Updating Charter Application Deadlines: Application Windows Need Starting Dates after State Board Action
Summary
Because of a recent decision by the Colorado State Board of Education, school districts should review charter school policies and application materials. If district policies and application materials do not include a window for charter applications, with an identified start date and end date, districts could be subject to “rolling” charter applications, meaning charter applicants may apply at any time prior to an application deadline, including six months early or more. The 90-day period for districts to review a charter application begins when they receive an application, not after the application deadline.
Background
A recent decision by the State Board of Education (SBE) on a charter school appeal may prompt districts to update charter school policies and application materials regarding application deadlines. The appeal between Ascent Classical Academy (Ascent) and the Durango 9R School District (Durango) addressed application deadlines. The SBE order was passed on a 4 to 3 vote (see agenda item 11.01 on the May 12, 2022 SBE meeting). For more background information, see this CACSA Update. A CACSA Memo is available here.
After this decision, districts preferring not to receive applications at any time before a deadline, should review their district policies and application materials; and, if necessary, update policies and related materials to specify a window during which the district will accept charter proposals.
With such a window established, districts and charter applicants would still have the option to agree to receive applications earlier. However, districts would retain the right to decline early applications and could reject applications received outside the window or choose to wait until after their established window to begin reviewing an application that was submitted early.
This appeal raises three questions for most districts:
- Should applications be accepted during a window or on a rolling basis?
- If a district desires to use an application window, how should a district codify its position? and
- If a district specifies an application window, when should it fall?
Additional resources from CACSA on this topic will be available soon.