Awarded Planning Grants 2007-2008

Green Lake School District

Green Lake Global and Environmental School

Holmen School District

Ventures Charter School

Milwaukee Public Schools

International Peace Academy

Milwaukee Business High School

Ripon School District

Crossroads Charter School

Wisconsin Rapids School District

Mead Elementary School

Vesper Elemenary Charter School

Awarded Planning Grants

Charter schools are intended to provide an opportunity to develop innovative educational programs and governance structures and provide parental and student choice within the public school system.  They must be tuition free, non-discriminatory in all policies and procedures, and attendance must be voluntary.  All teachers must be DPI licensed and students must participate in the 3rd Grade reading and the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exams.  Charter schools address state education goals and develop student assessment systems to measure student progress in attaining those goals.  Charter school contracts are legal documents that outline the goals and expectations of the charter school and outline the relationship between the charter school operator and the chartering authority.  The contract is between the planners and the district school board or other chartering authority.  Evaluation of charter schools and the decision to enter into a contract, renew or revoke resides with the local school board or chartering authority.

Charter schools may be initiated either by a petition or a proposal to the local school board or other chartering authority from an individual, group or by direct action of the board.  The school board or charter school authority may accept or deny a new charter school petition or proposal.  There is no state-level appeal process except for in Milwaukee.

Applicants for Wisconsin Charter School Planning Grants must assure DPI that the project proposed in the application is directed toward the establishment of a non-sectarian charter school which meets Wisconsin’s charter school staff certification laws and administrative rules. Acceptance of a planning grant does not bind or commit the school board or charter school authority to award a charter.  It is highly recommended that applications demonstrate significant preplanning and parent, community and school staff involvement in the planning process. 

The first page of a planning grant must be an Executive Summary which clearly and concisely provides an overview of the characteristics of the charter school.