister approve the agreement. Purpose: Charter schools are expected to provide a different educational environment to improve student learning. The intent goes beyond simply creating a few new or alternative school programs. Therefore, charter schools will have flexibility and considerable autonomy to implement innovative or enhanced educational services which will broaden the range of educational opportunities and enhance student learning. Enhanced student learning means improved acquisition, in some measurable way, of skills, attitudes and knowledge. Specialization: Charter schools likely will specialize in a particular educational service to address a specific need. They may complement or add to existing local programs where there are a sufficient number of students who could benefit from the program. Governance: A charter school is operated by a corporate body in accordance with section 24.1(1) of the School Act. A charter board, which will represent parents and teachers of students in a charter school, may be constituted by the corporate body to govern the charter school. Where a distinct charter board is not formed, then the board of directors for the corporation shall be the charter board. In accordance with the provisions of the incorporating Act, the charter board must have by-laws and policies for governance of the board as well as for governance of the charter school. Autonomy: A charter board has the authority and autonomy to run the day-to- day operations of the school. A charter board will develop policies subject to its charter agreement with the local school board or the Minister of Education. These policies need not comply with nor be congruent to those of the local school board. Accountability: The charter board is accountable for the charter school. This board is responsible for ensuring that the charter school complies with charter board policies, the terms of the charter, and provincial legislation, regulation and policies. As well, a charter board is accountable to the local school board or to the Minister of Education depending upon who established the charter school. The local school board or the Minister, as the case may be, must ensure that the charter school is operated according to the charter, and achieves the results Charter School Handbook 2 outlined in the charter and as required by provincial legislation, regulation and policies. Choice: A charter school will provide enhanced or innovative delivery of public education to students. This means that parents and students have increased opportunity to choose an education that best serves student needs. CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Charter schools are part of the public education system. Access: Charter schools cannot deny access to any student as long as sufficient space and resources are available. In other words, any student may attempt the program provided by a particular charter school. If t he projected enrollment of a charter school exceeds the capacity of the program, then the student selection process as outlined in the charter is initiated. If a student is denied access to a charter school, the student or his/her parents may have the matter reviewed by the Minister in accordance with the Charter School Regulation. Curriculum: The curriculum delivered by charter schools will be structured around a basic education as defined by Alberta Education and described in the Programs of Study. Generally, education programs must meet the conditions outlined in section 25 of the School Act unless the approved charter specifically exempts a charter school from this requirement. This allows students to transfer to or from any public school with a minimum of disruption and/or achieve a high school diploma. In addition, students attending charter schools must write Provincial Achievement Tests, Provincial Grade 12 Diploma Exams and any other tests the Minister prescribes. Non-religious: Charter schools may not be affiliated with a religious faith or denomination, except when the charter school is established by a separate school board, whether Protestant or Roman Catholic. A charter school may provide religious instruction and exercises under section 33 of the Act, as may any other public school. Charter schools are not private religious schools nor are they intended to replace the services offered by private religious schools. Charter School Handbook 3 Funding: Charter schools are eligible for the following provincial grants. GRANTS AMOUNT A. Instruction Block For specific amounts please refer to a current issue of the School Funding Manual, Alberta Education. Basic Instruction Severe Disabilities English as a Second Language Learning Resources Credit B. Plant Operations and Maintenance C. Board Governance/Administration Tuition Fees: Charter schools shall not charge tuition fees. Non-profit: Charter schools are non-profit schools and they shall be operated by non-profit corporate entities. Financial Reporting: A charter board must appoint an auditor and submit annually an Alberta Education Budget Report Form and an Audited Financial Statement in accordance with sections 1 25 to 1 30 of the School Act. Accountability: Charter boards are publicly accountable for student achievement in their schools and must make publicly available annual reports which describe how well students are accomplishing their educational goals. Staffing: Charter boards are regulated by the Labour Relations Code, the Employment Standard Code, and applicable professional codes. The teachers employed at charter schools must be certificated. Other staffing arrangements are subject to the decisions made by the charter board in compliance with the provisions of the charter, provincial legislation, regulations and policies. Reviews: As part of the public system of schools, students of charter schools or their parents are able to ask the Minister to review any charter board decision about: the expulsion of a student and the amount and payment of fees or costs (Section 104). In addition, the Charter School Regulation allows for a review by the Minister if a student has been denied access to a charter school. The revoking of a charter by a local board and the forced resignation of a charter board member may also be reviewed by the Minister. Charter School Handbook 4 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PREPARING AN APPLICATION Before applying for charter school status, careful thought should be given to the following: "Why do we need a charter school?" "Is this educational program available locally? Can it b e made available?" Individuals or groups considering establishment of a charter school should attempt to work with their local school board to develop a program in the local system. The possibility of starting an alternative program under section 16 of the School Act also exists. If t he individual or group believes that their children's education needs cannot be met directly by the local school board, they may choose to apply for charter school status. Before preparing the application, the charter organizers should consider the following: • Is there evidence of commitment from parents and students to ensure that a viable program can be offered? • Is there a body of research to support the claim that the proposed educational program, along with instructional methodology and student assessment, will potentially improve student learning? If t he answer to these questions is yes, then the charter organizers may apply for charter school status. The application must meet the criteria set forth in the Charter School Regulation. In addition, the local school board and the Minister of Education will review the application based on how well it f urthers the province's goal and purposes for establishing a charter school, which are: • to stimulate the development of enhanced and innovative programs within public education; • to provide increased opportunities for student learning within public education; • to provide parents and students with greater opportunities for choice within the public education system; • to provide teachers with a vehicle for establishing schools with enhanced and creative methods of educational instruction, and school structure and management; and, • to encourage the establishment of outcomes-based education programs. The Minister may approve up to 15 charter schools. Charter School Handbook 5 WHO CAN APPLY FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STATUS? Parents, teachers and others who feel that a sufficient number of students can benefit from a different or innovative educational environment are likely applicants. MAKING APPLICATION FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STATUS Once charter organizers have decided to proceed with an application for charter status, the following steps should be followed: 1 . Incorporation under the Societies Act; company registration under Part 9 of the Companies Act; or provincial incorporation as defined in the Financial Administration Act 2. Public meetings to determine if t here is sufficient support and commitment from the community. 3. Completion of an application form as outlined in the Charter School Regulation. 4. Submission of the application to the local school board must be made to the local school board six (6) months prior to the date the charter school intends to begin operating. A copy of this application also must be sent to the Minister. 5. The local school board and the charter organization must make every attempt to arrive at an agreement for the establishment of a charter school. If s uch an agreement is reached, the local school board recommends to the Minister of Education that the charter be approved. A list of all amendments made to the original charter school application, as agreed to by the charter school organizers and the local school board, must be submitted to the Minister along with the recommendation to approve the charter. If t he Minister approves the charter, the charter organizers commence the process for operationalizing the school. 6. If t he local school board rejects the charter application, the charter organizers and the Minister must be informed by the local school board, in writing, stating the reasons for rejection. The charter organizers then may submit the rejected application directly to the Minister. A committee may be appointed to review the application and advise the Minister. The Minister then may approve the charter as submitted, approve it w ith conditions, or reject it s tating the reasons for doing so. This decision will be final. Charter School Handbook 6