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Arizona Charter Schools Program

Information Meeting Oct. 13, 2015 Flagstaff Oct. 14, 2015 Phoenix Oct. 15, 2015 Tucson

Arizona Charter Schools Program: Getting Ready for the 2016 Grant Cycle

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Grant PurposeThe Arizona Charter Schools

Program (AZ CSP) is a competitive, discretionary grant which offers financial incentives to new charter entities that can demonstrate the knowledge, skill and capacity to create and implement challenging curricula, engaging instruction and rigorous assessment.

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Competitive and Discretionary This means that the grants are not funded by

formula such as federal title funds. Charter entities must compete against other

charter entities for the grant.Grants are scored by a panel of professionals

with exemplary experience in charter schools or working with them.

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General Statement on Charter EntitiesFederal regulation and guidance define a charter entity as

an autonomous Local Educational Authority (LEA). The entity is that organization or individual developer which

holds the charter. The charter is the legal contract between the state approved

charter authorizer and the developer of the school. State approved charter authorizer, as defined in ARS § 15-

183 (C), includes Arizona school districts and Arizona universities and community colleges. The charter entity must be a separate, autonomous entity from its school district sponsor.

The emphasis on creating an autonomous entity is to target academic, business and financial responsibility and accountability on that specific entity organization and no other.

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Who may apply?Any Arizona not-for-profit entity may apply for

this grant. The AZ CSP grant is aligned with the US Department of Education Charter Schools Program Priorities and the OMB Uniform Guidance. The submitted application will be scored in light of these federal priorities.

Existing schools with less than three years data should apply for a new charter.

Existing schools authorized by ASBCS with three or more years data should apply for replication.

Authorizers other than ASBCS must share their authorization policies for review by AZ CSP for federal compliance.

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AZ CSP ObjectivesThe Arizona Charter Schools Program(AZ CSP)

has three project objectives:Increase the number of high quality charter

schools in Arizona focusing on supporting and improving the academic outcomes for educationally disadvantaged students;

Close the achievement gaps for all educationally disadvantaged students in AZ CSP schools

Improve educationally disadvantaged high school student achievement and graduation rates in AZ CSP school.

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AZ CSP Objectives at the Completion of the Grant

Open 30 high quality charter schools focusing on supporting and improving the academic outcomes for disadvantaged students* over a 3 year period.

28 of 30 AZ CSP schools demonstrate their disadvantaged students’* academic growth of at least an average of one grade level in mathematics and reading/language arts on the state assessment in Project Year 3.

Student academic achievement of disadvantaged students* at 80% of AZ CSP charter schools will meet or exceed the state average of students with similar student demographics on each content area on the state assessment by the end of year 2 of their grant period.

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AZ CSP Objectives at the Completion of the Grant, continued

The graduation rate of disadvantaged students* at 80% of AZ CSP charter schools will meet or exceed the state average graduation rate of students with similar student demographics by the end of year 2 of their grant period.

*Disadvantaged students are defined in the CSP application as1) Racially and ethnically diverse students;2) Economically disadvantaged or neglected/homeless

students;3) Students with disabilities;4) English Language Learners (ELL)

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Timeline for the 2016 Grant CycleTimeline will be posted on AZ CSP website

http://www.azed.gov/charter-school-program/

The AZ CSP staff will present sub grant application training at 3-5 PM on October 21, 2015 at ADE 1535 Jefferson.

The AZ CSP application will be in Grants Management Funding Applications. Specifics will be provided at the sub grant application training.

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Timeline for the 2016 Grant Cycle

Application Due Date: December 4, 2015

Preliminary review for Administrative Completeness by December 8, 2015

A panel of judges will evaluate the applications.

Application Evaluation Due Date: December 30, 2015

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Timeline for the 2016 Grant CycleThe AZ CSP award winners will be

approved by Consent Agenda at the January 25, 2016 AZ State Board of Education meeting.

The first Grant Project Year will commence February 1, 2016 and end January 31, 2017.

The grant is renewed up to two more years depending on the configuration of Planning and Implementation.

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Grant AdministrationThe program is administered through ADE Grants Management EnterpriseAwardees will submit Funding

Applications that align with their grant application for approval.

Funding is supported by GME draws through the monthly Reimbursement Request process.

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Scope of the AZ CSP GrantGrants awarded by AZ CSP to

eligible applicants shall be for a period of not more than 3 years, of which the eligible applicant may use — not more than 18 months for planning

and program design;not more than 24 months for the initial

implementation of a charter school.

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AwardsStartup grants are competitive in nature.

Implementation, or continuation awards are based on available federal funds, the appropriateness of the proposed grant budget, student enrollment, need, student academic achievement, and progress made toward grant goals as outlined in the startup application.

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Award MaximumThe maximum amount for funding in one

calendar year shall not exceed $250,000. Requests for awards in excess of $250,000 will not be considered.

A proven leader working with Native American student populations may receive up to $330,000 to form a school in Apache County. The definition of “proven leaders” is a developer who has significantly increased learning outcomes of Native American students to meet the academic expectations set forth in the ASBCS Academic Framework.

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Grant MonitoringDuring the period of the grant,

representatives of AZ CSP will conduct multiple visits to awarded schools to monitor progress toward the application’s academic and operational goals.

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Grant MonitoringMonitoring visits are not audits; however, the

school will be expected to provide various documents and policies related to instructional management such as:Curriculum, lesson plans and formative assessmentsVarious policies and documents identifying effective

business practice and verification of inventory. AZ CSP staff has FERPA clearance to review student

records to measure program effectiveness.Contracts between the entity and contractors which

describe specific service(s) performed.Verification of salary expenses in Planning phase

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Grant Terms and ConditionsTerms and conditions of the award will be described in the Grant Award Notification.

Awarded schools will meet and participate in Summit Conferences twice per year, one of which will align with the ADE annual Leading Change Conference.

Awarded schools will participate in ADE lead Arizona Instructional Rounds (AIR).

RESOURCES CSP Nonregulatory Guidance http://www.azed.gov/charter-school-program/files/2011/06/csp-nonregulatory-guidance-january-2014.pdfOther resources at AZ CSP website http://www.azed.gov/charter-school-program/

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To Register for AZ CSP Sub grant Application Training

Send an email to Jane Smoudi at jane.smoudi@azed.gov by Oct. 19, 2015 and provide the following:

1. Name 2. Position3. Entity 4. (Projected) Year of school opening5. (Projected) Grades to serve6. (Projected) School location

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Contact InformationAZ CSP Director/ Deputy Associate Superintendent:

Dr. Mark S. FrancisMark.Francis@azed.gov 602.542.4020

AZ CSP Education Program Specialist: Martha Morgan Martha.Morgan@azed.gov 602.542.5336

AZ CSP Education Program Specialist: Jane SmoudiJane.Smoudi@azed.gov 602.542.7459