ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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As required in Section 27A-12 of the Illinois School Code, all school boards with at least one (1) charter school are required to
submit the following information to the State Board (ISBE) in accordance with Section 650.55 of the Administrative Code. ISBE will
utilize information provided herein as a part of the Biennial Report to be issued on or before January 12, 2022.
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete this form and return via email by August 1, 2021 to charter@isbe.net Please complete each section and do not
type beyond the space provided. Attach additional pages or documentation as necessary.
NAME OF AUTHORIZING ORGANIZATION TELEPHONE (Include Area Code) FAX (Include Area Code)
ADDRESS (Street, City, State, Zip Code)
NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING THIS FORM TITLE EMAIL
NAME OF PRINCIPAL CHARTER LIAISON TITLE EMAIL
NAME OF GOVERNING BOARD CHAIR/PRESIDENT WEBSITE ADDRESS
OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: ___________________________ Facebook: ___________________________ Other: ___________________________
A. CHARTER SCHOOL GENERAL DATA
1. Total number of operating charter schools open on October 1, 2019 ______________________
a. Number of multi-campus charter schools (i.e., charter schools operating more than one
campus under a single charter agreement).
______________________
b. Number of virtual charter schools. (* See description below) ______________________
c. Number of charter schools devoted exclusively to students from low-performing or
overcrowded schools. (See 105 ILCS 5/27A-4(b).)
______________________
d. Number of charter schools devoted exclusively to re-enrolled high school dropouts and/
or students at risk of dropping out. (See 105 ILCS 5/27A-4(b).)
______________________
2. Total number of operating charter schools open on October 1, 2020 ______________________
a. Number of multi-campus charter schools (i.e. charter schools operating more than one
campus under a single charter agreement).
______________________
b. Number of virtual charter schools. (* See description below) ______________________
c. Number of charter schools devoted exclusively to students from low-performing or
overcrowded schools. (See 105 ILCS 5/27A-4(b).)
______________________
d. Number of charter schools devoted exclusively to re-enrolled high school dropouts and/
or students at risk of dropping out. (See 105 ILCS 5/27A-4(b).)
______________________
3. Charter school student enrollment in 2019-2020, as collected by September 30, 2019. ______________________
4. Charter school student enrollment in 2020-2021, as collected by September 30, 2020. ______________________
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 14-300
Chicago, Illinois 60601-3268
2019-2020 and 2020-2021
AUTHORIZER REPORT INFORMATION
CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT
IL law denes “virtual schooling” as the teaching of courses through online methods with online instructors rather than the instructor and
student being at the same physical location. This includes, without limitation, instruction provided by full-time, online virtual schools.
*
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ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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B. NEW CHARTER APPLICATION PROCESSES
Yes No
______________________
1. Does your organization release a request for new charter school applications annually?
If Yes, specify when the organization completed its application review process in each of the last
two school years:
a. School Year 2019-2020 (August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020)
b. School Year 2020-2021 (August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021)
______________________
If No, specify when the organization completed its most recent charter review process. ______________________
Please do not include review of charter renewal applications, as this will be addressed in a
separate section.
2. List the total number of applications for new charter schools that your authorizing oce received
between August 1, 2019 and July 31, 2020.
______________________
Of this total, how many applications:
a. Were withdrawn by the applicant after submission? ______________________
b. Were approved by your organization?
(Please attach a list of newly approved schools that includes contact information and the
charter school’s term.)
______________________
c. Were denied by your organization? ______________________
d. Other: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________
3. List the total number of applications for new charter schools that your authorizing oce received
between August 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021.
______________________
Of this total, how many applications:
a. Were withdrawn by the applicant after submission? ______________________
b. Were approved by your organization?
(Please attach a list of newly-approved schools that includes contact information and the
charter school’s term.)
______________________
c. Were denied by your organization? ______________________
d. Other: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________
4. List the total number of applications approved to open in fall 2019 that did not open.
Please provide an explanation for the decision, including the new planned opening date, if
applicable. For schools scheduled to open at a later date, please also list the targeted student
population and community to be served; the planned location or address; the projected enrollment
and grades to be served; and the names and contact information for the governing body.
(Include attachments, if necessary.)
______________________
5. List the total number of applications approved to open in fall 2020 that did not open.
Please provide an explanation for the decision, including the new planned opening date, if
applicable. For schools scheduled to open at a later date, please also list the targeted student
population and community to be served; the planned location or address; the projected enrollment
and grades to be served; and the names and contact information for the governing body.
(Include attachments, if necessary.)
______________________
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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C. CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL AND CLOSURE DECISION-MAKING
RENEWAL
1. During the 2019-2020 school year (August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020), did your oce renew
any charter schools?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the names of any renewed charter schools, the dates of renewal, and their renewal terms:
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
2. During the 2020-2021 school year (August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021), did your oce renew
any charter schools?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the names of any renewed charter schools, the dates of renewal, and their renewal terms:
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Date of Renewal
_______________________
Term
3. Do you have a charter renewal application? If not, explain why you do not have one. If so, please attach.
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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NONRENEWAL/REVOCATION
6. During the 2019-2020 school year (August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020), did your oce revoke or not
renew any charter agreements?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the names of any charter schools revoked or not renewed, the eective date of nonrenewal or revocation, and a
very brief explanation of the primary reason for nonrenewal or revocation:
____________________________________
Name
______________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
____________________________________
Name
______________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
7. During the 2020-2021 school year (August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021), did your oce revoke or not
renew any charter agreements?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the names of any charter schools revoked or not renewed, the eective date of nonrenewal or revocation, and a
very brief explanation of the primary reason for nonrenewal or revocation:
____________________________________
Name
_______________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
____________________________________
Name
________________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
C. CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL AND CLOSURE DECISION-MAKING (Continued)
RENEWAL (Continued)
4. In the space provided below, please specify the typical length of a charter renewal term (if one exists) as well as any term ranges.
Please explain the conditions leading to the granting of dierent renewal term lengths.
5. Please explain renewal processes, policies, and procedures and list criteria used by the authorizing entity to make renewal
decisions. Separate documentation, such as a performance framework or similar instrument, should be submitted in addition
to a response below.
NONRENEWAL/REVOCATION
9. During the 2019-2020 school year (August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020), did any charter schools voluntarily
close?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the names of any charter schools that surrendered their charters, the eective date of closure, and a very brief
explanation of the primary reason for the surrender:
____________________________________
Name
______________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
____________________________________
Name
______________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
10. During the 2020-2021 school year (August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021), did any charter schools voluntarily
close?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the names of any charter schools that surrendered their charters, the eective date of closure, and a very brief
explanation of the primary reason for the surrender:
____________________________________
Name
_______________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
____________________________________
Name
________________________
Eective Date of Nonrenewal
or Revocation
_______________________________________
Reason
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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C. CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL AND CLOSURE DECISION-MAKING (Continued)
NONRENEWAL/REVOCATION (Continued)
8. Please list criteria used to make nonrenewal or revocation decisions. Separate documentation, including a performance framework
or similar instrument, should be submitted in addition to a response below.
CHARTER SCHOOLS BEST PRACTICES
11. Have you noticed sustainability of best practices over three years or more in any of the charter schools that you granted renewals to
in school years 2019-20 and 2020-21? (Data collection, innovative curriculum, unique school culture, etc.) Explain:
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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2. During the 2020-2021 school year (August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021), did your authorizing oce transfer any
charter school within your portfolio to another local school board or the State Charter School Commission?
Yes
No
If Yes, please list the name of the charter school, the name of the new authorizer, and the eective date of transfer:
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Name of Authorizer
___________________
Eective Date of Transfer
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Name of Authorizer
___________________
Eective Date of Transfer
E. MISSION AND GOALS
1. State your published mission for authorizing, including any broadly dened goals and objectives. If you do not have a published
mission for authorizing, explain why.
2. Indicate which of the following policies and practices your organization pursues to achieve its vision. Check all that apply. For each
area you check, please include a brief explanation of how that policy or practice is utilized and/or implemented, and how it assists in
reaching goals.
a. Setting enrollment targets.
b. Dening the term “high-quality charter school” to guide authorization decisions.
D. TRANSFER OF AUTHORIZATION
1. During the 2019-2020 school year (August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020), did your authorizing oce transfer any
charter school within your portfolio to another local school board,the State Charter School Commission, or the Illinois
State Board of Education?
Yes
No
If Yes, please list the name of the charter school, the name of the new authorizer, and the eective date of transfer:
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Name of Authorizer
_________________________
Eective Date of Transfer
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Name of Authorizer
_________________________
Eective Date of Transfer
12. Are there any examples of best practice sharing between district schools and charter schools in your district? If so, please explain.
If not, please explain how you will encourage best practice sharing between charters and district schools in your district.
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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E. MISSION AND GOALS (Continued)
d. Promoting conversion of low-performing neighborhood, contract or other school types to charter school status.
e. Selecting locations for new charter schools based upon need. (In your response, specify criteria used to determine need.)
f. Granting preference to charter school proposals with programs not otherwise available in the district.
g. Expanding virtual charter schools.
h. Expanding alternative charter schools.
i. Include an external expert panel to review charter applications.
3. Do you have an executed contract with a legally incorporated governing board independent of the authorizer with each charter school
in your district? If not, please explain your plan to do so and timeline.
c. Promoting the replication and expansion of existing charter schools with clear guidelines to do so.
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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E. MISSION AND GOALS (Continued)
4. Have you visited the Charter Schools webpage on ISBE.net? Do you utilize the resources available to authorizers on the webpage?
If so, please explain which you find most useful, least useful, and why? If not, please explain why you do not utilize the webpage
resources
and what information or resources you would like to see on the Charter Schools webpage.
5. Summarize the nancial health of your charter sector. In your response, please identify the number of charter schools that have closed
or may be subject to revocation or nonrenewal in the 2020 or 2021 school years on the basis of nancial insolvency. If the authorizer
utilizes a nancial rating system with its charter schools, please include in your response an explanation of the methodology and the
number or percentage of charter schools within the authorizer’s portfolio that fall within each rating.
6. Summarize the academic performance of your charter schools in the 2020 and 2021 school years in the following key performance
indicators (you may provide your own attachments that summarize the desired indicators):
a. IAR Scores (if applicable): _____________________________________________________________________
b. SAT average (if applicable): _____________________________________________________________________
c. College readiness _____________________________________________________________________
d. Achievement Gap: _____________________________________________________________________
e. Graduation rate: _____________________________________________________________________
f. College acceptance: _____________________________________________________________________
g. Freshman on track: _____________________________________________________________________
h. Attendance: _____________________________________________________________________
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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F. AUTHORIZER FUNCTIONS
1. A charter school authorizer provides resources, monitors its charters, and holds its charters accountable to the terms of their charter
agreements to ensure that students have access to high-quality public school options. The following is a non-exhaustive list of authorizer
functions. Check all that apply. For each area you check, please include a brief explanation of how you perform that function.
a. Soliciting and evaluating charter applications on a dened cycle.
b. Negotiating and executing sound charter contracts with each approved charter school.
c. Conducting a formal site visit/audit of all charter schools in your portfolio. If checked, please specify the site visit/audit cycle. If this
is not the practice, please specify on what criteria the authorizer might base a decision to conduct an audit or monitoring visit (e.g.,
assessments, referrals, dollar amount of funding, prior years’ ndings, changes in personnel or other indicators, etc.).
d. Conducting a formal renewal and revocation process.
e. Centralizing the lottery for all choice schools.
f. Encouraging the sharing of best practices between charters and traditional schools.
g. Centralizing student accounting (i.e., record school placements and student progress).
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h. Providing an information system that details school characteristics and performance.
i. Providing transportation.
j. Adjudicating disputes related to student transfers.
k. Treatment of specialized populations (e.g., students with disabilities, English Language Learners, Homeless children and youth, etc.).
l. Providing technical assistance.
m. Providing a publicly published application timeline and materials.
n. Require and/or examine annual, independent nancial audits of charter schools.
F. AUTHORIZER FUNCTIONS (Continued)
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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G. AUTHORIZER’S OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES
1. How many FTE in your organization are assigned to authorizing work? # Exclusive _____________
Please include only FTE assigned exclusively to authorizing work and auxiliary personnel
assigned to work at least .25 percent time in charter authorization functions.
#> 0.25% ______________
2. Does your authorizing oce delegate any of its core functions to contractors?
If Yes, please identify what functions have been delegated and identify the contractor(s):
Yes No
3. What funding sources support the work of your authorizing oce?
Check all that apply:
a. Authorization fees deducted from each charter school’s revenue (specify amount) $ _______________________
b. Transition Impact Aid
c. State appropriations designated for authorizer functions
d. The authorizer’s general operating budget
e. State or federal grants
f. Foundation grants
g. Other: __________________________________________________________________
4. Does your organization have a budget dedicated to authorization of charter schools?
Please include only expenditures related to authorizer powers and duties listed in 105 ILCS
5/27A-7.10(a) and other authorizer functions as may be dened in individual charter contracts. Do
not include funds paid to charter schools for their operations, such as per capita funds, federal or
state categorical funds, etc.
Yes No
If Yes, separately attach a breakdown of such budgets for FY20 and FY21.
If No, provide an estimate of your organization’s direct costs for authorizing in
FY20 and FY21.
FY20 $ _______________________
FY2
1 $ _______________________
2.
What services under ILCS 105 5/27A/11(b) do you provide at a cost to any charter schools under your authorization? Explain how you
determine the cost for each service provided.
ISBE 87-14 (1/21)
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H. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Describe any support services or trainings you would like to see in terms of operating as an authorizer. Please be specic.
Providing information on the points below is optional. Please attach additional pages, as necessary, if you choose to address the issues noted.
Describe any need for changes in the charter approval process as dened in law.
Describe any “success stories” from the previous two years of authorization.
Describe any “lessons learned” for local school boards considering a charter proposal.
Describe the greatest challenges you have faced in the past two years as an authorizer.
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