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The
Deadline for the 2009-2010 Charter Applications is 5 P.M. August
3, 2009. |
Nancy
Scowcroft, Supervisor for Charter Schools
813-794-2408, 727-774-2408, or 352-524-2408
or
Kristen Goodman, Secretary
813-794-2524, 727-774-2524, or 352-524-2524
About
Charter Schools
Charter schools
are fully recognized as public schools. They are independently governed,
free-standing public schools that offer parents and students an alternative
public education outside the traditional school district system.
The Charter, or contract, defines an individual school’s mission,
curriculum and instructional strategies, goals and objectives, and
all areas of its accountability to its Sponsor, its parents, and its
students. It also outlines the school’s
management, operations, and financial responsibilities. In Florida,
the number of charter schools has grown from five schools in 1996 to
more than 350 in 2008-2009.
Charter schools are non-profit organizations, each governed by
its own board of directors made up of parents and members of the
community. The governing board
is responsible for setting policy, approving the annual budget, and ensuring
the school is financially sound and operating within the required fiscal guidelines.
Charter schools teachers and staff are employees of the charter school, not
employees of the school district in which the school is located.
Teachers are required
to hold a valid Florida teaching certificate and must meet the “highly
qualified teacher” requirements under No Child Left Behind. As with other
public schools in Florida, charter schools receive funds based on their full-time
equivalent (FTE) student enrollment. Additional funding can be obtained through
grants and private donations.
Pasco County charter schools operate under performance contracts (charters)
with their Sponsor, the District School Board of Pasco County. The District
School
Board, through its Charter Schools Department, monitors each school for
compliance with its charter and local, state and federal regulations.
A list of charter schools sponsored by the District School Board of Pasco
County can be found by clicking the Pasco County Charter Schools Directory.
Parents and stakeholders wanting additional information about a specific
charter school should contact the charter school directly or the district's
Charter Schools Department.
Individuals interested in employment opportunities must contact the charter school directly. Charter school employees are NOT employees of the District School Board of Pasco County. The district has no information regarding charter school employment opportunities.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are independent public schools that operate under a performance
contract which frees them from many of the regulations created for
traditional public schools, but holds them accountable for academic
and financial
results. The contract between the school’s governing board of directors
and the school district delineate the school’s mission, educational program, students served, goals, and student achievement objectives.
Who can attend a charter school?
Charter schools are open to all students who reside within a school district.
Unless a school is full, enrollment is on a first come, first enrolled
basis. A random selection process is used to select among students on
a waiting to enroll list when a school is full. Some charter schools
give priority to students with special needs or established boundaries.
How are children enrolled in a charter school?
Parents interested in enrolling a child in a charter school should contact
the charter school directly to request information about the school,
take a tour of the school, and obtain a registration packet.
Do charter schools provide exceptional education services?
A charter school must provide ESE services as identified by the Individual
Education Plan (IEP) committee. Under certain circumstances, a charter
school may not be able to meet the needs of every student. Should this
occur, the IEP committee, including the student’s parents/guardians,
will meet to determine the best possible educational setting to best
serve the needs of the student.
Do charter school students take the FCAT?
Yes, students enrolled in a Florida charter school are required to participate
in the FCAT testing.
Do charter schools receive a school grade?
Yes, charter schools that serve students in grades 3 and above are issued
a school grade by the Florida Department of Education. A charter school’s
school grade is calculated in the same manner as traditional public schools.
Do charter schools provide transportation?
Parents should contact the charter school directly to learn about transportation
arrangements.
Who can teach in a charter school?
Florida statutes require that charter school teachers be certified in
the same manner as all other public school teachers in the State of Florida.
Who should I contact if I have a problem at the charter school my child
attends?
Parents should contact the principal or director of the school with problems
or concerns. If parents believe the administration is not adequately
responding to their concerns, they should address their concerns with
the charter school’s
governing board of directors. Contact information for the charter school’s
governing board is available at the charter school.
How can I obtain more information about charter schools?
To receive more information, contact the charter school directly or call
the District School Board of Pasco County’s Charter Schools
Department at 813-794-2524.
New
Charter Application Process for the 09-10 School Year
Download
our Application
Overview, Florida Charter
School model Application and Cover
Sheet, and Florida
Charter School Application Evaluation Tool (MS
Word Document).
Individuals
or groups interested in opening a charter school in Pasco County must
submit a Florida Charter School Application to the District School Board
of Pasco County for review. The application must meet the requirements
of Section 1002.33, Florida Statute, all related federal and state statutes
and regulations, and any additional requirements as set forth by the
District School Board of Pasco County.
The Florida Charter School Application is available on the District School
Board of Pasco County website under Charter Schools. It is also available
online through the Florida Department of Education.
Before beginning the application process, individuals or groups are
encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Supervisor of Charter
Schools to discuss the application process and to learn more about
charter schools in Pasco County and throughout the state of Florida.
Please contact the District School Board of Pasco County’s Charter Schools Department
at 813 – 794 – 2524 to arrange an appointment.
- Individuals,
groups, organizations and businesses interested in learning more
about charter schools or the application process should contact
the district’s Charter Schools Department for an application
packet. The packet includes an application and useful information
to assist the applicant in submitting a quality application. District
staff is also available to answer your questions.
- Applicants
should submit a “letter of intent” to the
Supervisor of Charter Schools no later than June 12, 2009. The “letter
of intent” should include information about the individuals or
group proposing the charter school, the school’s mission and
purpose, a brief overview of the educational program and curriculum,
the target population, number of students to be served and grade configuration,
the proposed location of the school and the year the charter school
will open. Please ensure that the name of the contact person, address,
telephone number, e-mail address and fax are provided.
- Completed
applications are due to the Supervisor of Charter Schools by 5:00
p.m. on August 3, 2009. Twenty bound and tabbed copies, with
pages numbered consecutively, of the completed application are required.
Applications must be delivered directly to:
Nancy Scowcroft, Supervisor of Charter Schools
Charter Schools Department
District School Board of Pasco County
7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
- New charter
applications submitted to the District School Board of Pasco County
will be considered final. No changes will be accepted after submission.
- The
Charter Application Review Committee, comprised of district staff
with expertise in each area of the application, will utilize the
Florida Department of Education's Charter School Application Evaluation
Tool to review each application. In addition, applicants will be
required to participate in an interview with the Charter Application
Review Committee. Applicants are requested
to demonstrate flexibility in the scheduling of interviews.
- The Charter
Application Review Committee will make its recommendations to the
Superintendent regarding the quality of each application and its
adherence to the requirements under Section 1002.33, Florida Statutes
and all other pertinent statutes and requirements.
- The Superintendent will submit a recommendation to the School
Board of Pasco County to approve or deny each charter application.
- Within the time period required by law, The School Board of Pasco County, at a regularly scheduled school board meeting, will vote to approve or deny the charter application. Applicants will be informed in advance of the time and date of the school board meeting.
For additional information, please contact
Nancy Scowcroft, Supervisor
of Charter Schools,
at 813 – 794 – 2524 or via email at nscowcro@pasco.k12.fl.us
Forms and Additional Resources
Charter School Stipend Reimbursement Form for In-Service Training
Introductory Memo
Instructions
Reimbursement Form (MS Excel Format)