School Closure
Charter school authorizers have the power and the responsibility to ensure school closure is centered on what is best for children. The closure of a school requires thoughtful communication with families, staff, the school board, and the community in which a school is located. It is an authorizer’s responsibility to ensure consistent communication throughout the entire school closure process.
Education One, in accordance with IC 20-24-4-3, has developed a charter revocation and nonrenewal process to ensure fair and timely decision making related to charter school closure. There are multiple avenues to a charter school’s closure, including: 1) Charter Revocation; 2) Nonrenewal of Charter and 3) Voluntary Surrender of the Charter. This document provides guidance for an organization to navigate the closure process.
The closure process has three major components: (1) Notice; (2) Presenting contrary evidence to closure; and (3) Winding down of operations.
Education One at Trine University understands that at times, it may be necessary to revoke an Organizer’s charter in the middle of the charter term. If an Organizer is noncompliant with the charter and/or has failed to rectify consistent performance deficiencies outlined in the Accountability Plan Performance Framework, the Organizer may be at risk of charter revocation. After assessing the Organizer’s noncompliance, as well as any other relevant information, Education One will make a determination regarding the status of the charter. In the event that the Education One board decides to revoke an Organizer’s charter, Education One will provide written notice of the board’s decision to revoke the charter agreement to the Organizer. Revocation notice will include (1) the grounds for revocation; (2) information regarding the revocation process; and (3) a revocation date.
Should the Organizer choose to appeal the revocation decision, the Organizer must submit in writing, via email, a request for an appeal hearing, which will be held virtually, to the Executive Director of Education One at lindsay@education1.org within fifteen days of receiving notice. During the appeal hearing, the Organizer will have one hour to present information in response to the revocation decision, allowing the Organizer to make a presentation in support of the continuation of the charter school. All documents must be submitted to the Executive Director of Education One, via email, at least 10 days prior to the appeal hearing. The Organizer is entitled to representation by counsel at the scheduled hearing.
Following the Appeal Hearing, the Education One board will meet to make a final decision based on recommendations from staff and the Hearing Panel. The Education One Board’s revocation decision is final. Within 24 hours of the Education One Board Meeting, the Organizer will be notified in writing, via email. Revocation notice will include the projected last day of the charter contract.
In the final year of an Organizer’s charter contract, Education One will review an Organizer’s performance throughout the entirety of their charter term, and conduct a thorough review of the charter school, including an External Review Visit. At the conclusion of this formal assessment, Education One staff will provide a written recommendation to the Education One board in regards to renewal or nonrenewal of the charter agreement. If the Education One board determines that nonrenewal of an Organizer’s charter contract is the appropriate path forward, the Organizer’s charter will expire upon the term date outlined in the charter agreement. Notice of the Education One board’s decision regarding nonrenewal of a charter will be shared with the Organizer, in writing within 24 hours of the decision.
Should the Organizer choose to appeal the nonrenewal decision, the Organizer must submit in writing, via email, a request for an appeal hearing, which will be held virtually, to the Executive Director of Education One at lindsay@education1.org within fifteen days of receiving notice. During the appeal hearing, the Organizer will have one hour to present information in response to the nonrenewal decision, allowing the Organizer to make a presentation in support of the continuation of the charter school. All documents must be submitted to the Executive Director of Education One, via email, at least 10 days prior to the appeal hearing. The Organizer is entitled to representation by counsel at the scheduled hearing.
Following the Appeal Hearing, the Education One board will meet to make a final decision based on recommendations from staff and the Hearing Panel. The Education One Board’s nonrenewal decision is final. Within 24 hours of the Education One Board Meeting, the Organizer will be notified in writing, via email. Nonrenewal notice will include the projected last day of the charter contract.