Board of Public Education

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS

INTRODUCTION   APPLICATIONS   APPLICATION RESOURCES  PUBLIC CHARTER RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION

Title 20, Chapter 6, Part 8, MCA, authorizes the establishment of public charter schools in Montana and tasks the Montana Board of Public Education as the sole entity authorized to enter into public charter contracts with a governing board. There are two types of public charter schools – those operating under an existing local school board and those operating as a new school district under a separate governing board. This Public Charter School Application is for both options.

A public charter school means a public school that has autonomy over decisions including, but not limited to, matters concerning finance, personnel, scheduling, curriculum, and instruction as defined in a public charter contract. Public charter schools are governed by a local school board, or in the case of a governing board other than a local school board, by the governing board of the public charter school district of which the public charter school is a part. Public charter schools are established and operated under the terms of a public charter contract and allow parents to choose to enroll their children. Public charter schools must admit students based on a lottery if more students apply for admission than can be accommodated.

Public charter schools provide a program of education that may include any or all grades from kindergarten through grade 12 and vocational education programs and operate in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives as defined in its public charter contract, and must demonstrate a commitment to and robust understanding of personalized and proficiency-based learning.

The evaluation of your application will focus on whether implementing the proposals in your application will lead to the academic, organizational, and financial performance you are promising in exchange for potential broad flexibility from Montana’s education standards. The evaluation will determine whether:

  • there is an overall intent to create an innovative public charter school;
  • there is an overall intent to create a high-performing public charter school;
  • the academic program is consistent with a high-quality public charter school;
  • the school governance is consistent with a high-quality public charter school;
  • the business operations are consistent with a high-quality public charter school;
  • the community support and need is consistent with a high-quality public charter school;
  • there is clear and convincing proof of the likelihood of success;
  • they can open and operate a successful public charter school; and
  • there is a commitment to and robust understanding of personalized and proficiency-based learning.