Cave Creek Unified: Innovative Ideas for Consideration 3

Charter Academy (6-8)

Ok, now we are getting somewhere. Let's not forget that in March we suggested opening a district sponsored charter would be helpful to the budget. Let's revisit.

CCUSD Budget Solutions: Open a district sponsored charter school...

We are still crunching the numbers but we propose that in addition to closing DSES, that CCUSD use part of Old BMES and open up a district sponsored charter school (of course with a rigorous academic program!). Our proposal would make it a K-8, 300 student school with a high student teacher ratio, again working under the theory that motivated students are easier to manage. Also with academics as the focus, the school would offer less services and extras, but parents would have a choice.

The primary theory we are working on has three main ideas...

1) A charter school student (in some cases) receives more state funding than a regular student in the form of additional assistance (but no transportation). Some have calculated this to be as high as $750 higher per student.
2) Opening this charter school could help relieve some class size issues
3) CCUSD would have a great tool to recruit students (assuming it is done with achievement in mind) by embracing the charter school movement instead of trying to fight it.


Great. The distirct finally is looking into it. About time. Increase academics and save money. A win, win. 400 students could generate the district $300 to $500,000. We recently proposed opening a charter based on the BASIS Schools here in CCUSD with a letter to the board

THE solution for Cave Creek Unified: Letter to Governing Board...

So how can Cave Creek Unified School District do? Simple. Open a grades 5 to 12 district sponsored charter school at the site of the old Black Mountain using the BASIS curriculum.

Sucking the students in at 5th grade and keeping them focused until 12 is a much better option than a 6-8 solution. AP classes from CSHS could be rolled over to the charter. As far as extracurriculars, CSHS would let the charter school students partcipate and we don't know why we cannot provide them transportation like we do for Career Success. Of course being a charter school, the district cannot implement an application process for admitance despite what it says in the governing board item.

Again like the traditional school, more details about the academics are required, but we see this as a step in the right direction.

Questions for the board members to ask the administration about district sponsored Charter School:

1. Will the curriculum of the charter school be, what will it costs, and how will it differer from that currently in place?
2. Why can't charter school students be allowed to particpate in extra curricular activitives like Career Success (also a charter) students do?
3. Why can't the district provide transportation to charter school students like we do with Career Success (also a charter) ?
4. Would a 6th through 12th charter school be a better option?
5. Do the CCEA and teachers support a district sponsored charter? Will the district hire non-certified but qualified educators for the charter school?
6. Would a charter structure be a good choice for any type of school model (CK k-8 or 7-12 Prep) that is chosen?