How to Apply

Student Achievement Minnesota LLC is committed to authorizing successful and sustainable charter schools which increase student achievement.  Accordingly, its evaluation process is rigorous and designed to determine whether, in the case of new schools, the school board has the capacity to successfully implement a quality business plan designed to increase student achievement and, in the case of existing schools, the school has demonstrated academic, fiscal, and operational success.

Student Achievement Minnesota LLC accepts and encourages applications from all sources.

Whether you are:

• community leaders, parents, or teachers interested in starting a new charter school,
• an existing Minnesota charter school interested in changing authorizers, or
• representating a successful charter school program in another state,

Student Achievement Minnesota LLC wants to hear from you!

Applying for a New School

Application

Applicants are expected to respond to each application item in a comprehensive manner and follow the application and format requirements.  Student Achievement Minnesota staff perform a desk review upon receipt of each application. Applications which do not comply with the application and format requirements, or demonstrate significant fiscal deficiencies do not merit additional consideration. Applications meriting additional consideration are further evaluated by Student Achievement Minnesota and its review team. The review team includes external experts with a wide-range of experience, including charter school operations, education, and finance.

Letter of Intent

Prospective applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to Student Achievement Minnesota.  Refer to the Charter School Program Guide and Letter of Intent template for additional information and requirements.

Expert Review

Applications which demonstrate a thorough understanding of key issues and the capacity to successfully open a high quality charter school are scheduled for an interview.

Interview

The applicant's founders participate in an interview with Student Achievement Minnesota's evaluation team. There are not pre-determined questions for the interview. The applicants should be prepared for specific questions regarding any aspect of their application. The purpose of the interview is to respond to questions or concerns that the review team had in evaluating the application and to determine whether the developing group has the capacity to implement the proposal.

Post-Interview Evaluation and Decision

The Student Achievement Minnesota evaluation team makes a wholistic determination as to whether the developing group has the capacity to successfully establish a high-quality charter school consistent with its proposal.

Approved applicants receive start-up information and feedback to further improve the school's development.

Denied applicants also receive feedback for the developing group's consideration in any future application.