10 Miss. Code. R. 402-1-IV-1.7

Current through December 10, 2024

Rule 10-402-1-IV-1.7 - [Effective until 12/16/2024] Education Program

This section will describe the educational program designed to meet the needs of all students through well-developed curriculum, an assessment system, programs for special populations, and clear systems for instructional planning.

A. Standards and Curriculum

1. Explain how the school team will base its instructional program on Mississippi's state standards, including the Common Core State Standards, as is required by Mississippi Code § 37-28-15.

a. If the school team plans to adopt or develop additional academic standards beyond the state standards, explain what kinds of standards (content areas, grade levels) the school team intends to adopt or develop.

b. Provide evidence of how these additional proposed standards meet or exceed state standards.

2. Describe the proposed curriculum. In particular, describe:

a. The curricular model and focus (e.g., curriculum overview and teaching methods)

b. The learning environment (e.g., classroom-based or independent study, class size, structure, etc.)

c. Class size and structure

3. Present evidence that the proposed curriculum is research-based and has delivered or will deliver rigorous, engaging and effective instruction for the target student population.

a. If evidence of effectiveness in other schools serving similar populations is not available, explain why the proposed program is likely to succeed with the school's targeted population.

4. Explain how the curriculum is aligned to the standards.

5. Describe any plans to offer virtual courses to students enrolled in the charter school.

6. For high schools only, please provide a comprehensive explanation of how the courses and curriculum will prepare students for career- ready and/or college-level course work.

7. What elective courses will be offered?

8. Provide an overview of the course scope and sequence by subject for all major existing grades that the school would serve (e.g., K, 3, 5, 8, 12 as applicable).

a. How is this course scope and sequence aligned with Mississippi's state standards, including the Common Core State Standards?

b. What resources have been used in developing the scope and sequence?

9. For each core subject area, unique focus area, and performance level (grade level, age grouping, etc.) for the first five years of operation, discuss the resources and instructional materials to be used to aid in the transference of information (trade books, multimedia aids, science kits, etc.) and that are aligned with the mission and philosophy of the school and the proposed learning standards.

a. Discuss how the resources and instructional materials will lead to the accomplishment of the school's goals.

10. Describe how the school's curriculum will ensure cultural relevancy.

a. Provide an overview of how the particular framework and/or the curriculum materials will address the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students.

11. If the curriculum is not fully developed, provide a timeline outlining the process and benchmarks for curriculum development during the school's pre-opening year.

a. Who will be responsible for completing the alignment of curriculum with standards?

b. Are funds allocated in the budget to account for this process?

B. Pedagogy

1. Describe the expected instructional methodology and strategies that teachers will employ in order to effectively deliver the school's curriculum.

a. What strategies will teachers use to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of the targeted student population, students with disabilities, students requiring intervention and students needing accelerated curriculum?

2. What planning tools will teachers use to prepare lessons?

3. How will students" formative assessment data be used to influence teachers" instruction?

4. How will teachers ensure that each student masters content objectives and develops related skills to demonstrate proficiency across all standards?

5. Describe the investment strategies to be implemented to involve students in the school and their academics including any school-specific routines and rituals.

C.School Schedule & Calendar

1. How many days and hours of instruction will students receive?

a. As Attachment O, provide the school's proposed calendar for the first year of operation as evidence that the proposed school will be in session no fewer days than the minimum number of school days established for all public schools in Mississippi.

2. Identify the number of in-service days for teachers.

3. Explain how the calendar will support the stated goals of the educational program.

4. Describe the structure of the school day and week.

a. Note the length of the school day, including start and dismissal times.

b. Provide the minimum number of hours/minutes per day and week that the school will devote to academic instruction in each grade for core subjects such as Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.

5. Explain how the school's daily and weekly schedule will optimize student learning for all students, including those needing either acceleration or intervention.

a. As a Attachment P, provide daily schedules for one week of classes, both from the perspective of a student and the perspective of a teacher.

D. Progress Monitoring and Assessment

1. How will the school use data to refine and improve instruction?

2. Explain how the school will measure and evaluate academic progress " of individual students, student cohorts, and the school as a whole " throughout the school year and at the end of each academic year.

a. Which formative and summative assessments will be used and how will these assessments align to the curriculum?

b. How are the proposed assessments known to be valid and reliable indicators of progress?

c. Identify any other measures or assessments you plan to use for indicators and goals.

3. Explain how and how frequently the school will collect and analyze longitudinal student academic achievement data.

a. Describe the information system(s) the school will use to manage student performance data.

b. Identify the person(s), position(s), and/or entities that will be responsible and involved in the collection and analysis of assessment data.

c. Identify the staff member(s) who will be responsible for warehousing the data.

d. Identify the staff member(s) who will be responsible for interpreting the data for classroom teachers.

4. Identify the staff member(s) responsible for leading or coordinating professional development related to the use of data in improving student achievement.

5. Describe any additional data that will be collected, beyond items identified above in the description of the assessments.

6. How will the school report the data to the school community (specifically families)?

7. Explain the school's policies and standards for promoting students from one grade to the next.

a. How and when will promotion and graduation criteria be communicated to families and students?

b. What is the protocol for redress when families disagree with promotion decisions?

8.For high schools only, list the school's graduation requirements.

a. Explain any graduation requirements.

b. How do these requirements ensure students are ready to participate in college, career, military service or trade school?

c. Does the school intend to seek SACS accreditation?

d. Explain how the school will ensure students meet graduation requirements.

e. Explain how students will earn credit hours.

f. How will grade-point averages be calculated?

g. What information will be on a student's transcript?

E. English Language Learner Students

1. How will the school learn about the home language of students prior to the first day of instruction?

a. How will the data about home language be utilized?

2. When will students be assessed for placement?

a. What valid and reliable English Language proficiency assessment will be used to determine proficiency levels in listening, reading, writing, and speaking English?

b. How often will students be assessed for progress?

c. How will the results be utilized?

d. How will families be made aware of the school's programs and services?

e. Who will notify families about the results, what will be included in the notification, and when will it happen?

3. Describe the program to be used to ensure that students acquire adequate English language skills.

a. How will the instructional schedule be designed in order to provide adequate instruction?

b. What are the performance objectives and what standards will be used to measure the progress of ELL students?

c. What instructional techniques will be utilized to help ELLs develop and understand academic vocabulary appropriately in speaking, reading, and writing?

d. How will teachers support students" various English language development levels?

e. How will the school ensure that families are made aware of the school's programs and services?

4. Describe the plan to exit/re-designate students from the ELL program.

a. What will determine the exiting/re-designation of students?

b. What valid, reliable, and objective criteria will be used to measure English proficiency in each of the four language domains?

c. Describe the plan to monitor students after exit/re-designation.

d. How will the school determine if additional ELL program services are needed?

F. Students with Disabilities and Special Needs

1. Explain how the school will identify and evaluate students with disabilities pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, 20 USCS Section 1400 et seq., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USCS Section 794, and Title 11 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USCS Section 12101 et seq. as well as Title 37, Chapter 23, Sections 133-150 of the Mississippi Code of 1972.

a. Provide as Attachment Q the school's policies for identifying and evaluating students with disabilities.

b. Which staff will be responsible for this identification and/or evaluation?

c. How will the school avoid misidentification?

2. How will the school team ensure that students with disabilities can receive adequate services at the proposed school pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, 20 USCS Section 1400 et seq., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USCS Section 794, and Title 11 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USCS Section 12101 et seq. as well as Title 37, Chapter 23, Sections 133-150 of the Mississippi Code of 1972?

a. As part of Attachment Q, provide the school's policies for serving students with disabilities.

b. Which staff will be responsible for serving students with disabilities?

3. Describe the specific, research-based instructional programs, practices, and strategies the school will employ to provide a continuum of services, to ensure students" access to the general education curriculum, and to ensure academic success for students with disabilities.

4. How will the school regularly evaluate and monitor the progress and success of students receiving special education services so that students attain those goals set forth in the Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

5. How will the school ensure that students receiving special education services participate in the state testing system as mandated by state law?

G. Academic Intervention & Acceleration

1. How will the school's assessment system enable the school to identify students in need of academic intervention or acceleration? What process will be used to identify those students? Which staff members will be involved?

2. Will the school use a response to intervention (RTI) process for students?

3. For students identified as in need of accelerated learning opportunities what is the school's plan to address those needs?

4. For High Schools Only: Describes the opportunities that students will have for dual enrollment, dual credit, AP, IB, or other advanced academic courses.

5. For High Schools Only: Explain what systems and structures the school will implement for students at risk of dropping out of high school and/or not meeting the proposed graduation criteria (i.e., credit recovery, etc.).

H. Gifted and Talented Students

1. Explain how the school will identify gifted/talented and academically advanced students in accordance with Mississippi Code § 37-23-171-181...

a. Identify the testing protocol, assessments to be used, and proposed timeline for the testing and identification of gifted and talented students.

2. What methods will the school use to improve the representation of traditionally under-represented student cohorts in its gifted and talented programs?

3. Describe the instructional programs and strategies that the school will use to appropriately address the educational needs of gifted students in accordance with Mississippi Code § 37-23-171-181.

a. Will the programs require additional instructional materials?

4. How will the school adjust its schedule, if necessary, to meet the needs of G&T students?

5. How will the assessment system described earlier support the ongoing tracking of progress for students who may be above grade level?

6. How will the school provide professional development and train both G&T and general education teachers to serve the needs of G&T students?

I. Co-curricular or Extracurricular Programming

1. Describe any unique or supplementary programs students (and families) will be offered to promote improved mental, emotional and physical health.

a. Who will conduct these programs?

b. Will they be optional?

c. What community resources will be leveraged to offer these programs?

2. Describe the extra- or co-curricular activities or programming the school will offer.

a. What are the activities, how often will they occur, who will manage or oversee the activities and how will they be funded (including, will there be a fee for student participation?

i. Please describe any fees for student participation. As Attachment R, provide a copy of the school's policy for fees and hardship waivers in accordance with Mississippi Code § 37-7-335.

b. Include a description of sports to be offered.

c. Will the charter school join the Mississippi High School Activities Association?

if not, what leagues or other associations will the charter school join for the purposes of competitions?

3. Describe any volunteer or service programs for students, if these have not already been addressed elsewhere in the application.

4.For schools offering summer school: Describe the summer school program to be proposed.

a. How many students are expected to attend summer school?

b. How will they be selected for participation?

c. How many hours and weeks of summer school will be provided?

d. How will it be funded?

e. What specific student needs will the summer school address?

J. Performance Framework

1. Outline the measurable annual goals on each item in the Performance Framework (see the Application Toolkit) that the school will set during the first three years.

a. Attach a completed Performance Framework as Attachment S.

b. Elementary and K-8 schools that are phasing in one grade at a time will not receive a state-level rating until their third graders have taken the state assessment. If the school will be an elementary or K-8 school, describe specific performance targets on progress monitoring assessments described above that you will use to measure the success of the school.

2. Describe the corrective actions the school will take if it falls short of student academic achievement expectations or goals at the school-wide, classroom or individual student level.

a. Explain what would trigger such corrective actions and who would be responsible for implementing them. Please make specific reference to Mississippi's third grade gate law.

10 Miss. Code. R. 402-1-IV-1.7

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-15.