As the local school district in Chicago, CPS serves as the charter authorizer for the city. The Illinois Charter School Law requires the review of all charter school proposals submitted to Illinois school districts. CPS releases an annual request for proposals designed to review new school applications, provides recommendations to the Chicago Board of Education on new school proposals, and provides oversight to authorized charter schools. CPS uses this RFP as its mechanism to accept proposals and meet the Illinois statutory requirement. The Office of Innovation and Incubation (I&I) is the office within CPS that oversees charter school authorization and oversight for the district.
CPS is one of the nation’s largest school districts and a national leading charter authorizer, implementing all essential practices established by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers critical to fostering high-performing charter schools. Currently, I&I oversees a portfolio of 137 charter, contract, and options schools and programs, and serves over 60,000 students citywide.
The 2020 Request for Proposals
This RFP will prioritize proposals seeking to serve communities with high need of improving educational outcomes and communities experiencing school overcrowding. CPS will consider proposals from operators who seek to open charter or contract schools to serve either a “traditional” student population (grades kindergarten through 12) or an “alternative” student population of students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out.
The information, forms, and support tools needed to complete this application can be found in the tabs on this site below:
- Timeline - This tab provides a timeline of the RFP process.
- Application and Supporting Materials - This tab provides the Application for Operators New to Chicago and includes the accompanying materials required to develop and submit a proposal.
Please contact 773-553-1530 or iandiauthorization@cps.edu with any additional questions.
Request For Proposal Process Timeline 2020
Each stage of the proposal submission and evaluation process is included in the timeline below. Please note that dates are subject to change.
| Activity | Proposed Date | Information and Updates |
|---|---|---|
| RFP Released | December 30, 2019 | |
| Applicant Intent to Apply Form Due | February 21, 2020 | Due by email to iandiauthorization@cps.edu by 5 p.m. |
| Office Hours with Applicants | March 2020 | We encourage prospective applicants to reach out and schedule one-on-one appointments with us to discuss their school models, questions, and applications. |
| Tier I Application | May 1, 2020 | Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter |
| Publicly Post Tier I Proposals | Summer 2020 | |
| Tier II Application Due | July 31, 2020 | Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter |
| Tier III Application Due | September 30, 2020 | Due by 5 p.m. to Epicenter |
| Public Hearing at CPS Central Office | November 2020 | 42 W. Madison, Chicago, IL |
| CPS Board Meeting | December 2020 |
I&I reserves the right to request additional information and documentation from applicants, as deemed necessary for review, and to amend this timeline as needed.
Application and Support Material
All Application Support Material not currently available will be uploaded in January 2020.
This page includes all materials required to develop and submit a proposal if the applicant applying would be a New Operator in Chicago.
Applicant Forms and Resource Documents
Intent to Apply Form - All applicants must submit by email to iandiauthorization@cps.edu on February 21, 2020 by 5 p.m.
2020 Request for Proposals for New Charter and Contract Schools
2020 RFP for New Charters and Contract Schools – Application to open new charter or contract schools.
Helpful Documents
-
Criteria used to evaluate the quality of proposals
-
Guidance that all operators should review when developing their proposals
- Completeness Checklist (Tier I)
- Completeness Checklist (Tier II)
- Completeness Checklist (Tier III)
Domain 1: Community Engagement and Support
Section 1.2 Facilities
- ADA Compliance Report
- Inspecting Architect's Report
-
All proposals that identify an independent facility must include a completed Sources and Uses Report
Helpful Links and Documents
- List of CPS Approved Architects
-
A guide to communities and capital resources in Chicago
Domain 2: Academic Plan
Section 2.5: Diverse Learners
Section 2.6: Annual Calendar
Section 2.10: Design Team Experience and Capacity
Domain 3: Financial Plan
Section 3.1 School Budget
Helpful Links and Documents
-
Charter School Accountability Plan
Note: this plan has been the same since the 2017-18 school year. CPS is revisiting its accountability plan and this plan is subject to change for the 2020-21 school year.
Domain 4: Operational Plan
Section 4.4: Governance
Helpful Links and Documents
- Charter School Insurance Requirements
-
Charter School Accountability Plan
Note: this plan has been the same since the 2017-18 school year. CPS is revisiting its accountability plan and this plan is subject to change for the 2020-21 school year.
- Process for Establishing Non-Profit Status In Illinois
-
For recognition of non-profit status by the IRS
For potential donors to receive income tax deductions
Domain 5: Business Plan
Section 5.3.1: Operational Capacity
Helpful General Documents and Links
-
All proposals will be evaluated on compliance with Illinois Charter Schools Law
- Charter School Quality Policy
- CPS School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) Website – An explanation of the SQRP and tools to improve your understanding of the policy
- Charter School Quality Policy
- CPS Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services
- CPS Office of Language and Cultural Education
-
Charter School Accountability Plan
Note: this plan has been the same since the 2017-18 school year. CPS is revisiting its accountability plan and this plan is subject to change for the 2020-21 school year.
Application Overview
| Applicant School Name | Name of Organization Applying | # of Proposed Campuses | Proposed Grades Served | Proposed Enrollment | Planned Opening Date | Targeted Communit(ies) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Capacity | Yr. 1 | At Capacity | Yr. 1 | |||||
| Chicago Preparatory Charter Middle School | Withdrawn | |||||||
| Destiny STREAM Academy for Girls Charter School | Withdrawn | |||||||
Chicago Preparatory Charter Middle School
Application Materials – Tier III
Application Component
Application Materials – Tier II
Application Component
Section 1.2: Facilities
- Appendix 1.2: Stitched
-
Appendix 1.2: Detailed Space Requirements
Proposed school(s) (e.g. square footage, number and type of classrooms, amenities, etc.), including any special features required to properly implement the proposed model
- Appendix 1.2: ADA Compliance Report for each proposed facility site
- Appendix 1.2: Inspecting Architect’s Report for each proposed facility site
- Appendix 1.2: Letter of Intent or Memorandum of Understanding (if available)
- Appendix 1.2: Rehabilitation/Construction Plan (including scope of work and timeline)
- Appendix 1.2: Sources and Uses of Funds Report
- Appendix 1.2: Proposed timeline for securing a viable facility and completing necessary renovations to make the facility suitable for school by the proposed opening date
Section 1.4:
Section 1.5:
Application Materials – Tier I
Application Component
- Executive Summary
- Tier I Narrative
-
Appendix 2.2.2: An overview of the curriculum
Each subject/course and level (including the full sequence of subjects/courses that students will be required to complete)
- Appendix 2.2.2: Curriculum Resources
- Appendix 2.2.3: Promotion and Graduation Policies
- Appendix 2.4: Assessment Table by Grade Level
- 2.5.1: ISBE Special Education Certification Form
- 2.5.1: ISBE English Learners Certification Form
- Appendix 2.6: Annual Calendar
-
Appendix 2.7.2: Student Code of Conduct
(If developed and if not adopting the CPS Code of Conduct
- *Appendix 2.8: Parent Handbook
-
A chart showing the school staffing model that lists all administrative, instructional, and non-instructional staff positions over the school’s first five years of operation
-
Appendix 2.9: Job descriptions
Job descriptions for all leadership positions, teachers, and key support staff
- Appendix 2.9: Professional development calendar for the first year of operation
- *Appendix 2.9: Personnel policies or an employee manual
- *Appendix 2.9: Any documents, policies, tools, or forms related to staff evaluation and performance
-
Appendix 2.10: Design Team Resumes
Resumes of all design team members and candidates for positions in the school, including the identified school leader and members of the proposed leadership team. It is not necessary to provide personal addresses or phone numbers.
- Appendix 2.10: Table or Excel spreadsheet, the demographic data on student populations
-
Appendix 2.10: State or district report cards
State or district report cards (via links to public websites where the data are stored, if available), vendor reports, or other verifiable sources of data demonstrating the academic track record of all existing campuses.
-
Appendix 2.10: List of all previous authorizers
List of all previous authorizers with whom the management organization (MO) has worked, including contact information for each listed party. CPS reserves the right to contact authorizers to ask additional information about the operators’ track record.
- Appendix 3.1: Part One of Complete Budget Workbook
- Appendix 3.1: Part Two of Complete Budget Workbook
-
Appendix 3.2: Financial Controls
List or table of all financial reports to be provided to the Board, including how frequently they will be provided, and the party to be responsible for generating them; and Fiscal policies for the organization.
- Appendix 4.1: Start-up Plan
- Appendix 4.2: Copies of Applications, Registration, and Enrollment Forms
- Appendix 4.3.4: Insurance Plan
- Appendix 4.4: Each Board Member’s Application Form and Economic Interest Form
- Appendix 4.4: Board calendar
- Appendix 4.4: An Ethics Policy
- Appendix 4.4: A Conflict of Interest policy
- Appendix 4.4: A copy of the board bylaws
- Appendix 4.4: Board member resumes (board member addresses and phone numbers need not be included)
-
Appendix 4.4: Proof of filing for for 501(c)(3)
Proof of (or proof of filing for) 501(c)(3) status and federal tax-exempt status (Note: applicants must have applied for 501(c)(3) status by the Application deadline)
- Appendix 4.4: A Charter School Application Assurance Statement for Each Board Member
- Appendix 5.3: Decision Making Authority Table
- Appendix 6.1: Management Organization Draft Contract