Charter School Application
Review and Decision Process

Additional details of the Review Process are presented below.

Initial Screening

• Receipt of all applications will be confirmed by mail.
• Each application received by the application deadline will be screened by staff to determine that it contains all the information required by law and requested in the Application Notice.
• During the screening process, selected descriptive information on each application may be entered into a computerized database.

Principal Interviews

• In instances where a principal has been identified as part of the application, interviews will be held shortly after application submission to gain an understanding of principal candidates' experiences and gauge their potential as an instructional leader.
• The interviews will be conducted by a panel of experienced current and retired principals consisting of ## members. The interviews will last ## minutes.

Qualitative Technical Review of Applications

• Each application will be reviewed and rated using a standard set of published criteria that parallel the main sections of the application format--Educational Plan, Business Plan, Plan of Operation, and Charter School Accountability Plan.
• These criteria will guide the deliberations of review panels consisting of 4 to 6 members who will evaluate each application independently before convening as a panel to discuss their evaluations and provide a joint recommendation to the Board.
• Each review panel will include members with expert knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
  • curriculum and instruction;
  • business and financial management;
  • school governance, organization, and management;
  • operation of a charter school or an independent school;
  • family and community participation; and
  • assessment and accountability.
• Technical experts who are not members of a review panel, but who have read the relevant sections of all the applications, will identify in writing any issues or problems related to their areas of expertise that may affect the integrity of an application or the eventual ability of an applicant to perform. The technical experts also will be available to the review panels, on request, to provide interpretations and advice in their areas of expertise, which will include, but are not limited to:
  • legal issues;
  • requirements and programs of the District of Columbia Public Schools;
  • adult education;
  • special education, bilingual education, single gender education, Title 1, and other federal program requirements; and
  • education technology.
• Reviewers will participate in orientation and training prior to the review.
• One reviewer will be assigned to chair each panel. Panel chairs will consult with staff in planning the review. They will also manage the discussion of their panel, monitor to see that the work of the panel and the responsibilities of individual reviewers are carried out, and work with the Board staff to develop a summary report of the panel's findings and recommendations.
• Each panel will review approximately six applications.
• Each reviewer will be responsible for:
  • reading all assigned applications;
  • assigning a numerical score for each evaluation criterion;
  • providing written comments on the strengths and weaknesses of each section of each application;
  • preparing a detailed written analysis of each assigned application in their area of expert knowledge, listing strengths and weaknesses, and recommending conditions for approval;
  • participating in general discussion of applications assigned to the panel;
  • participating in site visits and interviews as requested; and
  • working with other reviewers to identify and clearly state any deficiencies in an application, including any conditions that must be met in order to receive full approval for a charter.

Scoring of Applications

• Numerical scores will be assigned for each criterion.
• Rubrics will be used to give greater precision and consistency to the assignment of numerical scores.
• Each criterion will be assigned a weight that will be used in calculating final numerical ratings.
• Certain criteria will be considered critical to the success of a charter school and will be clearly designated as essential for the approval of a charter. These critical factors include evidence that the applicant has secured access to a suitable facility; adoption of a curriculum in every subject area at every level within the charter school's responsibility, or a timeline for its development; evidence of leadership capacity in four crucial roles--chief administrative officer, curriculum leader, business officer, and legal counsel; and evidence that the charter school has nonprofit status.
• Numerical ratings will be assigned at the level of the main headings of the application format. Applications will not be assigned an overall numerical rating.

Interviews with Applicant Teams

• Following the technical review of applications, a structured interview will be held with representatives of each applicant group.
• The purpose of the interviews is to:
  • clarify information already provided;
  • seek missing information;
  • probe for greater understanding of the interrelationships and coherence of various components of the applicant's plan; and
  • assess the capacity of the applicant group to create and successfully operate the proposed charter school.
• Interview teams will consist of a minimum of two members of the technical review panel and one staff member. In addition, one member of the Board may serve on the interview team. Board members and staff will participate as observers.
• Applicants will be invited to be represented in the interview by planning team members who will be in the best position to answer questions related to the educational program, business and financial management, governance, assessment, and accountability, and the vision and coherence of the overall plan for a charter school.
• Information acquired through the interview will be considered by members of the review team as they determine their final ratings.

Public Hearings

• Within 45 days after the receipt of applications, public hearings will be held where an opportunity will be provided for the Board to hear information from the public regarding the proposal for a public charter school submitted by each applicant.
• Hearings will be conducted by the Board after the technical review is completed. The hearings will be designed to elicit information about--
  1. The expected benefit of the proposed charter school to students, parents, and the community;
  2. The impact the proposed charter school is likely to have on other public schools in the District of Columbia; and
  3. The impact of the proposed charter school on the quality of educational practice.

Staff Review of Applications

• Staff assigned to each panel will read all assigned applications, and use information generated from the interviews, public hearings, and applications to make recommendations to the Board. In particular, staff reviews of applications will verify completeness of the technical panel review, and ensure consistency across panels and with Public Charter School Board policies and practices in such areas as curriculum and governance.

Board Decisions Following the Review

Factors that Will Be Considered by the Board. Decisions at the conclusion of the First Stage Review will be made by the Board drawing upon the following evaluative information:

• numerical ratings submitted by individual reviewers;
• written comments of individual reviewers;
• summary reports of review panel recommendations, including statements of any conditions that must be met for full approval;
• summary reports of Public Charter School Board staff recommendations, including statements of any conditions that must be met for full approval;
• information gathered in interviews with applicants;
• information from public hearings; and
• oral briefings by review panel chairpersons and/or Public Charter School Board staff.

Decision to Fully Approve, Approve with Conditions, or Deny, an Application. Following the review, the Board may decide to approve, approve with conditions, or deny an application.

• Approval. When the Board approves an application for a charter, negotiations on the terms of the charter begin. Once the charter is executed, the new public charter school may begin operation under the terms contained in the charter.
• Approval with Conditions. When the Board approves an application with conditions, the applicant must address certain conditions before full approval is granted. The applicant will receive a written statement specifying the conditions that must be met for full approval. No further review of the application is required.
• Denial. When the Board denies an applicant's request for a charter, consideration of the application will cease, and the applicant will receive reasons for the denial and indicating how the requirements for approval may be satisfied in a future application.

• Full Approval will be granted to an application that--
  • holds exceptional promise;
  • receives high reviewer ratings on all four components (plans);
  • fully meets all "make or break" requirements; and
  • is ready immediately to gear up to offer instructional services.
• Conditional Approval will be granted to an application that--
  • receives high reviewer ratings on all four components (plans);
  • meets most "make or break" requirements and has an acceptable timeline for meeting others in time for approval in the current cycle;
  • holds exceptional promise, providing specified conditions are met; and
  • is judged to have the capacity to satisfy the specified conditions in time for full approval in the current cycle.

Principal Assessments

Principal candidates identified in applications granted full or conditional approval will be invited to participate in an assessment center. The purpose of the assessment center is to assist approved charter schools in assessing the skills of principal candidates to verify their readiness to serve in that capacity, as well as identify professional development needs should they be hired. Principal candidates will engage in a one-day program that presents an integrated system of realistic, school-based simulations designed to generate behaviors similar to those required for success in K-12 principal positions.

For conditionally approved applicants that must select a principal as part of their conditions, the principal candidates will go through the principal interview and assessment process once identified.