State Board approves three charter contracts, including Horizon Science Academy in Cedar Rapids

The Iowa State Board of Education voted to approve three charter contracts on motions made and seconded during its regular meeting.

Board members approved a contract for Future Frontiers, a Sumner‑Fredericksburg school district‑affiliated charter planning to open with a 30‑student cohort and a tiered lottery. Ryan Cunningham, superintendent of Sumner‑Fredericksburg, described two waiver requests: limited application of the Offer and Teach requirements in year one to preserve personalization and a competency‑based hour model to support internships and flexible pacing. "The personalized structure of the charter is something we want to focus on and not get resources to something that we don't need because the students don't need it that year," Cunningham said.

The board also approved a contract with Concept Schools for Horizon Science Academy in Cedar Rapids. Department staff and legal counsel explained that under a founding‑group model the contract is with the founding group (the charter management organization) rather than the school because the school does not legally exist until the contract is executed. "The founding group is the party to the contract, and Horizon then starts to exist when the contract is entered," counsel said, describing the rationale for revised contract language for founding‑group schools.

Finally, the board approved a contract for STEM Innovation High School, a Council Bluffs school‑board model for grades 9–12 that requested waivers for Offer and Teach and for days/hours to allow project‑based and extended scheduling. Vicki Murillo, superintendent of Council Bluffs, said the program aims to prepare students for both workforce entry with industry credentials and for continued postsecondary study.

Votes at a glance - Future Frontiers (Sumner‑Fredericksburg) — Motion to approve made, seconded, carried (contract approved). - Horizon Science Academy (Concept Schools, Cedar Rapids) — Motion to approve made, seconded, carried (contract approved). - STEM Innovation High School (Council Bluffs) — Motion to approve made, seconded, carried (contract approved).

Why it matters The approvals reflect the board's continued use of the sample contract templates while allowing negotiated revisions for founding‑group models and phased openings. Applicants requested targeted waivers (Offer and Teach; days/hours) to support competency‑based models and phased grade rollouts; board members pressed for clarification about how waivers interact with state graduation and accreditation requirements.

What’s next Founding groups and school boards will finalize implementation steps, complete enrollment processes and, where requested, phase in Offer and Teach commitments over specified timelines outlined in their contracts. The board's legal staff will incorporate negotiated contract language for future template use.