The Commission may renew a school’s charter based on demonstrated academic, financial, and organizational performance of the school, according to state law, regulation, and Commission policies.
The Commission implements a comprehensive, transparent, and rigorous renewal process. Commission staff will review existing school data, progress towards performance contract goals, and other applicable data to make all renewal decisions.
For schools that have already been renewed, including by other sponsors, the Commission may consider academic, fiscal, and organizational performance in years prior to the current performance contract in making decisions.
In making a renewal decision, RSMo 160.405.9 requires the Commission to base renewal decisions on “the thorough analysis of a comprehensive body of evidence,” including measures of students’ academic performance and the school’s organizational and fiscal viability. The Commission must also demonstrate to the Missouri State Board of Education (SBOE) that the school seeking renewal is in compliance with all statutes that govern charter schools.
The Commission will consider renewing a school that does not meet multiple measures in its pre-renewal year evaluation, but only after careful reflection by the school and analysis by the Commission staff of questions like the following:
- Does the governing board understand the school’s challenges?
- What actions has the governing board taken considering the school’s failure to meet academic performance, operational, or financial management standards?
- What impact have the board’s actions had on the school’s academic performance, operations, and financial viability?
- Is there community support for renewing the school despite its challenges? Do community members understand the gap between recent performance and what will be necessary for the school to provide the kind of education it aspires to provide students?
APPLY FOR RENEWAL
The best time to think about renewing your charter is the day your application is approved by the State Board of Education. The Commission will assist you in staying on top of changes to your charter, charting your successes, and addressing gaps in performance. Innovative school models need to gather important data that will track the impact of the model. These data help families and educators make decisions about joining your school. They inform your governing boards decisions and they compel your sponsor and the State Board of Education to renew or revoke your charter.
Traditional and charter schools will benefit from learning about your best and promising practices that are helping students learn, expanding instructional skills, finding new and effective ways to engage parents and the community, developing successful school leaders.
MCPSC Renewal Narrative Requirements
Please review policies on renewal. Renewal documents answer these three important questions:
- What are the expected outcomes for the next charter term?
- How will you achieve these outcomes over the next charter term? (~8 pages)
- How has your school disseminated best and promising practices to other schools?
Our review of renewal documents asks:
- Does this plan get this to the results you desire?
- Does the plan serve the student population?
- Are these outcomes both rigorous and realistic?
- Are gaps identified in annual reports, site visits and SQRs addressed?
- Does the plan include ways to secure continuation of successes?
- Are better, best and promising practices included?
Additional Requirements to upload to the online monitoring and accountability tool.
- Performance Contract Goals for next charter term
- One page executive summary of narrative
- Enrollment for next Charter Term
- Financials: actual P&L for prior two years, current year's budget, and budget projects aligned to the plan for the first two years of the renewal. Budgets must include assumptions.