New Charter School Application, Charter School Renewal
USI’s Charter Schools Office supports organizers through clear, stage‑based processes for both new charter school applications and charter school renewals. Timelines below are expressed in approximate months before a school’s proposed opening (for new applications) or before the end of the current charter term (for renewals).
The New Charter School Application process is designed to ensure that applicants present a strong academic model, a sustainable financial plan, and a sound organizational structure. The steps below show recommended lead times before the proposed first day of school.
Develop the school’s vision, mission, and educational model.
Conduct community outreach and needs assessment to determine demand and proposed location.
Begin forming a founding board and leadership team that can meet USI’s expectations for governance and capacity.
Prepare and submit a Statement of Intent to the USI Charter Schools Office, outlining the proposed school’s concept, anticipated opening year, grade levels, and organizer.
The Application Review Team will provide initial guidance on requirements, timelines, and next steps in the application process.
Use USI’s New Charter School Application guidance to build a complete application that addresses:
Organizers may consult with the USI Charter Office on technical questions as they prepare materials.
Submit the full New Charter School Application by USI’s published deadline for the desired opening year.
Applications must follow USI’s format requirements and include all requested narrative responses and attachments.
The Application Review Team conducts a comprehensive review of the application, examining academic, financial, and organizational capacity in line with its authorizing standards.
The Application Review Team may request clarifications, additional documentation, and follow‑up conversations with the organizer and proposed governing board.
This stage is similar in purpose to the “capacity interview” and in‑depth review components used by other Indiana authorizers.
The Application Review Team issues a written decision to approve or deny the new charter school application.
If approved, the USI Charter Office Team meets with the school’s governing board to outline pre‑opening requirements, milestones, and conditions.
Together, the USI Charter Office Team and the organizer finalize a pre‑opening plan that addresses facilities, staffing, policies, financial systems, and compliance tasks prior to the first day of school.
The school completes remaining pre‑opening tasks in accordance with USI’s expectations and any conditions of approval.
The USI Charter Office continues to monitor launch readiness to support a strong opening and alignment with the approved charter.
The Charter School Renewal process evaluates a school’s performance over its charter term and the strength of its plans for the next term. Timelines are expressed in approximate months before the end of the current charter term (or start of the renewed term).
School leadership and the governing board review performance data across academics, finance, and organizational compliance.
The school uses USI’s Charter Office Performance Framework and prior monitoring results to identify strengths, challenges, and areas needing improvement before renewal.
The school refines and implements improvement plans in identified areas of need, monitoring their impact on student outcomes and operations.
Staff begin organizing documentation that may supplement USI’s performance record, such as additional assessment data or mission‑specific goals.
The USI Charter Office provides renewal guidance aligned with its Performance Framework, including expectations for academic, financial, and organizational performance.
The USI Charter Office may issue a Renewal Performance Report that summarizes the school’s record under the current charter term.
The school prepares a Renewal Application that addresses:
Past performance: Academic results, financial health, and organizational effectiveness over the term, including responses to any past findings or corrective actions.
Plans for the next term: Proposed changes to the educational program, budgets and financial projections, governance and leadership structures, and facilities.
The narrative should clearly connect evidence of performance to the case for renewal.
The school submits its Renewal Application to USI Charter Office by the deadline, following all format and submission requirements.
Applications must include both required narrative responses and any requested supporting documentation.
The Application Review Team reviews the Renewal Application alongside the school’s full performance record, including monitoring reports and the Renewal Performance Report.
The Application Review Team may request additional documentation, conduct site visits, or hold meetings with school leadership and the governing board to clarify questions.
The Application Review Team makes a renewal decision and communicates the outcome to the school, including the term length and any renewal conditions as allowed by law and policy.
If renewed, USI Charter Office and the school finalize any charter amendments and align plans for the next charter term, including any approved programmatic or organizational changes.
