Massachusetts Charter Schools

Charter Amendments Review Process for 2015

Amendment Type	Timeline	Checklist
Enrollment Policy	We strongly encourage you to submit your policy for review as soon as possible, but changes must be approved prior to the start of the 2015-2016 enrollment cycle, and no later than December 31, 2015.
Expulsion Policy	Please submit your current policies by July 1, 2015.
Schedule	Please submit your school's schedule by August 1, 2015.
Accountability Plan	The Department works with charter schools to approve new Accountability Plans after renewal or during the first year of operation for newly chartered schools.
Bylaws	The Department works with charter schools to update the bylaws after renewal or upon request.

1. Enrollment Policy, Application for Enrollment, and Growth Plan
Requirements in the charter school regulations regarding enrollment (603 CMR 1.05: Student Recruitment, Enrollment, and Retention) have changed. Additionally, in order to capture the growth plans for schools currently expanding grades and/or number of students served, the enrollment policy will include the school's growth plan, if applicable. We strongly encourage you to submit your draft enrollment policy as soon as possible, but it must be submitted well in advance of the start of the 2015-2016 enrollment cycle and all enrollment policies should be approved by the Commissioner no later than December 31, 2015. Please follow these steps:
• Please use the enrollment policy checklist to update the school's enrollment policy.
• Send your updated draft policies to Claire Smithney at csmithney@doe.mass.edu for a first review, prior to obtaining board of trustees' approval.
• Claire and other internal staff members will work with your school to get a draft version that is ready to be approved.
• Once Claire has notified you that the draft is ready to be approved, have the school's board vote to submit the amendment following the amendment guidelines.
• Formally submit the enrollment policy amendment request for Commissioner approval as outlined in the Charter School Amendment Guidelines.
The Department will send you confirmation of Commissioner approval as part of our monthly batch amendment review process.
2. Expulsion Policy
Chapter 222 of the Acts of 2012 (Chapter 222), effective July 1, 2014, has two primary objectives: (1) To limit the use of long-term suspension as a consequence for student misconduct subject to G.L. c. 71, §37H ¾ until other consequences have been considered and tried as appropriate, and (2) Where exclusion from the classroom or school occurs for any type of disciplinary offense, to require schools to make education services available so the student has an opportunity to make academic progress while suspended or expelled. The Department has prepared an Advisory on Student Discipline to support implementation of Chapter 222, specifically the two new statutes enacted: G.L. c. 71, §37H ¾ and G.L. c. 76, §21. The Advisory provides further detail on the Student Discipline Regulations, 603 CMR 53.00, which address a principal's responsibilities under G.L. c. 71, §37H ¾, the provision of education services to any student who is suspended or expelled for any reason, and student discipline data collection and reporting. Changes to charter school policies should reflect the recent changes to An Act Relative to Student Access to Educational Services and Exclusion from School, G.L. c. 71, 37H ¾ and G.L. c. 76, §21 and Student Discipline Regulations, 603 CMR 53.00. Schools only need to receive approval for their expulsion policies, but may also opt to submit their suspension policy for feedback. A checklist for both expulsion and suspension policies will be posted on our website soon. Please self-assess your school's policies using the checklist prior to submitting them for review. If you have any questions, please contact Ellie Rounds at erounds@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3212. All expulsion policies should be approved by the Commissioner no later than December 31, 2015. Please follow these steps:
• Please use the expulsion policy checklist to update the school's expulsion policy.
• Send your updated draft policies to Ellie Rounds at erounds@doe.mass.edu for a first review, prior to obtaining board of trustees' approval.
• Members of the A & E team will work with your school to get a draft version that is ready to be approved.
• Once you have been notified that the draft is ready to be approved, have the school's board vote to submit the amendment following the amendment guidelines.
• Formally submit the expulsion policy amendment request for Commissioner approval as outlined in the Charter School Amendment Guidelines.
The Department will send you confirmation of Commissioner approval as part of our monthly batch amendment review process.
3. Schedule (length of school year, school week, or school day)
The Department has developed a template to document your school's schedule. We have developed this template to create transparency around this material term of the charter and when an amendment is required, to facilitate communication with families around typical school schedules, and to help with communication with districts about transportation. Please submit this template, by August 1, 2015, to your school's liaison via email that reflects your school's current, approved schedule as outlined in charter. If your school would like to request an amendment to change the schedule as outlined in its charter, this template should be accompanied by a letter documenting your board of trustee's approval of a schedule amendment as outlined in the Charter School Amendment Guidelines. Please contact your school's liaison if you have questions about this process.
4. Accountability Plan
In its fifth year of operation, after a successful renewal, a charter school must draft a new Accountability Plan for its next five year charter term. Additionally, newly chartered schools must create an Accountability Plan after the first year of operation. Alison Bagg is working with both sets of schools drafting Accountability Plans using the Guidelines for Accountability Plans. Alison can be reached at abagg@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3218.
5. Bylaws
Requirements in the charter school regulations regarding bylaws (1.06 Charter School Boards of Trustees and Staff) have changed. After a successful renewal, the Department works with schools to update bylaws. Schools may also initiate updates to bylaws when needed. An updated bylaws checklist, incorporating changes within the regulations, has been posted on our website. If you have questions, please contact Puja Garg at pgarg@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3230.



Last Updated: June 24, 2015