Start A Charter School

Interested in learning more about starting a charter school in the state of Utah with the State Charter School Board as your authorizer? You are in the right place.

~WELCOME~

PROSPECTIVE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICANTS

Please review these items and contact SCSB staff if you have questions.

Process of starting a charter school

First assignment

SCSB board policy

Charter School Proposal

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STEPS TO START A CHARTER SCHOOL

Your straightforward 10-step plan to start a Utah charter school (with the State Charter School Board as the authorizer).

Charter Proposal Phase:

Step 1

Read through the document and complete the first assignment

Dear Prospective Charter School Applicant.pdf

Step 2

Submit a Charter School Proposal

Due Date: June 30

Step 3

Present proposal to the State Charter School Board

At the August SCSB board meeting

Step 4

Move forward based on official SCSB vote

Decided at the August SCSB board meeting

Charter Application Phase:

AFTER THE PROPOSAL STAGE

Step 5

Attend the MANDATORY post proposal bootcamp

Occurs at the end of August

Step 6

Attend pre-operational workshops

Offered August-January

Step 7

Present full application to the State Charter School Board

At the January SCSB board meeting

Step 8

Meet with the SCSB Staff to finalize the charter agreement

Occurs in February

Step 9

Continue to attend pre-operational workshops and complete the Readiness to Open Checklist

Offered February-August (18 months to opening)

Step 10

Hire a Director, transition to a supportive governing board leadership, enroll students, and enjoy your journey to becoming an innovative, highly accountable, high performing charter school (SCSB Core Values)

Continues as long as the school is operational

Still have questions about the process?

Go to expansion, satellite, waivers and other applications

Email Marie Steffensen

SCSB POLICIES

Board policy is a set of rules, guidelines, and principles established by a governing board or body to guide the actions, decisions, and conduct within an organization or institution. These policies are designed to provide a framework for governance, ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and set expectations for the organization's members or employees. Board policies often cover various areas such as ethics, financial management, human resources, and overall organizational behavior. They play a crucial role in maintaining consistency, transparency, and accountability within the organization.

Please read through the SCSB board policies and procedures.

Go To SCSB Policies and Procedures

TIMELINE

Now until May 31:

Complete this training
Schedule Governing Board 1-1 with Support Team

Due June 30:

Charter School Proposals

August:

Board Meeting/Possible Invitation to Apply

FIRST ASSIGNMENT

1. Put the governing board together

5-7 members recommended

2. Produce 10 questions, your "Why a Charter School?", and 3 possible dates/times to meet for your 1v1

Include all of these in your email

3. Email the SCSB support team

Marie Steffensen

Lisa Cooper

Target: ≤ %

Transfer Rate = Number of transfered students / Total students

Definition: The percentage of students who leave the school during the year to go to another private or public school in the state, to go to home school, or who dropped out. Excluded are non-residents, students whose school of record is another school, students who attended the school for less than 10 days, and students in kindergarten.

Data Source: Enrollment and exit data reported to UTREx.

Target: ≥ %

Retention Rate = Students enrolled at end of previous year and still enrolled on October 1st / Students enrolled at end of previous year

Definition: Percentage of students enrolled at year-end who returned to a school within the LEA by October 1st of the following school year.

Data Source: Enrollment and exit data reported to UTREx.

Target: ≥ % of prior year October 1st enrollment count

Enrollment Trends = Current year October 1st count / Prior year October 1st count

Definition: A trajectory of October 1st enrollment and Average Daily Membership (ADM) derived from enrollment data reported to UTREx.

Data Source: Enrollment data reported to UTREx.

Definition: A comparison of a school’s end of year ADM to that school year’s October 1 counts. A significantly lower ADM compared to October 1 enrollment may negatively affect funding and could signal problems for a school to retain enrollment levels.

Data Source: Enrollment data reported to UTREx.

Unrestricted Days Cash on Hand = (Cash + Cash Equivalent - Total Funds in Restricted Programs) x 365 / (Total Operating Expenses - Annual Depreciation Expense)

Target:

UDCOH ≥ 60 days

OR UDCOH is between 30 and 60 days with a positive increase from previous year

New LEAs: This will not be used in the Financial Framework Report for LEAs in their first two years of operations.

Does the school have the cash to pay bills?

Definition: How long, in days, the school could meet their operating expenses without receiving new income.

Data Source:
Cash and Cash Equivalents: statement of net position
Cash Equivalent: statement of net position
Total Operating Expenses: statement of activities
Annual Depreciation: notes to financial statements

Total Funds in Restricted Programs are restricted funds that are entered in to reflect the decrease in cash.

Facility Ratio = (Operation and Maintenance of Facilities + Lease Payment + Debt Service) / Total Revenue

Debt Service = Annual Principal + Interest

Target: ≤ 20%

Definition: Total operation and maintenance of facility.

Data Source:
Statement of Revenue, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance – Governmental Funds.
Notes Section of the Audited Financials.

Salaries and Benefits Ratio = (Total Salaries + Total Benefits) / Total Revenue

Target: ≤ 60%

Definition: The total salaries and benefits to the total revenue.

Data Source:
Summary - All Funds

Debt Service Coverage Ratio = (Change in Net Position + Depreciation + Interest Expense) / (Annual Principal + Interest + Lease Payment)

Target: ≥ 1.1

Is an LEA able to cover its debt obligations?

Definition: The ratio indicates a school's ability to cover its debt obligations in a current year.

Data Source:
AFS of public financial reporting download in October, Government wide

Debt to Asset = Total Liabilities / Total Assets

Target: ≤ 0.9

To what extent does an LEA rely on borrowed funds to finance its operations?

Definition: The amount of liabilities a school owes versus the assets they own.

Data Source: AFS or public financial reporting download in October, Government wide

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

Target: Current ratio ≥ 1

Does the school have enough assets to meet its financial obligations over the next year?

Definition: Measures the school's ability to pay its obligations over the next 12 months. It shows how quickly short-term assets can be converted into cash to pay short-term liabilities.

Data Source: Statement of net position

Cash Flow = Current year cash balance - last year cash balance

Target: Cash Flow > $0

Does the LEA have a positive cash flow year over year?

Definition: The LEA's cash generated over a period of time indicating long-term financial stability.

Data Source: AFS or public financial reporting download in October, General Fund

Total Margin = Change in Net Position/Total Revenue

Change in Net Position = Total Revenue - Total Expenses

3 year aggregated = Sum of 3 years' Change in Net Position/Sum of 3 years' Total Revenue

2 year aggregated = Sum of 2 years' Change in Net Position/Sum of 2 years' Total Revenue

Target:

most recent Total Margin > 0% and 3 year aggregated is positive

OR 3 year aggregated > -1.5% and the previous year is positive and most recent year is positive

Is the LEA living within its means?

Definition: Measures an LEA's deficit or surplus out of total revenues (Includes change in temporary restricted net assets)

Data Source: AFS or public financial reporting download in October.

Deficit/Surplus (i.e. Change In Net Position) = Revenue - Expenses

Target: Surplus/Revenue > $0

Is the school living within its available resources?

Definition: Measures an LEA's deficit or surplus out of total revenues (Does not include temporary restricted net assets)

Data Source: Statement of Activities.

Enrollment Variance = Current year enrollment/budgeted enrollment

Target: Enrollment variance >= 95%

Is the enrollment sufficient to cover expenses?

Definition: Measures an LEA's student enrollment to their budgeted (projected) enrollment.

Data Source: UCAP, OCT 1 student enrollment, projections

Target: The LEA has not defaulted on loan covenant(s) or is not delinquent with debt service payments

Has the LEA defaulted on loan covenant(s) or is it delinquent with debt service payments?

Definition: Checks the LEA's responisibility towards loan covenants and debt service payments.

Data Source: AFS unless schools self reported

Material Audit Findings: PASSED

Is the LEAs audit satisfactory?

Definition: Auditor finds the financial statements to be accurate and complete, without material weakness, significant deficiency, or other matters.

Data Source: AFS