Massachusetts Charter Schools

Guidance on FY2016 Significant Expansion

If your school qualifies as a new or significantly expanding charter school, a significant expansion report must be submitted through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (ESE's) data portal. An explanation, instructions, and a list of schools follow. The ESE has pre-loaded the applicable charter schools into this application. If you believe your school was omitted in error from the list displayed below, please contact Joanna Laghetto (781-338-3221 or jlaghetto@doe.mass.edu ). This data must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2015.

It is important to note that we once again delayed this collection to allow the schools more time to confirm their numbers. If circumstances have changed and your school will not increase its population by the 10% threshold, please let me know and do not fill this report out. Over reporting results in initial lower allocations to other charters and districts as well as an overall less efficient distribution of Title program funds. Please be assured that you will get your commensurate share of funds even if you do not significantly expand.

Explanation for Charter Schools that are New or Significantly Expanding
The Charter School Sig. Expansion application is used by ESE to collect data to plan for entitlement grant allocations for FY2016. Only "new" or "significantly expanding" schools should submit this data. Federal regulations define significant expansion of enrollment as a "substantial increase in the number of students attending a charter school due to a significant event that is unlikely to occur on a regular basis, such as the addition of one or more grades or educational programs in major curriculum areas." Minor increases in enrollment caused by normal turnover are not considered significant expansion. In Massachusetts, the ESE's criteria for determining whether a charter school has experienced a significant expansion of enrollment are:

1. The charter school's enrollment based on Oct. 1 SIMS is at least 10% greater than the previous year; and

2. The charter school is expanding for one of the following reasons:

   1. adding one or more grades according to a growth plan;
   2. the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved an amendment to the school's charter to increase enrollment;
   3. a school has secured new space to allow for approved expansion previously restricted by inadequate facilities.

Instructions for the Charter Schools that are New or Significantly Expanding
After entering the ESE's Security Portal, choose the Charter School Significant Expansion application. Using the drop-down boxes provided:

• Report the total projected number of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, by town of residence, who will be enrolled at your charter school in 2015-2016;

• Report the total projected number of special education students, by town of residence and by age/grade, who will be enrolled at your charter school in 2015-2016. Note that special education students must be reported in two separate grade categories—"age 3 to grade K" and "grades 1 through 12" in order to determine supplemental allocations for the Early Childhood Special Education Allocation grant program.

Please note that students may be reported in more than one category.

Before your final submission, please verify that the projected numbers reported as Total LEP and Total special education in the report's heading matches your records. Once complete, click the "Submit -- Final" button (only the Charter School Leader will see the "Submit -- Final" button.) This data is submitted under penalties of perjury.

Do you have questions or need assistance? Please contact Joanna Laghetto (781-338-3221 or jlaghetto@doe.mass.edu ) or Lee DeLorenzo (781-338-3224 or ldelorenzo@doe.mass.edu ) in the Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign. Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.