Forms and Information Needed for Submission of a Type 1 or Type 3 Charter School Proposal

In compliance with R.S. 17:3982, the Bienville Parish School Board is making public through our website, and in printed form upon request, the guidelines for submitting a charter proposal, all forms required for submission of a charter proposal, the timelines established for accepting and reviewing charter proposals, the process that will be used to review charter proposals submitted to the board, and the name and contact information for a primary point of contact for charter proposals.

Charter School Application

Applicants should complete the 2024-2025 Common Charter School Application below based on the requirements set forth:

New Operator

• Nonprofit organization whose primary members (founder and/or proposed school leader) do not have prior experience in leading or managing a public school; and

• Who do not intend to employ an educational service provider (ESP) with prior experience in leading or managing public schools.

Experienced Operator

• Nonprofit organizations whose primary members (founder and/or proposed school leader) have prior experience in leading or managing a single public school; and/or

• Nonprofit organizations which have operated more than one charter school; and/or

• Nonprofit organizations which intend to employ an education service provider (ESP) which has operated more than one charter school.

Virtual operators will complete the addendum based on the type of operator above they are applying as.

Additional Required Resources to be completed as part of New Operator, Experienced Operator, or Virtual Operator Application:

• Overview Template

• Eligibility Determination

Charter School Process Schedule

• August 26, 2024: Charter Applications released.

• September 9, 2024: Deadline for local school authorizers to release Charter Requests for Applications, Timeline, Process, and Point of Contact.

• October 25, 2024: Local school boards submission deadline for the full application for Type 1 and Type 3 applicants.

  Applicants should email all application components to byron.lyons@bpsb.us.

• November 11, 2024: Local school boards notify LDOE and state legislators of charter applications received within each district.

• January 17, 2025: Last day for Bienville Parish School Board to make decisions to approve or deny charter applications. 

• January 31, 2025: Local school boards notify LDOE of board recommendations.

Charter Application Review Process

All charter applications will be reviewed by an independent evaluator with educational, organizational, legal, and financial expertise.  Applicants will have the opportunity to provide to the evaluator a written response to the independent evaluation of their charter application before the evaluator provides a final recommendation to Bienville Parish School Board.

Charter School Contact Information

Individuals or organizations with questions about the district's charter application process should contact

Dr. Byron Lyons, Superintendent

Email: byron.lyons@bpsb.us

Phone: 318-263-9416

Posted 08/26/2024