Support for charter school sponsors and applicants

We acknowledge it can be a steep learning curve for sponsors and applicants who want to open a new charter school or convert a state or state integrated school to a charter school. That’s why the charter school model provides Crown-funded support to help navigate through the application process, implement establishment plans and then open the school. Getting the right assistance at the right time means sponsors can hit the ground running.

Support includes helping prospective sponsors with their applications, working with approved sponsors to provide initial support in setting up, and on day-to-day operational support up to the first six months of operation.

Advice provided by support partners

Support is provided independently of the Charter School Agency and Charter School Authorisation Board. Support partners are providers who can offer advice on a wide range of subjects, including:

governance
finance
property management
performance management using data insights
digital systems
community engagement
long-term sustainability planning
preparing charter school applications
opening, closing and merging state schools
establishing new charter schools
transferring staff (converting schools)
school policies and implementation
employment agreements
student management systems
inter-cultural competence
state integrated schools.

Crown-funded support will not be provided to sponsors and applicants to seek legal advice, or to sponsors who have been issued with an intervention by the Authorisation Board.

How it works

Support is provided in three stages

Application support: Application support is working with prospective sponsors to ensure they put forward strong, realistic applications.
Establishment and conversion support: This support covers working with sponsors and leaders of newly approved schools to provide initial support in setting up.
Support in the first six months: This support covers working with sponsors and schools on day-to-day operational support in areas such as governance, finance and property. It provides a sufficient and reasonable time for sponsors to have all their core systems established and operating well, and for any further needs to have been identified.

New schools

Application support

Support partners can assist with articulating and peer reviewing proposals, clarifying approaches to performance measurement and developing business and financial planning.

Establishment support

Support partners can assist with developing and implementing establishment plans. They can help sponsors access information about services such as technology providers or learning support and provide training on student management systems.

Support in the first six months

Support partners help ensure all student management systems are working appropriately and the school is ready to monitor student achievement. They will assist with reviewing and confirming financial planning for the future and finalising property planning after the school has opened.

Converting schools

Application support

Applications for converting schools require a tailored process which considers the existing school and community context. Support will be provided to sponsors for consultation with community and staff. Guidance can also be offered on practical matters such as property arrangements and asset reviews.

Conversion support

Information and advice is required to navigate the conversion process. The support partner works with the sponsor through the conversion requirements and help to manage the change.

Separate to this, the outgoing state school board will receive advice from a Ministry of Education change manager to ensure they complete their transition responsibilities.

Support in the first six months

Converting schools are not expected to require as much additional support during this period as systems and processes are already well established in existing state schools.

How support is funded

The Agency pays the support partner up to:

$2,000 to help with new school applications
$8,000 to help with converting school applications.

Contracted sponsors of new schools can be reimbursed for up to:

$50,000 to provide establishment support
$8,000 to support them in the first six months of operation.

Contracted sponsors of converting schools can be reimbursed for up to:

$25,000 to assist with the conversion process
$2,000 to support them in their first six months of operation.

Questions? agency@charterschools.govt.nz