Applying for Excellence: Fostering Quality Charter Schools in California

NACSA is collaborating with leading California authorizers on the Applying for Excellence project to translate the experience of active authorizers into leadership and practical resources that will help newer California authorizers implement a sound petition process.

Back by popular demand ...
NACSA's Charter Petition Workshop
for California school districts and county education offices.
REGISTRATION IS FULL

A low registration fee is all that is required
$35 for NACSA members, $85 for non-members.
We will cover meals and one-nights lodgings and will reimburse you for all reasonable travel expenses upon completion of the workshop.

Feel free to e-mail us with questions at .

FALL WORKSHOP DATE

When: Concluded on September 21, 2004
[Contact us to schedule a workshop in your area.]

Registration includes one night's lodgings; additional nights are available at NACSA's group rate.

The Charter Petition Process Workshop is recommended for school district and county education office board members and staff who are interested in and/or responsible for charter school oversight. The Sacramento and Anaheim workshops will cover identical content.

This program offers

· an intensive one-day format, focused on providing practical information through the exploration of specific options in the design of petition practices, guided discussions, and decision-making simulations

· capped enrollment (only 24 participants per day) to promote an interactive learning environment

· valuable take-away resources, including NACSAs California Petition Packet Self-Evaluation Resource, which helps authorizers determine whether their petition packets solicit information essential to making a sound petition decision

· a low registration fee and well pay for meals, lodgings & travel upon successful completion.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Based on NACSAs national expertise and the experience of a dozen of the most active county and district authorizers in California, our intensive workshop presents an in-depth examination of key petition process issues. The program will help authorizers design and implement a rigorous, comprehensive application process. Participants can expect to learn what they need to know to implement a new or refine an existing charter school petition process that follows fair procedures and clear criteria and grants charters to developers who demonstrate strong potential for establishing and operating a high quality charter school. Topics include:

Charter Opportunities: How can school districts and county authorizers take a more proactive approach to chartering? What are the benefits to doing so?

Petition Packet: Does your petition packet request the information you need to make sound chartering decisions under California law? What are you covering and what are you missing?

Petition Evaluation: What should you look for when evaluating petitions? Which school development pieces really need to be in place now and which really dont? How can you determine whether the petitioners have the capacity to implement a program that looks good on paper?

Granting a Charter: After granting the petition, what happens next? How can you structure a process that will help school developers make an effective transition from a concept on paper to a new public school that is ready for opening day?

Download our brochure for more details.

Registration. Registration is on a first-come basis and space is limited. Payment by check or credit card is required to reserve your space. The fee is $35 per person for NACSA Members and $85 for non-Members.

Hotel Reservations. Participants traveling more than 50 miles to attend the workshop qualify for no-cost lodgings the night prior to the workshop. Participants are responsible for booking their own lodgings at the group rate by Wednesday, September 8, 2004. A credit card may be required to guarantee your reservation. Upon check-in, the bill for room and taxes for one night at the group rate will shift to NACSAs master account. NACSA will only honor lodgings booked at the hotel hosting the workshop at the approved NASCA group rate.

Travel Reimbursement. Upon successful completion of the workshop, NACSA will reimburse participants for actual transportation costs (e.g., airfare, train, bus) incurred up to $500.00. If driving to the workshop, roundtrip mileage reimbursement will be at the IRS-approved rate of 37.5¢ per mile.

Cancellation Policy. NACSA will refund the registration fee, less a $35 processing charge, for cancellations received in writing by September 8, 2004. No refunds will be made after this date. Participants are responsible for cancellation or change fees charged by the hotel or air carriers.

The Applying for Excellence project is supported through a grant from the Pisces Foundation.