LBE - Public Charter Schools**

Public charter schools may be established as a new public school or a virtual public school, from one or more existing public schools in the district or a portion of the school, or from an existing alternative education program. A public charter school may not convert an existing tuition-based private school into a charter school, affiliate itself with a nonpublic sectarian school or religious institution, or encompass all the schools in the district unless the district is composed of only one school.

The district recognizes that public charter schools offer an opportunity for more flexible ways of educating students based on current research and development. Public charter schools shall demonstrate a commitment to the mission and diversity of public education while adhering to the following goals:

1. Increase student learning and achievement;
2. Increase choices of learning opportunities for students;
3. Better meet individual student academic needs and interests;
4. Build stronger working relationships among educators, parents and other community members;
5. Encourage the use of different and innovative learning methods;
6. Provide opportunities in small learning environments for flexibility and innovation;
7. Create new professional opportunities for teachers;
8. Establish additional forms of accountability for schools; and
9. Create innovative measurement tools.

An applicant must submit a complete public charter school proposal that meets the requirements of Oregon law, and includes other information required by the district in the application process.

The public charter school employer will be determined with each proposal. If the district is the employer, the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement will be examined to determine which parts of the agreement apply. If the district is not the sponsor of the public charter school, the district shall not be the employer and will not collectively bargain with public charter school employees.

The district will determine if it has any vacant or unused buildings and make a list of such buildings; buildings may be made available for public charter school use, subject to Board approval and Board policy.

Public charter school students shall not be permitted to participate in district curricular programs.[1]

Public charter school students in grades K-8 may participate in their resident district’s activities that are offered before or after regular school hours. Public charter school students in grades 9-12 may participate in their resident district’s available activities that are sanctioned by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) when the requirements found in Oregon law are met.

The district will not provide instructional materials, lesson plans, or curriculum guides for use in a public charter school.

The superintendent will develop administrative regulations to include, but not limited to, the proposal process, review, and appeal procedures, and program evaluation, renewal, and termination.

END OF POLICY

1 Unless allowed by Oregon law related to OSAA-sanctioned activity participation.

Legal Reference(s)