The Charter Authority strives to provide high-quality support and resources to all schools in its portfolio. However, if schools persistently fail to meet academic, organizational, and/or financial expectations, the Charter Authority may initiate steps to end the charter contract.
Charter contracts may be ended through three means: non-renewal recommendation, revocation (or termination), or the school board’s voluntary surrender of the contract. The Charter Authority’s termination and closure policy outlines the procedures for timely communication and orderly and gradual cessation of operations while protecting student interests and public assets.
Grounds for Revocation or Non-Renewal
Non-Renewal and Charter Revocation
The Charter Authority may initiate closure of a school by recommending non-renewal during the typical renewal timeline or by revoking the charter at any time due to breach of contract, misconduct, or sustained failure to meet obligations.
Grounds for Non-Renewal and/or Revocation. At the end of a charter term, the Charter Authority may recommend non-renewal of a charter school to the CCSJ Charter Authority, LLC board if the composite weighted score of the school’s accountability measures is below 2.0. A school may earn a score below 2.0 from one or more of the following:
- Material and persistent failure to meet academic, financial, organizational, governance, or operational performance standards;
- Violation of the charter agreement, applicable law, or Authorizer policy;
- Failure to remedy deficiencies identified through formal notices of concern, action plans, or other interventions;
- Financial insolvency, mismanagement or inability to sustain operations;
- Health, safety, civil rights, or student welfare concerns;
- Material misrepresentation, fraud, or failure to provide accurate records or information;
- Persistent noncompliance with reporting, audit, or records requirements; or
- Any other lawful basis for charter non-renewal or revocation.
In the event the Charter Authority will pursue a non-renewal recommendation or revocation, formal notice will be given to the school’s leadership and board members at least five days prior to the scheduled CCSJ Charter Authority board meeting and vote.
After notice of non-renewal or revocation, the school will have five days to formally acknowledge the closure in writing. The response may include contrary evidence, corrective action plan(s), and/or presentation materials.
Voluntary Surrender
A school board may voluntarily surrender its charter by submitting a written notice to the CCSJ Charter Authority, LLC board. The written notice must include reasons for closure, the proposed final day of operation, an initial closure plan, and assurances that the school will fully cooperate with all closure requirements. The Charter Authority board will acknowledge the request and identify any additional information or conditions required in the final closure plan to protect students, records, funds, and public property.
Due process, in the form of a public hearing or appeal, is not applicable to a school board voluntarily surrendering its charter unless specifically outlined in the closure notice and acknowledged by the Charter Authority.
Closure Plans
A CCSJ Charter Authority, LLC decision to non-renew, terminate, or accept the voluntary surrender of a charter initiates immediate closure and wind-down procedures. Closure activities may continue for up to 120 days after the final day of classes or until all requirements are completed.
The school must notify designated stakeholders within 24–48 hours and submit a closure plan within five business days, or with a voluntary surrender notice. The plan must address communications, student and personnel records, staffing, finances, facilities, assets, contracts, grants, and other required closeout activities.
School leadership and the governing board are expected to fully cooperate with CCSJ throughout the process to ensure student transitions, records transfer and retention, financial obligations, asset disposition, and all final compliance requirements are completed satisfactorily.