Do You Want to Start a New Charter School?

by Wayne D. Jones, JPS Solutions | May 6, 2025

Once, in a blog I wrote roughly five years ago, I asked “Do you have a desire to create a new charter school?” And I suggested that, if so, you should ask yourself a few key questions before getting started.

At the risk of stating the obvious, much has changed in the world since I wrote that blog. As I write this, there is a push to eliminate the federal Department of Education and many of its signature grant programs. At the same time, the President and Secretary of Education have pledged support for school choice, including charter schools.

Confusing, yes? Especially if you’re trying to decide whether now is a good time to apply to create a new charter school. I mean, really, there’s a lot to process.

So let’s take a look. First, charter school authorization is governed by state legislation, so the “give and take” of federal politics has only a limited impact on folks applying for new charters. If you’re considering applying to create a charter school, then the first and most important thing for you to do is to look at the rules and regulations that govern the authorization of charters in your state. The application process varies from state to state, with some states acting as the sole authorizer and other states delegating authorizer responsibilities to colleges, school districts or other entities. In New York, for instance, new charter schools can be authorized by the state Board of Regents (administered by the New York Education Department) and the State University of New York, each of which releases Requests-for-Proposals (RFPs) once or twice a year. Contrast that with states like Pennsylvania, Colorado and Florida, where most charters are authorized by local school boards. So getting to know the state and local rules and application requirements is the first step to determining how likely your proposed charter school is to be approved.

It is also important to be aware of legislative considerations in your state that might impact your charter application. In New York, for instance, the legislature has imposed a “cap” on the number of new charter schools not only across the state but also in New York City. At the time I’m writing this, the cap for new charters in New York City has been reached and no new charters can be issued. So if you want to create a new charter school in New York, you’ll have to look beyond the five boroughs of New York City. That said, New York State can still approve nearly 100 new charter schools outside of New York City, and New York’s authorizers are actively seeking applications to create new charter schools.

Knowing the “lay of the land” in your particular locale is the critical important first step to developing a successful charter school application.

Once you’ve established that your state is open to approving new charter schools, you’ll need to complete and submit a strong charter application. The process of applying to create a new charter school is comprehensive, thorough and frankly, very, very hard. And this is a good thing, because the school you are proposing to create is going to be responsible for the education and well-being of lots of young people—in many instances your community’s most vulnerable young people. So it is important that prospective charter schools are meticulously “vetted” before they are approved.

Guided Inquiry: From Idea to Successful Application

In more than 20 years advising and working with charter schools, I have been privileged to work with parents, educators, community leaders and nonprofit organizations that were inspired to create new charter schools. In many cases, when I first sat down with a planning team, they were still in the idea stage—excited about starting a school, maybe with a theme or concept in mind, but not quite sure how to move forward. Others were farther along in the process and some had even submitted unsuccessful applications in the past. No matter where they started from, though, my team and I were able to help them cross the finish line with an approved charter by using what we call a Guided Inquiry approach.

If you’re considering starting a new charter school, it’s well worth taking the time for a Guided Inquiry process—facilitated conversations that help you work through key questions and clarify your path forward. The Guided Inquiry approach can help turn your concepts and intentions into authorizer-approved charter schools/ It provides you with the structure and space to think strategically, navigate the charter school development process and lay the groundwork for a compelling application. Basically, Guided Inquiry will help you ask the right questions early on so your application is clear, focused, and aligned with what authorizers are looking for.

Our Guided Inquiry approach uses facilitated sessions to lead your team through focused, in-depth discussions exploring key aspects of the charter school development process. It’s important that these sessions are facilitated by an independent third-party advisor who brings objectivity and keeps the focus on the questions that help you clarify your vision and lay the groundwork for a strong charter application. In our Guided Inquiry sessions, we guide teams through thoughtful, open-ended questions and targeted follow-ups that help each team refine its school design to create a focused, compelling proposal.

Among the initial questions that will guide your charter school application planning are:

• Why Do I Want to Create a Charter School? This question is designed to explore your mission and motivation. What problems or gaps are you seeking to address? Who do you intend to serve? What will set your school apart from others? Most importantly, if you put yourself in the shoes of a parent, what would you want the school to provide to your child?
• How Should I Select a Location and Charter School Authorizer? This question is designed to help you understand the local authorizing framework, your capacity to meet specific authorizer requirements and your best “fit” if you have options in choosing an authorizer. You’ll want to look carefully at the charter school laws and authorizing processes in your state, and especially how they apply to the charter school approval process of each state-approved authorizer. You’ll also want to gauge the political climate in the community where you want your school to be located—i.e., how receptive is the local community to your charter school? .
• Do I Have the Right Founding Team and Board? This question is designed to determine if the team you’ve built (or are building) has the right skills, experience and commitment to create a successful charter school. Authorizers will scrutinize the quality and capacity of your proposed Board and leadership team. It’s important to assess your founding team’s strengths and gaps early so that your application can highlight your assets while proactively addressing areas of concern.
• Am I Building and Documenting Community Support? This question is designed to measure community support for your charter school. For most authorizers, this is a “make or break” point in determining if a charter school will be approved. What evidence have you gathered to show that the community wants or needs your charter school? Have you engaged with families, educators, and stakeholders to secure community endorsement of your school?
• What’s Our School Model and Design? This question is designed to help you shape a focused academic and operational model that aligns with your vision and also meets the expectations of your authorizer. You’ll need to determine what grades and populations you intend to serve—and why. You’ll also need to define your school’s academic focus and instructional approach and demonstrate why they will be appropriate to meet the needs of your students.
• Have You Developed a Strategic Feasibility Plan? This question is designed to assess your practical viability. Let’s look at your proposed budget and make sure it meets your program, staffing and facility needs. Have you considered the challenges of governance, compliance, and accountability? Have you developed supportive partnerships?
• How Can I Develop a Successful Charter School Application? This question brings it all home. After working through the questions I’ve listed above, the key consideration becomes “Are you ready to apply?” Preparing a high-quality charter school application is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, and you need to make sure your team is ready before diving in. If you believe that the time is right, though, then you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of your authorizer’s Request for Proposals and make sure that your application addresses all of the requirements. Working with a consultant who has a proven track record of developing successful charter school applications is strongly recommended since it can reduce your stress level and increase the likelihood of approval. Even with a consultant’s support, though, writing your charter application should be a highly collaborative endeavor. After all, once approved it will be your school and your responsibility for making it work.

Developing a strong charter school application takes clarity, strategy, and commitment. A Guided Inquiry and collaborative writing process—facilitated by an experienced consultant—will help you focus your vision, address the right questions and build an application that genuinely reflects your goals while meeting your authorizer’s requirements.

Your vision for a new charter school can become a powerful reality that transforms students’ lives. If this resonates with you, then please contact me and let’s continue the conversation.

If you’d like to explore this further or discuss how it applies to your school, feel free to get in touch.