Planning Phase

Working with Approved Charter School Applicants to Ensure a Successful School Opening

Commitment

The Planning Phase is a 15-month period beginning upon charter school approval in April through July of the following year.


Relationship

During the Planning Phase, Innovative Schools’ relationship transitions from working with the Founding Board to working with the school’s official Board of Directors and newly hired School Leader. Innovative Schools will provide the framework, plan, resources, guidance, and assistance necessary to establish the school. The School Leader is directly responsible for the day-to-day work of the Planning Phase. The Board of Directors will monitor the progress of the School Leader and provide volunteer assistance as needed. 


Deliverables

Innovative Schools will provide the following services during the Planning Phase:

  • Office space, including computer work stations, meeting space, and free parking
  • Planning Phase Toolkit
  • Consultation and technical assistance support from Innovative Schools’ staff as well as local and national consultants who have pertise in each of the topics outlined in the Planning Year Toolkit. Consultation provided on topics such as:
    • School Leader Recruitment
    • Facility Site Selection / Project Management / Facilities Financing
    • Marketing and Student Recruitment
    • Grant Writing / Identifying Funding Opportunities
    • Information Technology Planning
    • Financial Management
    • Contracted Services – Transportation, Food Service, etc.
    • Facilities Management / Operations / Infrastructure
    • Teacher Recruitment, Licensure and Certification, Retention and Incentives 
  • Weekly benchmark monitoring meetings with Innovative Schools’ staff and consultants 
  • Board development training
  • Academic program development support including:
    • Review of the finalized curriculum (core and supplemental materials, articulation agreements, student placement criteria, curricular-embedded assessments)
    • Master schedule design (including collaboration and support classes)
    • Allocating resources to connect with the master schedule
    • Consolidated Grant and School Success Plan
  • Cultural competency training and community outreach
  • Marketing package including logo design, a school website, and student recruitment brochure
  • Visits to existing schools in the region