State board adopts charter contract template, performance framework and approves a slate of new charter contracts

The Iowa State Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved updates to a standard charter school contract, adopted the board's first charter school performance framework and approved multiple charter school contracts and transitional contracts for new and expanding campuses across the state.

Board members voted to adopt a uniform sample contract after department staff and the board—s general counsel outlined changes made during negotiations with applicants, including clarification about the timing of required performance reports and moving the annual audit deadline from Dec. 1 to March 31. The board also adopted a relatively short, three-domain performance framework (academic, finance, organizational health) intended to formalize accountability and to feed into renewal decisions and the department—s annual November report to the legislature.

Why it matters: the contract template establishes consistent legal and reporting expectations for charter operators. The performance framework gives the board a first formal rubric for renewal and oversight and creates a path for expedited renewals for schools that repeatedly meet standards.

Board staff said most changes to the template were technical (capitalization, cross references) but highlighted two substantive edits: (1) section 8.6 was revised to reflect statute and clarify that detailed performance reports are required in a charter—s renewal year rather than every charter filing annually; and (2) the annual audit deadline was aligned with public school deadlines by moving it from Dec. 1 to March 31. General counsel Thomas Mays told the board that some applicants requested additional contract edits that the department declined to incorporate because the language tracked statute verbatim.

The board approved the performance framework, which board staff described as a basic, first iteration built from nationally recognized authorizing practices that the department will refine using feedback from authorizers and schools. The framework includes mission-specific goals so authorizers can assess whether a charter delivers the innovation promised in its application.

Votes at a glance (motions approved): - Approve updates to proposed charter school contract template (mover: board member Brian; second: Mary). Outcome: approved. - Adopt Charter School Performance Framework (mover: Bridal; second: Cindy). Outcome: approved. - Approve newly executed or transitional charter contracts for multiple applicants, including Davenport Prep (new), Cedar Rapids Prep (transitional), Des Moines Prep (transitional), Davenport Great Oaks High School (Davenport campus), Great Oaks Des Moines (existing/transitional campus), Des Moines South (new campus), Distinctive Innovation Academy, Horizon Science Academy Davenport, Red Barn Schoolhouse, and others. Each contract was considered on the record and approved; several presenters representing the applicants introduced operations, mission-specific goals and opening timelines.

Board discussion and applicant remarks: staff emphasized the contract template is a living document; individual applicants may negotiate limited, application-specific language during final contracting. Several applicants briefed the board in person or via video and described plans for mission-specific goals such as postsecondary pathways (Davenport Prep—s requirement that seniors receive at least two postsecondary opportunities), career-technical credentialing, mastery-based learning, and nature-based elementary programming (Red Barn Schoolhouse). Davenport Prep founding principal Matt Lakeitz said, "We're incredibly excited about this opportunity in Davenport to serve students differently and ensure that they are set up for post secondary success." (applicant remarks recorded on the transcript.)

What the documents require: the template clarifies renewal-year reporting, mandates an annual audit due by March 31, incorporates statutory termination language, and lists mission-specific goals to be included in the contract. The performance framework ties renewal pathways to demonstrated standards across academic, financial and organizational measures and allows mission-specific measures to be set by the charter and assessed by the authorizer.

Next steps: contracts for schools that have not yet finalized facilities include follow-up amendments when sites, leases or capital plans are finalized; the department and applicants will file any necessary contract amendments with the board. The department also said it will solicit feedback on the framework and iterate in future meetings.

Speakers quoted or on the record: Director Ryan Wise (Director Snow in transcript), Thomas Mays (general counsel), Matt Lakeitz (Davenport Prep founding principal), and multiple board members who moved and seconded motions.