Charter Start Program: technical assistance program offered to support groups, who receive the Michigan Department of Education Planning Grant.

MAPSA's Charter Start program is a comprehensive program, which meets the needs for technical assistance for the MDE Planning & Implementation Grant. The primary purpose of the program is to build capacity and provide resources for the foundational needs of your nonprofit board, and the ongoing needs for your development team. 

The Program Includes:

Founding Team Needs Assessment
:

An initial self-assessment provided to your founding team, project team members and non-profit board members. Assesses your team's strengths and needs. This information will be used to provide a suggested Learning Plan to your founding team.

Planning Grant Application Review & Feedback
:

Your founding team will receive input on their scoring rubric after you have received the Planning & Implementation Grant to assist you with the improvement of your planning grant narrative as appropriate and necessary.

Marketplace:

MAPSA's Charter Marketplace includes Cooperative Purchasing Providers, Referred Providers and Providers, designed to benefit members and founding groups working with MAPSA. Your founding team will benefit from the program for the purpose of implementing the MDE Planning Grant Management Plan and related charter school start up activities for the proposed academy.

Member Publications
:

Receive all MAPSA electronic newsletters, including but not limited to: the Weekly Update, Member Confidential, Charter Start Weekly News, Legislative Bulletins, and much more.

21st Century Blog
:

Online Learning Community (OLC)
Your founding team may include up to 5 members in the OLC, which includes numerous electronic resources, including a newly growing podcast library, to support building the capacity of your founding team. Your team will also gain access to the 21st Century Schools Blog, which provides an online forum for the exchange of ideas.

Nonprofit Board Training
:

Provides your nonprofit board training in the first stage of your planning grant to give the tools and knowledge necessary for building a foundation for quality governance.

Mock Phase II Interview:

Supports a group’s efforts prior to interviewing with an authorizer for Phase II. Your founding team will receive specific and valuable feedback to perfect your interview. 

Discounted Registration for the Annual Charter Schools Conference:

Receive a discount on MAPSA's 2012 Annual Conference. MAPSA’s Annual Conference is one of the largest charter school conferences in the nation and has multiple tracks that will appeal to your team. Your founding team is eligible for a 15% discount and may send up to 5 individuals to the conference with this discount.

Additional Services for Purchase:

Project Consulting:

A MAPSA representative is available to assist your founding team with a variety of consultation services including but not limited to, the preparation of resources, consultation on core elements of the charter application, customized trainings for your founding team and budget and management plan support.  Cost is $125/hour purchased in 2-hour blocks of time.

Professional Development Training Seminars:

The series of trainings is available to those who are in the process of starting a school. The trainings, which vary on topic, will provide you with knowledge for your nonprofit board and proposed school board members.

If interested in MAPSA's Charter Start program, or would like to include the program including pricing within your grant appliation, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 517-374-9167.