Center for Charter Schools accepting applications through February for phase one

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Central Michigan University will likely add to their list of 54 charter schools after reviewing applications for 2011.

Phase one of the open application cycle began Jan. 3 and will run until Feb. 1. Phase two runs from the end of March until September.

“The competitive charter application is developed to identify applicants with a promising vision, a sound business plan, a quality educational plan and the ability to implement,” said Vicki Bott, data analyst of the New School Development for the Center for Charter Schools. “We expect charters authorized by CMU to be the best of the best, pillars of the community and provide quality educational options for the children of Michigan.”

The phase one application cycle determines whether the school has a solid strategy, sound plan and ability to implement. Phase one applications are reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts. Successful applicants move on to the more rigorous, comprehensive application of phase two.

The board of trustees considers chartering schools who pass both phases.

CMU received 49 applications last year, though only three passed the application process for consideration. Chief Deputy Director of the Center for Charter Schools Cindy Schumacher said the number may rise or fall this year.

“With the launch of the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers common application cycle in January and the new legislation enacted in January 2010, applicants have a number of authorizers to apply for a charter,” she said. “It all depends on how many applicants choose to apply with CMU as an authorizer.”

CMU issues contracts to the charter schools depending on performance, Schumacher said. An ideal performance usually elicits a seven-year contract, whereas a struggling school might receive only one year.

CMU did not renew charters for five schools in Detroit last year. Still, they charter more schools than any other university in Michigan. They led the nation in the number of schools chartered until recently.

“In addition to the legally-required oversight of the schools, we provide support, expertise, resources, data analysis and evaluations to assist in their success,” Schumacher said. “In the event that the school authorized by CMU cannot fulfill its obligations and perform to the standards required of the charter contract, the contract is not approved and the school is not reauthorized.”

CMU become the nation’s first university to charter a public school in 1994. The university has strived to improve education and provide more options for families since then, Schumacher said.

The Center for Charter Schools will award an annual $2,500 CMU scholarship to a Detroit student who graduates from a charter school authorized by the university, with the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Charter Public School Scholarship.