Capella Sponsors Technology and Science Charter School

Capella University is sponsoring the East Range Academy of Technology and Science, a Minnesota charter high school opening fall 2007. Charter schools are public, K-12 schools that are results-based and accountable for achieving the goals outlined in their charter. They operate independently from the school district in which they are located. As a charter school sponsor, Capella assists with the development, implementation, and evaluation of the school's goals. Capella is required to monitor and evaluate the school's fiscal strength as well as the students' performance.

Aligned with Capella's Mission

Capella is sponsoring this charter school as a way to support educational organizations dedicated to increasing access to high-quality education through innovative programs and methods.

Capella's primary responsibilities:

• Determine whether an application meets standards established by the state and Capella, which then results in the granting of a charter.
• Develop a performance-based contract with the school.
• Provide oversight of the school.
• Provide assistance when applicable.
• Evaluate the performance of the school.
• Determine whether the school is meeting the terms of the contract.
• Extend the charter or terminate the charter based on the performance of the school.

East Range Academy of Technology and Science responsibilities:

• Provide monthly progress reports during the implementation phase, the initial year of operation, and subsequent years of the contract.
• Provide monthly financial reports.
• Meet in person or via conference call with Capella representatives once per quarter.
• Invite Capella representatives to board meetings.
• Notify Capella if/when changes are made to the program model, bylaws, or governance.
• Comply with Minnesota academic reporting requirements.
• Address questions and issues raised by Capella in a timely manner.

Capella will consider sponsoring additional charter schools whose mission, vision, and core values are aligned with Capella's. Consideration is based on the charter school's ability to

• Extend opportunities to students who are not well served in a traditional setting.
• Fill educational gaps in the community.
• Utilize technology to deliver education.
• Develop innovative and relevant curriculum that maximizes personal potential and engages students.
• Hold itself to high academic standards.
• Hire a qualified teaching staff and support continuing professional development.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and build a viable business plan.

Capella's Four-Phase Process for Reviewing Applications

1. Proposals for sponsorship should be sent to Julie Smolich at julie.smolich@capella.edu or Capella Tower, 225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Initial proposals must be made at least six months prior to the anticipated application submission date.
2. Capella's Charter School Advisory Committee will review the proposal, evaluate the proposal against Capella's conditions for sponsorship, and provide a response to the charter school developer(s) within 30 days. Capella will then either decline the request to serve as a sponsor or meet with the developer(s) for further exploration.
3. If Capella's Charter School Advisory Committee is in favor of supporting the proposed charter school, the committee will meet with charter school developer(s) to discuss the concept, the charter school model, and the educational and financial viability of the proposed charter school. Capella will also evaluate whether the charter school developer(s) have the appropriate education, training, and experience to be successful.
4. If, after the initial meeting or interview, Capella is still in favor of sponsoring the proposed charter school, Capella and the charter school developer(s) will collaborate on the charter application and submit the application by the deadlines established by the state. Capella reserves the right to opt out of sponsoring the school if adequate progress is not made to submit the application on time or if the application varies from the original purpose and mission of the school as laid out in the initial proposal.

Capella reserves the right to modify its criteria and process for evaluating and accepting proposals for sponsorship for charter schools.