Wash. Admin. Code § 108-40-070 - Renewal process

(1) No later than six months before the expiration of the charter school contract, the commission will issue a written performance report addressing the information outlined in WAC 108-40-080. The performance report will be sent to the school and posted on the commission's website.

(2) The school may submit a response to the performance report that corrects or clarifies information contained in the report. If the school is subject to the ineligibility presumptions enumerated in WAC 108-40-090, then the school must rebut those presumptions by demonstrating exceptional circumstances that justify renewal in the response to the performance report. If the school submits a response, it must be received by the commission within thirty days of issuance of the performance report.

(3) In conjunction with the performance report, the commission will issue renewal application guidance. The renewal application guidance will, at a minimum, provide the charter school with an opportunity to:

(a) Present additional evidence, beyond the data contained in the performance report, supporting its case for charter contract renewal;

(b) Describe improvements undertaken or planned for the school; and

(c) Detail the school's plans for the next charter contract term. The renewal application guidance will also contain the criteria that will guide the commission's renewal decisions.

(4) For those renewal applications deemed eligible for renewal consideration, individuals designated by the commission may conduct a school site visit (renewal inspection) during the renewal applicant school's final school year under the existing charter contract. The renewal inspection may serve as one of the mechanisms for the commission to evaluate and document the charter school's performance and representations to inform the commission's renewal decision. The renewal inspection will include a review of the school's performance and satisfaction of its obligations under the charter contract, with specific focus on any concerns identified in the performance report. Within fourteen days following the renewal inspection, a renewal inspection report will be issued. The school will have ten days to submit a written response to the renewal inspection report.

(5) Those renewal applications deemed ineligible for renewal consideration may appeal this determination in accordance with the procedures outlined in WAC 108-40-100.

(6) Interested parties, including members of the public, may submit written comments to the commission regarding the potential renewal of a school's charter contract. The deadline for submitting comments will be posted on the commission's website.

(7) No later than thirty days after receiving a performance report, the charter school must notify the commission in writing of its decision to either:

(a) Apply for renewal of the contract; or

(b) Cease operation at the expiration of the contract term.

(8) If the school has decided to cease operation at the expiration of the contract term, a termination protocol shall be implemented.

(9) If the school is requesting renewal under the existing contract, the renewal application must be submitted no later than September 1st and must be received by the commission by 5:00 p.m.; if September 1st falls on a weekend, the renewal application must be received by the commission no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Monday following September 1st.

(10) For applications deemed eligible for renewal consideration, commission staff will review renewal applications, the renewal inspection report, and other relevant information, and make a recommendation, based on the renewal criteria, to approve, deny, or conditionally approve the renewal application. This recommendation will be provided to the school and commissioners. This recommendation shall serve as notice of the prospect of and reasons for nonrenewal. Within twenty days of issuance of this recommendation, the school may request an opportunity to respond to the recommendation in accordance with the procedures outlined in WAC 108-40-100; failure to make such a request shall constitute a waiver of the school's right to respond.

(11) The commission will pass a resolution approving, denying, or conditionally approving the renewal application. Renewal may be for a term of up to five years. This term may be shorter depending on the school's performance, demonstrated capacities and particular circumstances.

(12) Upon approval of a school's renewal application, the school must execute a new charter contract before the expiration of the existing charter contract. The charter contract must include specific conditions that the commission determines are required for necessary improvements to the school; provided, however, if approval of the renewal application is conditional, the renewal conditions must be included in the charter contract.

(13) If circumstances warrant it, the commission may alter time frames within these rules.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 108-40-070

Adopted by WSR 14-12-065, Filed 6/2/2014, effective 7/3/2014 Amended by WSR 17-08-011, Filed 3/24/2017, effective 4/24/2017 Amended by WSR 22-18-033, Filed 8/29/2022, effective 9/29/2022