Information for New Schools

Useful Resources For New Schools/Operators

If you are interested in contracting with MPS to open a new Charter School or Partnership School, you will find the links below to be helpful as you engage in this process.  (Please click the links for more information).

MPS works with a number of organizations to provide a variety of educational and programming opportunities for its students.  These opportunities include, but are not limited to, charter schools, partnership schools and other contracted educational programs. 

A charter school is a public school, that, in accordance with state statute, is exempt from most provisions of Wisconsin Statutes, Chapters 115-121, except as explicitly required by law or agreed to by the parties.  In return for more autonomy from state and local control, charter schools agree to be held to higher standards of accountability.  MPS has two types of charters schools:  Instrumentality Charter Schools, which are staffed by MPS employees and serve students in facilities that are owned or leased by MPS and Non-instrumentality Charter Schools which serve students in buildings that are owned or leased by the school operator and are staffed by non-MPS employees.

Partnership schools are operated by community-based agencies or organizations under contract with MPS that partner with MPS to provide educational options for parents of students at-risk of not completing high school (as defined by Wisconsin Statute 118.153) or provide other educational programming or services that meet the District's identified programming needs.  Eligibility for enrollment at partnership school is based on statutory definitions, individual program criteria, permission of parent/guardian and/or seat availability.

MPS Charter School Application Guidebook

Relevant Statutes

• Wisconsin State Statute Section 118.40 (Charter Schools)
• Wisconsin State Statute Section 118.153 (At-Risk Schools)

Relevant MPS Guidelines, Policies and Procedures

• MPS Administrative Policy 6.09
• MPS Administrative Policy 6.32
• MPS Administrative Policy 8.47
• MPS Administrative Policy 8.48
• MPS Administrative Policy 9.12
• MPS Administrative Procedure 9.12
• MPS Parent/Student Handbook on Rights, Responsibilities and Discipline
• MPS Budget Template
• Wisconsin Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements
• MPS Annual Assessment Calendar (Traditional/Early Start)

Other helpful resources

• National Association of Charter School Authorizers
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (Charter Schools)
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (At-Risk Schools)
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (ESSA/ESEA)