Charter School FAQ's

• Charter Schools are public schools and must be non-profit by law.
• Charter Schools do not charge tuition, use non-discriminatory enrollment practices, and must not have test-in requirements for students to attend. 
• Charter Schools are subject to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and charter school students must take state assessments.
• Charter schools offer a wide range of academic models and program structures to meet the varied needs of their student populations. Some schools extend the length of the school day, while others focus their curriculum on specific groups, such as students identified as at-risk, gifted learners, young parents, or those involved with the juvenile justice system.
• Charter schools serve a broad range of students, including low-income students, racial and ethnic students of color, and students with disabilities or other special needs.

Yes. Charter schools are required to serve students with disabilities and English language learners in accordance with state and federal laws.

Most charter schools are governed by a nonprofit board of directors responsible for ensuring the school meets its mission, complies with its contract, and follows applicable laws with the principal/headmaster as the person responsible for daily operations and staff. 

Some charter schools are operated by a Charter Management Company (CMO). A CMO provides management services to charter schools, often on a contract basis. These services can include curriculum development, assessment design, professional development, systems implementation, back-office support, teacher recruitment, and facility management. These organizations can be local or out of state and still serve Colorado charter schools.

Parents and community members must first address concerns directly with the school through its established grievance process, typically outlined in the family handbook or on the school’s website. If the issue remains unresolved after following the school’s internal process, concerns can then be escalated to the charter school’s authorizer.

D49 has created an extensive document called an Annual Performance Review (APR) to evaluate charter school performance in the following areas: 

✔️ Student academic performance (SPF, state assessments, growth, achievement)
✔️ Financial management and sustainability (financial audit)
✔️ Organizational effectiveness (governance, compliance, enrollment)
✔️ Service to special populations, including students with disabilities and English learners

The APR is done yearly and is presented to D49's Board of Education every September. The APR is also heavily used as a tool during renewal. Parents and families can monitor a charter schools performance by reviewing the School Performance Framework (SPF) located on the Colorado Department of Education website, CMAS/PSAT/SAT results, and the APR's posted by the district. 

Enrollment Information

Please note: The following Charter Schools process their own student registration applications. Please contact them directly: Banning Lewis, Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, Rocky Mountain Home School, Mountain View Academy, Power Technical, GOAL Academy, James Irwin Elementary School-Canada Dr.

Exclusive Chartering Authority (ECA) is a policy in Colorado that gives a school district full control over opening and overseeing charter public schools in its boundaries. This means only the local school board can approve and manage charter schools in these districts. ECA is granted by the Colorado State Board of Education based on specific criteria to ensure that districts treat charter schools fairly and equitably.

Understanding Charter School Oversight

The review team will be made up of members from the DAAC subcommittee (a community member and a parent of a current charter school student in the district) and a district DAAC member. As well as, professionals in the field of Finance, Special Populations (Special Education, Gifted Education, and CLDE), Facilities, Discipline, Expulsion, and Suspension. 

Yes. After approval is granted, we provide a pre-opening checklist with required milestones such as hiring staff, establishing student information systems, submitting health and safety documentation, and completing facility inspections. These may be in addition to the milestones/conditions recommended in the executive summary. 

We provide technical assistance, monitoring meetings, support in completing pre-opening checklist tasks, and required check-ins with departments such as Special Education, Finance, and Facilities, etc. to ensure readiness for successful school launch.

We provide training, templates, and technical assistance to help schools meet state and district compliance requirements, including reporting deadlines, data submissions, and annual performance reviews.

We provide direct support for onboarding to district systems such as the Student Information System (SIS), assessment tools, and reporting platforms to ensure accurate data management and compliance.

District 49 also offers ongoing training opportunities for school leadership. Topics may include legal updates, instructional quality, student services, and operational compliance.

If concerns arise, the authorizer provides targeted support, which may include additional monitoring, improvement planning, technical assistance, and connecting schools to resources or partners to address specific challenges.

During renewal, the authorizer provides a clear renewal process, including timelines, performance expectations, and required documentation. Schools receive performance data and feedback to prepare for the renewal application and evaluation process.

Yes. Your main contact is the Charter Schools Specialist who will loop in other district departments such as Finance, Facilities, Special Populations teams, etc. to provide ongoing guidance, answer questions, and offer resources tailored to operational and academic needs.

We conduct annual reviews that include academic, financial, and organizational performance. Schools receive feedback reports and have opportunities to engage in improvement planning, if necessary. Site visits and data reviews are part of this process as well.

Applicants typically begin by submitting a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the authorizer by the required deadline. The RFP provides basic information about the proposed school and signals your intent to submit a full application.

Applicants must demonstrate they have access to a viable facility/land that meets local building codes and zoning regulations, safety requirements, and is appropriate for educational use. In some cases, providing a Letter of Intent, lease agreement, or purchase contract is required during the application process.

Yes. Charter schools have the flexibility to implement innovative academic designs, provided they align with state standards and meet the needs of their target student population. Some models include STEM/STEAM, Language Immersion, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Career and Technical Education (CTE), Classical Education, Expeditionary Learning (EL), Alternative, and Military.

Yes. Strong applications include evidence of meaningful community engagement and support, which may include letters of support, surveys, or public meetings that demonstrate demand for the proposed school.

Applications may be denied for insufficient academic plans, lack of financial viability, inadequate governance structures, facility concerns, or failure to demonstrate community demand or readiness to open.