FLEX PUBLIC SCHOOLSK12 ACADEMY MT. DIABLO

January 2010

Charter Review Criteria:

1. Sound Educational Program2. Likely to Deliver Educational Program3. Comprehensive Description of Elements4. Requisite teacher or other signatures5. Required affirmations

(Ed Code 47605)

1. SOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM(Part 1)

Research-based school design: Small and personalized Differentiated instruction Self-paced instruction Rigorous standards Graduation requirements meet

University of California a-g admissions requirements

SOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM(Part 2)

Curriculum is: Rigorous Aligned to California standards Broad: includes 90 courses Tested: almost 70,000 full-time students

and 50,000 part-time students Accredited:

Customer satisfaction is very high

95% of Parents Would Recommend the K12 Curriculum

97% Parent Satisfaction with Curriculum Quality

Dissatisfied

Neutral

Satisfied

Very Satisfied

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly

Source: Internal study

SOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM(Part 3)

SOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM(Part 4)

INNOVATIVE: In his recent book “Disrupting Class”, Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen predicted that 50% of American high schools will be online within 10 years.

SOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM(Part 5)

INNOVATION:

The educational program combines the best of online education (e.g., differentiation, self pacing, increased offerings) with the best of physical schools (e.g. community, sports, activities, etc)

Students take online classes at school, with offline work and materials as well.

Certified onsite teachers provide personal attention and support for core classes where students have not yet mastered a particular standard.

2. LIKELY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM(Part 1)

Mark Kushner: Lead Petitioner Educational leader with 15 year

charter school track record Instructor at Stanford University California Charter Commissioner Former high school teacher, principal,

coach, CEO and attorney

LIKELY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM(Part 2)

Flex Public Schools Board:

Scott Donahue, Coloma Partners Andrew Gordon, Esq. Duane, Morris David Lichtman, First Republic Bank Catherine Walcott, WestEd Mark Kushner

Board and partners have experience in education, law, finance, facilities, charter schools, marketing, enrollment, leadership, assessment, organizational development, and fundraising, among other things

LIKELY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM(Part 3)

Advisors and Partners (Partial List)

Paul Minney and Lisa Corr, Charter legal experts Mike Kirst: Stanford professor emeritus and former

State Board of Education President Eric Premack: National charter expert, Charter

School Development Center Nick Driver, California Charter School Association Stan Cohn, GVA Kidder (Real estate expert) Sean St. Denny: Charter school graduate

LIKELY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM(Part 4)

INTENDED CONTRACTED SERVICE PROVIDER: K12 IncThe leading online provider for K-12th GradersPartial List of K12’s Education Advisors (listed in charter)

Thomas C. Boysen, Ed.D. , school superintendent in three states

Benjamin Canada, Ph.D., Texas Association of School Boards and former school superintendent in Portland and Atlanta, and Past President of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

David Driscoll, Ed.D. Former President of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and former MA Commissioner of Education and school district superintendent.

Thomas Payzant, Ed.D. Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education and former Superintendent of Boston and San Diego schools

Betty Rosa, Ed.D. Former Superintendent of New York City Community School District #8

LIKELY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM(Part 5)

Advisors and Partners (Partial List)

Paul Minney and Lisa Corr, Charter legal experts Mike Kirst: Stanford professor emeritus and former

State Board of Education President Eric Premack: National charter expert, Charter

School Development Center Nick Driver, California Charter School Association Stan Cohn, GVA Kidder (Real estate expert) Sean St. Denny: Charter school graduate

3.COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF CHARTER ELEMENTS

Charter follows state board model

Includes all sections referred to in Education code section 47605

Matrix indicates where each section is located

4.REQUIRED AFFIRMATIONS

All statutory and other affirmations are included in charter petition

Ed. Code 47605(d)

5. TEACHER SIGNATURES

The requisite number of teacher signatures are included

INAPPROPRIATE GROUNDS FOR DENIAL

Note that financial impact on the district is not a legal ground for denial

Grounds for denial (e.g.,not meeting one of the 5 statutory criteria) must be “factual” and in writing

CONCLUSION

Please approve the charter: It meets the criteria for approval It will be a wonderful choice for the parents

of Mt. Diablo Unified, offering an innovative model and a small, college prep public high school

It will serve as a powerful Research and Development platform for the district to create the schools of the future