After reviewing two charter school proposals in the past year, officials at Bend-La Pine Schools say the process ate up district resources and are asking if there is a better way.

In Oregon, charter schools are privately run, publicly funded schools sponsored by a district or the state. This year there are about 130 charter schools, with just a handful sponsored by the state.

Oregon’s law on charter schools requires districts to review proposals on specific criteria, including financial stability, community support, strength of instructional programs and special education.

Districts must determine whether a proposal is complete, hold a public hearing and vote to approve or deny it within 120 days of receiving it.

In Bend-La Pine, proposals were passed around to administrators in various departments to evaluate them in each area.

“Essentially every one of those checks is an administrator,” said Cheri Helt, a member of the Bend-La Pine board. “We’re investing money in the people who are putting the charter together, and there’s no money going to the districts.”

This spring, the board authorized a charter with Bend International School, which opened in September. Board members say approval came after months of back-and-forth with school organizers and district administrators to refine the plans.

Earlier this month, the board said “not yet” to a charter with Desert Sky Montessori after officials found the proposal lacking in many areas. Organizers say they will resubmit.

Peggy Kinkade, the board’s vice chairwoman, said under new Superintendent Shay Mikalson review of the Montessori proposal involved less back-and-forth, which she appreciated.

With Bend International School, she added, “it was really putting the burden on school district staff to get it all worked out.”

Redmond School District also saw two proposals in the past year, including one from Desert Sky, which hopes to open schools in Bend and Redmond.

Shawn Swisher is a staff attorney at the High Desert Education Service District who helps review charter proposals. He said most proposals are deemed incomplete on the first round.

“Really, it’s all dependent on how prepared and organized the proposer is,” he said. “We don’t have a whole lot of control on that, and we take them as they come.”

Who reviews and sponsors charter schools varies state to state. Oregon is one of 17 states where districts are the primary sponsors, according to National Association of Charter School Authorizers. Elsewhere it is left to the state’s department of education or board of education, institutions of higher education, an independent charter review board or a combination.

Amanda Fenton, state and federal policy director for the authorizers association, said while one model is not necessarily better than the others, independent review boards tend to employ more of the association’s “essential practices” when it comes to vetting proposals. Those include interviewing applicants and consulting an external panel of experts. Districts, on the other hand, have many responsibilities and don’t see these proposals every day.

Fenton noted some states where districts were initially the primary sponsors of charter schools have since created independent review boards, with dedicated staff and more experience when it comes to evaluating charter schools.

The Oregon Department of Education recognizes some districts may need more support in dealing with charter schools. The staff is looking at ways to help districts and groups proposing charter schools, including providing technical assistance or training.

In the coming months, an informal work group will meet to talk about charter school issues, including this one.

Helt, from the Bend-La Pine board, is running to represent Central Oregon with the Oregon School Boards Association and said she would push for ways to improve the evaluation process.

What most everyone agrees on is that charter school proposals need to undergo thorough vetting. Fenton called the review process the first line of defense in ensuring a charter school — and its students — are set up to succeed.

“The last thing you want to do is approve a charter and have it fail,” Helt said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7837,

aspegman@bendbulletin.com