Required Reading List - Step 1
Developing groups will need to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements they will have to meet as a public charter school. Research that gets into more detail is critical in order to clearly understand areas so they can be integrated into the school design:
- Colorado State Model Content Standards
- CSAP, CSAP-A, CELA, CO-ACT (http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/index_assess.html)
- Colorado Basic Literacy Act, assessments and ILPs (http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/cbla/index.htm )
- ELL intervention requirements, home language surveys, and CELA testing (http://www.cde.state.co.us/cde_english/elau_elpa.htm )
- NCLB (http://www.cde.state.co.us/FedPrograms/NCLB/index.asp) , Highly Qualified teachers, and AYP.
- Graduation Requirements for the state: http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Admissions/coursecompletion.html, and district: http://www.cde.state.co.us/scripts/districtprofiles/k12schlwebsites.asp
- Open Meetings / Colorado Sunshine Law See: (C.R.S. 24-6-401 to 402) http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/colorado_revised_statutes.htm; and for definitions see: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/guidebook/gov/pdf/OpenMeetings--LegCouncildef.pdf
- Public (Open) Records Law CRS 24-72-203 for information on records that are open to the public for inspection: http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/colorado_revised_statutes.htm
- IDEA, 504 http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/LawsRegs.asp, ADA and other federal mandates http://idea.ed.gov/download/statute.html
- Response to Intervention (RtI) and progress monitoring for all students
- School Finance regulations and http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/guidebook/fin/pdf/FinGuide.pdf
- Discipline areas that require suspension and expulsion. Refer to C.R.S. 22-33.106 et seq., the Suspension, Expulsion and Denial of Admission law for more detailed information. Further detail is provided in a publication prepared by the Attorney General's office at: http://www.ago.state.co.us/schoolvio/svpm2007.pdf
- District Policies and how to apply for Waivers where autonomy is needed. An example of a waiver application can be found in the CDE Charter Schools Electronic Guidebook of Best Practices at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/guidebook/gov/index.htm. District websites will often contain a full set of policies for public review and may be accessed on the CDE homepage at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/scripts/districtprofiles/k12schlwebsites.asp
- State Statues, Automatic Waivers http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/index.htm and http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/download/WaverReqFrm011405.pdf, and how to apply for other Waivers. http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/download/StBdRulesForWaivers.pdf
- Federal Labor Law
- HR info-i.e. questions you can't ask in an interview, employee files, etc. http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/download/HREmploymentManual.pdf
- The applicant demonstrates the school's plans to meet the Colorado Accreditation Standards and willing to hold themselves Accountability and to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act and has a good understanding of The Colorado Growth Model.
- Mandatory attendance requirements http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeedserv/homeschool.htm http://www.mesa.k12.co.us/2003/departments/Attendance/documents/Statute22-33-104.pdf
- Other Education Laws and Regulations
- School Accountability Committees (CRS 22-11-401 and CRS 22-11-402)
- Governance development and Subcommittees (put also on trainings) Visit CDE's site to view resources on board orientation, best practices form other schools, network with other schools, etc.
- Setting Goals and Objectives -Understand the national consensus on academic charter school quality and align your school's goals/missions with this framework. Also, the document by Margaret Lin "DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE GOALS THAT REFLECT YOUR SCHOOL'S MISSION" is a great companion document (insert doc)