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Clearinghouse on Educational Policy and Management
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| College of Education · University of Oregon |
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Trends and Issues: School Choice
FacilitiesDocumentsED460588 EF005296Paying for the Charter Schoolhouse: Policy Options for Charter School Facilities Financing. Author: Hassel, Bryan Institutional Author: Charter Friends National Network, St. Paul, MN.(BBB35316) Availability: Maryland Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201.Tel: 410-767-0098; Tel: 410-767-0324. Sponsoring Agency: Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. (EDD00036)@; North Central Regional Educational Lab., Naperville, IL. (BBB36590) Publication Date: February 1999 Language: English Document Type: Guides--Non-classroom (055); Reports--Descriptive (141) Journal Announcement: RIEJUN2002 Descriptors: *Charter Schools; *Educational Finance; Elementary Secondary Education; *Financial Support; *Fund Raising; Money Management; Planning; Public Schools; *School Funds; Contract Number: RJ96006301 Geographic Source: U.S.; Minnesota ED454688 EF005952 Charter School Facilities: Report from a National Survey of Charter Schools. Author: Hassel, Bryan; Page, Barbara Institutional Author: Charter Friends National Network, St. Paul, MN.(BBB35316) Availability: For full text: http://www.charterfriends.org/facilities-survey.pdf. Publication Date: April 2001 Language: English Pages: 17 Document Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data (110); Reports--Research (143) Journal Announcement: RIEDEC2001 Abstract: This report presents survey findings about the U.S. charter school system that were collected from 280 schools in 19 states with over 80,000 students. The two-part report examines the responses to a short list of questions about facility costs and growth plans, and it explores information provided by a subset of schools (118 institutions) that completed longer survey instruments covering a wider range of questions about schools' facilities experiences and challenges. Among the findings are that the majority of charter schools in the survey lease their facilities, that fewer than one in seven charter schools receive "free" facilities, and that the average cost for facilities is $191,553 or $690 per student. The study also found that charter school challenges may become more acute in coming years due to planned growth, that nearly six out of 10 responders indicated plans to expand their facilities, and that the average plan is for an increase in enrollment of 63 percent or higher. The report further details the types of facilities used by charter schools; facility ownership, size, and space sharing; experience of obtaining financing; and the limitations and challenges arising from facilities issues. An appendix contains information on how the data for the report was collected. (GR) Descriptors: *Charter Schools; Data Collection; Educational Facilities Improvement; *Educational Facilities Planning; *Educational Finance; Elementary Secondary Education; *Enrollment; Expenditure per Student; *Operating Expenses; Public Schools; *School Expansion; Shared Facilities Descriptive Terms: In cooperation with Ksixteen, New York, NY. Compiled by Public Impact, Charlotte, N.C. Geographic Source: U.S.; Minnesota ED449657 EF005850 Charter Schools: Limited Access to Facility Financing. Report to Congressional Requesters. Author: Shaul, Marnie S. Institutional Author: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC. Health, Education, and Human Services Div.(BBB31516) Availability: U.S.General Accounting Office, P.O. Box 37050, Washington, DC 20013 (first copy, free; additional copies, $2 each). Tel: 202-512-6000. For full text: http://www.gao.gov. Governmental Status: Federal Publication Date: September 2000 Report Number: GAO/HEHS-00-163 Language: English Pages: 31 Document Type: Reports--Research (143) Journal Announcement: RIEJUL2001 Abstract: This report determines the degree to which charter schools have access to traditional public school facility financing, and whether alternative sources of facility financing are available to charter schools. Further discussed are potential options generally available to the federal government if it were to assume a larger role in charter school facility financing. It reports that charter schools generally do not have access to municipal bonds, the most common source of facility financing, and that charter schools that are part of local school districts might not share in local or state school construction funds. State charter school laws vary, and few of them address facility financing or provide funding for school construction or improvements, purchasing, or leasing buildings for use by charter schools. Sources of charter school financing include allocation of education funds from state, loans, and private donations; however, such funding may not adequately cover costs or are not widely available to charter schools. The federal government can broaden its role in financing charter school facilities through grants, direct loans, loan guarantees, loan pools, tax-exempt bonds, and tax credits. Appendices provide a comparison of state legislation on charter school independence, a summary of state legislation on how charter schools obtain facilities, and comments from the Department of Education. (GR) Descriptors: *Charter Schools; *Educational Facilities Improvement; *Educational Finance; Elementary Secondary Education; *Federal Government; *Government Role; *Government School Relationship; Public Schools Geographic Source: U.S.; District of Columbia ED447672 EF005796 Charter School Facilities: A Resource Guide on Development and Financing. Author: Jakubowski, Lara Institutional Author: Charter Friends National Network, St. Paul, MN.(BBB35316); NCB Development Corporation, Washington, DC.(BBB36321) Availability: For full text: http://www.ncbdc.org/ncbdc/ncbdc.nsf/charter.htm. Publication Date: April 2000 Language: English Pages: 67 Document Type: Guides--Non-classroom (055) Journal Announcement: RIEMAY2001 Abstract: This manual provides information to help charter schools navigate the facility development process, including worksheets that can be customized to suit a particular school's needs. Sections cover how facility planning fits into business planning for charter schools, review a process for assessing a school's facility needs, and summarize how to select a site and compare those found. Additionally, the manual includes an overview of construction and budgeting issues for a facility project, reviews sources of financing a project, provides a project timeline, and offers a glossary of terms to clarify technical issues in the facility development process. Appendices contain model forms for developing operating and capital budgets, balance sheets, cash flow projections, and a sample application for a National Cooperative Bank (NCB) Development Corporation charter school loan. (GR) Descriptors: *Budgeting; *Charter Schools; *Educational Facilities Planning; Educational Finance; Elementary Secondary Education; *Guidelines; *School Construction; *Site Selection; Worksheets Identifiers: Business Plans Target Audience: Administrators; Practitioners Geographic Source: U.S.; Minnesota ED447583 EA030742 Colorado Charter Schools Capital Finance Study: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. Author: Caldwell, Russell B.; Arrington, Barry Institutional Author: Colorado State Dept. of Education, Denver.(DUN16650) Availability: EDRS Price MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. Governmental Status: State Publication Date: January 2000 Language: English Pages: 71 Document Type: Guides--Non-classroom (055) Journal Announcement: RIEMAY2001 Abstract: This report discusses strategies that will help charter schools finance their facilities needs. It outlines the history of the Colorado Charter Schools Act, focusing on the contracting process, on dispute resolution and appeals, on renewal, on employee options, and on revenue allocation. The document also examines issues surrounding school operations under the Charter Schools Act. It looks at financing guidelines, types of facilities in use by Colorado charter schools, the quality of charter-school facilities, how schools acquired their facilities, and tax-exempt bond financing. Some of the roadblocks to successful charter-school capital finance involve revenue streams, limited access to tax-exempt financing, uncertainty regarding public school status, perceptions of risk, and a scarcity of resources. The document provides a general overview of the finance mechanisms used by public schools to obtain capital for their facilities needs, as well as the potential availability of these mechanisms for charter school use, such as conduit financing, loan pools, and credit enhancement. The report closes by making 15 policy recommendations that policymakers should consider as they deal with charter schools' facilities concerns. Three appendices reproduce the Colorado Charter Schools Act and the names and addresses of the 64 charter schools operating in the 1999-2000 school year. (RJM) Descriptors: *Charter Schools; Educational Administration; Educational Economics; Educational Facilities; *Educational Finance; Elementary Secondary Education; *Financial Needs; Nontraditional Education; Program Implementation; School Policy Identifiers: *Colorado Geographic Source: U.S.; Colorado ED436942 EF005627 Out of the Box: Facilities Financing Ideas for Charter Schools. Author: Hassel, Bryan Institutional Author: Charter Friends National Network, St. Paul, MN.(BBB35316) Availability: Charter Friends National Network, 1745 University Ave., #110, St. Paul, MN 55104. Tel: 651-649-5479; Fax: 651-649-5472. For full text: http:www.charterfriends.org ; E-mail: info@charterfriends.org Publication Date: July 1999 Language: English Pages: 41 Document Type: Guides--Non-classroom (055) Journal Announcement: RIEJUN2000 Abstract: This guidebook provides charter schools with ideas when seeking financing, and touches on the issues they often face regarding appropriate site, managing the construction and renovation process, and facility operation that is safe and economical. Ideas presented are based on experiences of real charter schools. The document is organized around four major means by which charter schools can meet the facility's financing challenge. The first section addresses financing preparation and provides tools that can help facilities in crafting business, accountability, and facility-development plans. The second section addresses creative ways to accumulate the amount charter schools need to finance. The third section explains how aggressive shopping, exploring low-cost forms of financing, looking for ways to make their deals less risky, and pursuing other strategies can help these schools reduce the interest rates they pay for financing. The fourth section explains how charter schools can improve public policies regarding these facilities, obtain per-pupil revenue for charter schools, and bring about other helpful changes. Appendices provide sources for additional information. (GR) Descriptors: *Charter Schools; Educational Facilities Improvement; *Educational Finance; *Guidelines; *Money Management; Public Schools; School Community Relationship; School Construction; *School Funds Identifiers: Project Management Descriptive Terms: Assistance provided by Meredith Miller and Joanne Scharer. With financial support from the Kinship Foundation. Target Audience: Administrators; Practitioners Geographic Source: U.S.; Minnesota ED436939 EF005543 Scale & Care: Charter Schools & New Urbanism. Author: Garber, Michael P.; Anderson, R. John; DiGiovanni, Thomas G. Availability: For full text: http://www.cnu.org/chartercontents.html . Publication Date: April 1998 Language: English Pages: 25 Document Type: Reports--Descriptive (141) Journal Announcement: RIEJUN2000 Abstract: The Charter School movement combined with New Urbanist designers have uncovered the importance of scale in creating school environments that are more responsive to the needs of children. This paper examines the possibilities for mutual benefit for school and community by integrating school-building into the new urbanist tool kit. The discussion covers actual implementation: a prototype building, a means for integration into the community structure, and a financial analysis geared toward developers. Also explored are the benefits of small schools, charter school laws, and the synergism realized from the cooperation of charter school operators and new urbanist developers. Concluding sections contain footnotes, an annotated bibliography, and Web site listings for additional information. (GR) Descriptors: *Charter Schools; Educational Environment; *Educational Facilities Design; *Educational Facilities Planning; Elementary Secondary Education; Public Schools; School Community Relationship; Student School Relationship Target Audience: Administrators; Practitioners Geographic Source: U.S.; Michigan ED429432 EF005340 Charter School Facility Financing: Constraints and Options. A Study for the Massachusetts Charter School Resource Center. Author: Dolan, John V.; Murray, Douglas P.; Walsh, Gregory J. Institutional Author: Pioneer Inst. for Public Policy Research, Boston, MA.(BBB28552) Availability: EDRS Price MF01/PC02 Plus Postage. Publication Date: February 1998 Language: English Pages: 27 Document Type: Guides--Non-classroom (055) Journal Announcement: RIESEP1999 Abstract: In 1991, the charter school movement began in Minnesota and since then, 28 more states and the District of Columbia have passed similar versions of charter school law. This paper examines a facility planning model designed to help charter schools maximize their chances of succeeding in the effort to secure permanent facilities. The model includes a facility feasibility element that sets the scale and quality towards which project charter schools can, and should, realistically aim to accomplish; an occupancy cost element that determines the level of total facility cost charter schools can, and should, bear; and a credit standards element that determines key financing and operating criteria that charter schools must be willing and able to meet to acquire permanent facilities through either leases or mortgages. The paper also includes a summary of leading facility financing arrangements currently in use by charter schools, and presents recommendations for enhancing charter school facility financing alternatives to benefit more charter schools and to advise prospective facility financing providers. (GR) Descriptors: *Charter Schools; Educational Legislation; Elementary Secondary Education; *Financial Support; *Money Management; Public Schools; School Administration; *School Funds Target Audience: Practitioners Geographic Source: U.S.; Massachusetts |