View Resource: RFP Application Restart Provider
This is the actual application that TN ASD use for operators who wish to be approved to open as restart providers. This document can work for a new start proposal or a restart proposal and, within restart, has specific questions for phase-in (phasing in one or multiple grades at a time) vs. full school transformation (all grades at once). There are numerous required attachments: financial workbooks, board member information sheets, etc. that we also release with the application and a scoring rubric aligned to the RFP.
NOTE: The ASD holds a “Creative Commons Attribution” license for this resource and requests that people interested in using part or all of the documents reach out to the ASD team. People/organizations interested in editable versions of a document should submit an ASD Help Desk ticket with their request(s).
Outcomes and Lessons Learned: Our RFP focuses on each operators’ processes for implementing, learning from, and adjusting their plan as much as it focuses on the specific programs chosen. This is because restart work has a lot more variables than a traditional new start charter school, requiring frequent data analysis and adaptation from our operators. Continuous learning and capacity to implement the plan proposed are central theme and is often prioritized, in terms of number of questions, over tangible resources (for example, there’s no request for curriculum maps or other curricular materials).
Note: Our RFP goes through an annual review and updating process to capture 1) lessons learned, 2) new context, and 3) to tailor the application to newly identified needs (e.g., alternative education programs). The RFP resource provided is from our 5th round of authorization and is tailored to the unique needs of our organization for the 2016-17 school year.