Request for Flexibility Proposal
DIRECTIONS: Please write your responses in the boxes below. Pages 1-3 constitute the school’s draft Request for Flexibility proposal; schools must
complete these pages in advance of the school’s Public Comment period. Schools must complete Page 4 before the final submission of the proposal to the
school’s Area Superintendent.
SCHOOL NAME:
Riverwood International Charter School
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE:
Strengthen instructional and school practices focused on honing and implementing a global curriculum
SPECIFIC ACTION STEP,
IF APPLICABLE:
Concept Summary
1) Describe the proposed concept and the
target population (grade, subgroup, etc.).
Explain the need that the concept addresses,
and describe how your concept meets this
need.
2) Include any research or evidence that the
concept will positively affect your school’s
student population. If no research exists,
please articulate the rationale for the
likelihood of success of the concept, and
describe your plans for risk mitigation.
International Baccalaureate Diploma-track 11th and 12th graders are exposed to a rigorous curriculum
that allows them to explore the physical and environmental sciences through an array of options.
Because of their prescribed course load, many are unable to meet the requirements of the IB Diploma
Track Science and still satisfy the physical science graduation requirement. Allowing exemption from
this graduation requirement by taking another IB science supports our internationally-minded
curriculum.
International Baccalauareate courses that would act as alternatives to the physical science requirement
meet the rigorous and world-renowned standards of the International Baccalaureate organization and
expose students a “whole-student” educational approach. Further, this exemption was one granted
under Riverwood’s original conversion charter and has proven successful in helping meet students’
needs and the aims of the International Baccalaureate program.
Waivers/Flexibility Requested
3) Explain any waivers from state law,
regulation, or rule required to implement the
concept. (Facilitators will take the lead on
the development of this portion of the
proposal.)
4) Explain any flexibility from Fulton County
Schools policy required to implement the
concept. (Facilitators will identify the specific
Fulton County Schools policies requiring
8.23.13
Fulton County Schools will work with the Georgia Department of Education to ensure that a waiver
granted to Riverwood for this purpose will ensure FCS’s compliance with DOE regulations.
Waiver requesting the definition of “physical science” in the Fulton County Schools graudation
requirements be broadedned to allow IB Science Courses (those offered currently and in the future) to
satisfy this requirement for IB Diploma-track students.
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Request for Flexibility Proposal
exemptions.)
Impact on Students and Families, Personnel, Departments, Processes, and Schools
5) List any impact of the concept on:
 Students and families;
 Personnel;
 The school schedule;
 Transportation;
 School nutrition;
 Teaching, learning, and assessment;
 School or district departments or
processes not already listed;
 Other schools; and
 Any other area not addressed above.
There are no known implications.
(Facilitators will help gather information from
relevant Fulton County Schools departments
for this portion of the proposal.)
Budget
6) Please use the budget template on the next
page to provide the estimated costs of the
concept. In the space to the right, please
identify, to the extent possible, how you plan
to modify your school budget to support any
additional funding required and/or identify
external funding source(s).
There is no significant budgetary requirement for this particular waiver outside of the International
Baccalaureate program fees and trainings that Riverwood already assumes in offering the entire
program. Additionally, text books and course materials may be needed in the future, but those again
are costs traditionally associated with offering any course.
ATTACH THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ACTION PLAN RELATED TO THIS REQUEST FOR FLEXIBILITY.
8.23.13
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Request for Flexibility Proposal
DIRECTIONS: Please enter the expected costs of your concept for the applicable school year(s). To calculate the totals for the Amounts Budgeted columns, highlight the entire
table, and press F9. You may customize the budget items.
SCHOOL NAME:
Budget Item
Riverwood International Charter School
Item Description
(Include quantities
if applicable)
<Insert School Year>
Amount
Proposed Funding
Budgeted*
Source(s)**
<Insert School Year>
Amount
Proposed Funding
Budgeted*
Source(s)**
<Insert School Year>
Amount
Proposed Funding
Budgeted*
Source(s)**
Teacher(s)
0
0
0
Paraprofessional(s)
0
0
0
Support Staff
0
0
0
Additional Pay
(certified)/Overtime
(non-certified)
Equipment
0
0
0
0
0
0
Supplies/Materials
0
0
0
Professional
Development
Independent
Contractor(s)
Transportation
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Supplements
0
0
0
Other Professional
Services
Additional
Equipment
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$ 0.00
$ 0.00
$ 0.00
GRAND TOTALS
Notes
*When determining the Amount Budgeted for personnel costs, please see the FY14 Standard Budget Items worksheet on the Charter System Cohort I Team Site.
**For the Proposed Funding Source(s), please indicate which of the following funding sources you intend to use: General Fund, Student Activities Fund, School Foundation/PTA,
FCS Seed Fund, Grants, Federal Funds, or Other (please specify the source).
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Request for Flexibility Proposal
DIRECTIONS: The Evidence of Public Notification and Comment section will not be included in the draft proposal provided for Public Comment, but it must
be included in the final RFF proposal that your school submits to Fulton County Schools. The Attachments section may or may not be included in the draft
proposal provided for Public Comment.
Evidence of Public Notification and Comment
7) List the date that your school posted the
draft proposal to the school’s webpage and
where it was posted in the school building.
8) List the date(s) and location(s) of public
meetings during which the School
Governance Council solicited oral comments.
9) Describe the process used to solicit written
comments on the draft proposal.
10) Explain how you have addressed any
significant concerns raised through the Public
Comment process in the final proposal.
Attachments
11) Please list any supporting documents and
provide them as attachments. Must attach
Strategic Initiative Action Plan.
SCHOOL GOVERNANCE COUNCIL
CHAIR’S SIGNATURE:
DATE:
8.23.13
4
Initiative Action Plan Template
Initiative Title
Implement cross-curriculuar instructional design practices that bring in international-minded and culturally diverse perspectives and encourage global
citizenship
Long-term Outcome
4. Increase standards and practices
that contribute to internationalmindedness.
Focus Area
Objective
5. International-minded Curriculum: To hone a
curriculum that embraces ideas of globalcitizenship, international-mindedness, and that
enables students to recognize their common
humanity.
Strengthen instructional and school practices
focused on honing and implementing a global
curriculum.
Initiative Team Leader
Jeremy Kopkas & Kendra Hanson
Initiative Team Members
Robert Shaw, Opie Blackwell, Ann Wilson, select International Baccalaureate (MYP 9 and 10 & DP 11 and 12) teachers
Tasks/Action Step
Result/Deliverable
Staff Responsible
1. Implement Planning for trainings in MYP programs
Vertical Teaming
Outcomes
Collaborative
Teaming Outcomes
Kendra Hanson
Date to be
Completed
5/15/14
Jeremy Kopkas
5/15/14
Service Learning
Plan
Jeremy Kopkas,
Kendra Hanson
5/15/14
Cross-curriculuar
teaming outcomes
Jeremy Kopkas,
Kendra Hanson,
Assistant Principals
6/30/14
2. Implement Planning for IB Diploma Program
Teacher professional learning community sessions
focused on increasing engaging experiences in
alignment with IB principles
3. Create a team focused on International Service
Learning experiences to partner with community
organizations
4. Implement cross-curricular instructional design
plan for 14-15 that brings in international-minded
and culturally diverse perspectives
5.
6.
Resources
RFF
Seed $
Initiative Action Plan Template
7.
8.
9.