How to Apply for an Existing School

Applying for an existing school
Application, Site Visit & Interview -- note Learning Program Requirements

Application

Existing Minnesota charter schools seeking to change authorizers submit an executive summary responding to the application criteria.

Friends of Education comphrensively evaluates three primary areas: Fiscal Soundness, Academic Performance, and Operations.

Successful charter school applicants evidence an active school board which adequately governs, cirtically evaluates, and strategically leads the school.  Friends of Education makes this determination through its evaluation of the school's historical: internal audit findings, fund balance, academic performance, and operational compliance.  Friends of Education may request additional information from the applicant.

Site Visit & Interview

Friends of Education schedules a site visit with successful applicants.  The purpose of the site visit is to confirm the application and evaluation and to identify potential issues not addressed in the application.  Friends of Education also interviews school stakeholders.  The purpose of the interview is to confirm information, respond to concerns, and clarify items raised by the Friends of Education evaluation team.

Learning Program Requirements

Friends of Education has learning program requirements.  Elementary schools must implement a classical content-rich curriculum, such as that typified by the core-knowledge sequence developed by E.D.Hirsch, Jr. and the Core Knowledge Foundation or the Classcial Trivium (these are examples).  Middle schools must implement curriculum which prepares students for high-school success, and high schools must implement curriculum which prepares students for post-secondary success.  Elementary schools must also implement a phonics-based reading program and the Saxon or Singapore math program unless a different math program is specifically approved by Friends of Education on a case-by-case basis.