One of the biggest obstacles to opening a new school is establishing an effective support network. The Alliance of Model Schools is a cost-free membership that provides resources, advocacy and networking for schools that implement a new school design.  Learn more, click here.

Do you have specific questions about replicating a new school model?

Are you interested in model schools? Email or call us! Dawn Downes, Director of Innovative School Models, 302-656-4737 or ddownes@innovativeschools.org.

Register for
March Events


Project Based Learning
101 Workshop
March 19-21, 2012
8:30am-4:00pm each day
Delaware New Tech Academy
399 North Market Street
Seaford, DE 19973

Group discounts available!
To register, click here.

Innovative Practices Showcase
March 22, 2012
1:00-5:00pm
Maple Dale Country Club
180 Maple Dale Circle
Dover, DE 19904

No cost to attend.
To register, click here.

Thank you!
Innovative Schools would like to thank the Welfare Foundation for their support of Innovative Schools’ New School Development program, which helps to launch new charter schools. The Welfare gift will provide a revolving fund to cover the costs for community groups interested in working with Innovative Schools to develop a high quality charter application and replicate one of school designs in our Portfolio of Model Schools.

  Start a Charter School

 
Application Phase   |   Planning Phase   |   Start-Up Phase

Through our New School Development Program, Innovative Schools builds partnerships with community groups and Founding Boards to provide the vital support and resources necessary to replicate and implement a high quality, innovative charter school from scratch.   We support the launch of new charter schools in three key ways:

1. We help you choose a modern school model from our diverse portfolio of high-quality K-12 school models.

Each school in Innovative Schools’ portfolio has a strong record of successful replication in public schools.  For those schools interested in models not reflected in the portfolio, Innovative Schools can research models for you and conduct due diligence to ensure its fit for your school and community.  To learn more about each of the schools in our Portfolio, and view videos about these models in action, click here.

2. We help you engage your local community to determine the need and demand for a new charter school.

Our Model School Tours take Founding Board members to visit selected models, observe classes and talk with school leaders, teachers, and students.  To learn more about our Model School Tours, or to sign up for a tour, click here.

We help you identify key stakeholders and support the implementation of community engagement meetings to provide a platform for informing, organizing, and mobilizing educators, students, families, and communities who want modern schools that inspire passionate teaching and learning.   

3.We provide direct technical assistance through each phase of the charter school process.

Utilizing the expertise of Innovative Schools staff, local and national consultants, Innovative Schools provides direct technical assistance through each phase of starting a charter school – Application Year, Planning Year, and Start-Up.   These supports are intended to extend the Founding Board’s capacity to prepare a charter application and obtain charter approval, ensure appropriate oversight, and operate the school successfully during the first year of operation and beyond.  To learn more about what this support looks like in each phase, click here.