Polk County Public Schools
The School Board of Polk County, Florida, pursuant to Florida Statutes 1002.33, 1001.41, establishes charter schools for the following purposes: to improve student learning and academic achievement; to increase learning opportunities for all students with special emphasis on low-performing students and reading; to encourage the use of innovative learning methods; to increase choices of learning opportunities for students; to establish a new form of accountability for schools; to require the measurement of learning outcomes and create innovative measurement tools; and to create new professional opportunities for teachers.
Charter Schools in Florida shall be guided by the following principals: Meet high standards of student achievement while providing parents flexibility to choose among diverse educational opportunities within the state’s public school system; promote enhanced academic success and financial efficiency by aligning responsibility with accountability; provide parents with sufficient information on whether their child is reading at grade level and whether the child gains at least a year’s worth of learning for every year spent in the charter school. Charter schools are fully recognized as public schools.
Interested parties are encouraged to call Carla McMullen at (863) 534-0625 to register or request additional information.
When: April 11, 2008
Time: 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: Polk County School Board
This meeting is essential for anyone planning to submit a charter application. Various School Board employees will provide attendees with general information on the charter application process, School Board Policies, and requirements of charter applicants.
Florida Statutes states “…A sponsor shall receive and consider charter school applications received on or before August 1 of each calendar year for charter schools to be opened at the beginning of the school district's next school year… A sponsor may receive applications later than this date if it chooses.” As the Polk County School Board will be closed on August 1, 2008, the deadline for charter school applications to be received by the Office of Magnet, Choice and Charter Schools is Monday, August 4, 2008 no later than 5:00 PM.
All documents must be delivered to the Polk County School Board, Office of Magnet, Choice and Charter Schools at 1915 South Floral Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830.
All documents must be received before 5:00 PM on August 4, 2008. Late submission will not be accepted.
All submissions must include a one-page Executive Summary and 48 copies of your charter application.
Contact Information:
Carla McMullen
School Choice Specialist
The following documents are available to individuals and/or groups who are interested in applying to open a charter school in Polk County. The current deadline to submit a charter application to the Polk County School Board is August 4, 2008.
For additional documents and Technical Assistance Papers regarding Charter School Implementation Grant, please visit the DOE Charter School website.