Charter Schools USA
May 15, 2013
Lafayette Parish School Board Workshop
www.charterschoolsusa.com
What are charter schools?
• Public, tuition-free schools
• Offer open enrollment to all students within the enrollment area
(non-selective)
• State funded, yet independently operated by the charter holder
• Charter schools are held accountable for student performance to the
state, the local school district and the school’s governing board
• Charters have flexibility around school design including educational
model, staffing, curriculum design, scheduling, and financial
administration
About Charter Schools USA
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Founded in 1997 and privately owned
Increasing access to high-quality education by replicating high-performing
charter schools; turning around failing district schools; and implementing
blended and virtual learning models
Network consists of 60 schools in FL, GA, LA, IN, IL, MI, NC serving over
51,000 students in grades PK through 12 (as of 2013-14)
– 56 traditional charter schools; 3 district turnaround schools; 1 virtual
school
– Approximately 50% of CSUSA schools are Title I schools
– 56% of students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch (poverty indicator)
– 68% of students are non-white
– 2012 graduation rate was 93.4%
CSUSA is the first AdvancED accredited education management company
in the country
CSUSA’s Mission
Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) creates and operates high
quality schools with an:
– unwavering dedication to student achievement
– unyielding commitment to ethical and sound business
practices,
while providing a choice for communities, parents,
students and professionals that fosters educational
excellence in America.
CSUSA’s Core Beliefs
• Believe all children can learn
– 60%+ minority students
– 50%+ free and reduced lunch (poverty)
• School culture rooted in traditional values
– Parental involvement
– Character education
– Effective discipline
– Uniforms
– Respectful culture
What makes CSUSA different?
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The nation’s first SACS Accredited Charter School Management Company
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Rigorous implementation of research-based instructional
strategies – Based on Robert Marzano’s “What Works in Schools”.
Integration of data driven methodology, proven teaching methods,
proprietary tools, and professional development to create a comprehensive
service delivery system
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Personalized Learning Plans – Each student’s learning style is
determined to enable teachers to tailor lesson plans to individual needs
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Student Information System (SIS) – parents have the ability to
monitor their child’s progress through a secured computer-based system
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Parental Involvement – Children succeed when adults play an active role
in their education. Our parents are required to volunteer because it fosters
closer relationships and ensures a more secure learning environment.
CSUSA Educational Model
CSUSA’s Model Dramatically Improves
Learning Outcomes for ALL Students
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Most important priorities for CSUSA are improving learning outcomes and closing the
achievement gap
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CSUSA transformed Downtown Miami Charter School from a low performing “F” school in
a high-poverty neighborhood to a high performing “A” school
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Hollywood Academy of Arts & Sciences was the top rated middle school in Broward County,
FL (one of largest school districts in the country)
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Successful takeover and transformation of an Osceola County, Florida school from a “D”
school to an “A” school in 3 years. CSUSA has maintained the “A” grade for 4 years
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CSUSA’s experience with dramatically improving learning outcomes has resulted in
opportunities to expand and replicate
– The state of Indiana selected CSUSA to takeover 3 failing, traditional district schools in
Indianapolis
– Chicago International Charter Schools selected CSUSA to take over 4 underperforming
schools in Chicago
CSUSA Focuses on
Academic Achievement
CSUSA has achieved outstanding results with all students - particularly
with low-income and minority students. Each sub-population of
CSUSA students outperforms state averages for reading, writing and
math in the states in which we operate.
CSUSA student sub-populations
Reading
Writing
Math
Avg. Number of Percentage Points
CSUSA Hispanic, Black, FRL and ELL students outperformed the state by
+11%
+6%
+7%
CSUSA White students and total population outperformed the state by
+6%
+6%
+3%
+22%
+4%
+11%
CSUSA Hispanic students outperformed the state by
Notes:
FRL = students qualifying for free or reduced lunch
ELL = English language learners
Building New Schools
We will construct brand new facilities in Lafayette without incurring
any burden on taxpayers.
• Red Apple, sister company to CSUSA, and a national charter school
developer (new construction, conversions, expansions)
• Since 2010, Red Apple has developed 20 schools and over 1.3
million square feet
• Provides construction management services, facilities solutions,
financing solutions
• Ensures consistent design; cost control; supervision; expertise; and
access to network of realtors and contractors
• Private Financing Sources to pay for new schools (no cost to tax
payers)
• State-of-the-art Facilities (10-15mm per school)
CSUSA’s Work in Louisiana
• CSUSA currently operates two schools in Lake
Charles, operated by the Southwest Louisiana
Charter Foundation
• In August 2013, CSUSA will open schools in
Baton Rouge and Shreveport, operated by the
South Louisiana Charter Foundation and the
Shreveport Charter Foundation, respectively.
CSUSA’s Vision for Lafayette
The Lafayette Charter Foundation and CSUSA will
create a K-12 system aligned to the
Superintendent's Turnaround Plan:
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3 Campuses (k-8 North, k-8 South, High School)
Deploy Latest Technology in the Classrooms
Health and Wellness Partnerships
Data-driven Model
True Site Management & Accountability
Thanks!
Please contact me for more info:
Jay Augustine
Director of Development & Legal Affairs for Louisiana
225.341.7944 ext. 101
jaugustine@charterschoolsusa.com