Application Information

Application Cycle and Key Dates

The University of Southern Indiana Charter Schools Office follows an annual application cycle for new charter schools and charter renewals. Prospective organizers should review the dates below and plan backward from their desired opening year.​ All materials should be submitted to the charter office, and they will be reviewed by the Application Review Team.  The Application Review Team is composed of Charter Office authorizer staff and a university finance expert who make the final recommendation to the University Provost for official approval.

Application Cycles

Fall/Winter 2025 Application Cycle

The following organizers submitted letters of intent to the USI Charter Schools Office for Fall 2025:

• Williams Arts and Technology, Inc. - APPLICATION (While under review by USI Review Team, addendums may be added to provide additional information to be considered before final approval.  The proposed budget will be posted soon)

Public Information Meeting Notification

Steps to Apply

• Step 1: Notice of Intent
  Prospective applicants submit a Notice of Intent using the USI Notice of Intent Form by the published deadline for the cycle in which they wish to apply. The Notice of Intent identifies the proposed organizer, school location, grade configuration, anticipated opening year, and a brief description of the school’s mission and model.​
• Step 2: Eligibility Review and Invitation
  After reviewing the Notice of Intent, the Application Review Team will notify prospective organizers whether they are eligible to submit a full application and provide instructions for accessing the New Charter Application and supporting materials.​
• Step 3: Submission of New Charter Application
  Invited organizers submit a complete New Charter Application and required attachments by the application deadline for that cycle. Applications must be submitted in the format specified in the New Charter Application Guide.​
• Step 4: Evaluation and Capacity Interview
  Complete applications are evaluated by the Application Review Team using an application evaluation rubric. Selected applicant teams will participate in a capacity interview to further assess their readiness to successfully open and operate a high‑quality charter school.
• Step 5: Public Hearing and Community Comment
  USI will conduct a public hearing in the community where the proposed school would be located to receive public comment regarding the potential impact of the school. Members of the public may provide comments at the hearing or submit written comments for consideration by the authorizing body.
• Step 6: Authorizing Decision
  Following the evaluation process and public hearing, the Application Review Team will present recommendations to the University Provost and President.  The authorizer will approve or deny each application, and decisions will be posted on the USI charter schools website.

A similar process and calendar apply for charter renewal applications, as outlined in the Charter School Renewal Application and Guide.

Downloadable Forms:

​Public Hearing and Community Comment

Before acting on any new charter school application, the University of Southern Indiana will hold a public hearing in the community where the proposed school would be located. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments from community members regarding the potential impact of the proposed charter school on the local community.

At the public hearing, a representative of the applicant group may provide a brief overview of the proposed school, and members of the public will have an opportunity to offer comments for the record. Individuals wishing to speak will be asked to sign in and may be provided a time limit to ensure that as many interested participants as possible can be heard.​

Community members who are unable to attend the hearing in person may submit written comments to the USI Charter Schools Office for consideration during the application review process. All public comments submitted to USI are subject to Indiana’s public access laws and may be shared with the authorizing body as part of the decision‑making record.

Application Evaluation and Authorizing Standards

USI evaluates charter school applications using a structured rubric aligned to Indiana Code 20‑24 and nationally recognized standards for quality charter school authorizing from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). Applications are reviewed across three primary domains:

• Governance and Organizational Capacity
  Evaluation includes the capacity of the proposed governing board, organizational structure, leadership experience, conflict‑of‑interest protections, and plans for effective oversight of the school’s academic, financial, and operational performance.
• Educational Program and Student Experience
  Reviewers consider the strength and coherence of the educational model, alignment to Indiana Academic Standards, plans to support students with disabilities and English learners, use of assessments, and systems for monitoring and improving student outcomes.
• Business, Operations, and Financial Sustainability
  This domain includes analysis of community need and demand, facilities and transportation plans, staffing plans, budgets and financial projections, and risk management strategies to ensure the school can operate responsibly and sustainably.

USI has formally adopted quality charter school authorizing standards consistent with NACSA, as required by Indiana Code 20‑24‑2.2‑1.5. These standards guide USI’s practices in reviewing applications, executing charter contracts, monitoring school performance, and making renewal, non‑renewal, and revocation decisions.

To promote transparency and accountability, USI will post complete applications deemed eligible for review, as well as authorizing decisions, on the charter school’s website.

Authorizer Role and Legal Authority

The University of Southern Indiana serves as an approved charter school authorizer under Indiana Code 20‑24 and holds authorizing authority in accordance with its agreement with the Indiana State Board of Education. As an authorizer, USI is responsible for reviewing charter school proposals, entering into charter contracts, monitoring school performance, and making renewal, non‑renewal, and revocation decisions.

USI’s Charter Schools Office carries out these responsibilities consistent with Indiana Code and the statewide framework for monitoring and accountability of sponsors. The office’s policies and practices are grounded in nationally recognized standards for quality charter school authorizing and emphasize transparency, high expectations for performance, and responsible stewardship of public funds.