Draft:Charter Institute at Erskine

Introduction

The Charter Institute at Erskine (the Institute) is a public charter school district based in Columbia, South Carolina. Established in 2018, it serves as a statewide charter school authorizer, overseeing and supporting public charter schools across South Carolina. As of 2023, the Institute oversees 26 schools with a total enrollment of over 25,000 students. An inspirational YouTube video describes the Institute’s beginnings in 2018 to becoming one of the fastest growing school districts in South Carolina.

The Institute operates under the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, which allows for multiple statewide authorizers. This model differs from many other states' charter school systems and has implications for charter school access and oversight in South Carolina.

Mission and Vision

The Institute states its mission is to "empower families with educational choice and foster innovation and creativity through high-quality charter schools." Its vision encompasses expanding educational opportunities for all students in South Carolina.

The Institute's stated goals include:

1. Authorizing and supporting high-quality charter schools

2. Promoting innovation in education

3. Ensuring accountability and compliance with state and federal education laws

4. Providing diverse educational options to meet varied student needs

Cameron Runyan serves as the current Superintendent and is a co-founder of the Institute.

Organization and Administration

The Institute currently has 37 employees and maintains a Web page for job openings at the Institute and in its schools.

Organizational Chart

The Institute has an organizational chart that lists all staff members, led by Superintendent Cameron Runyan and Chief Operating Officer Vamshi Rudrapati. Leaders in the organization include two superintendents, Missy Brakefield and Mike Sinclair, two deputy superintendents Dr. Bill Roach and Jeanie Glover, along with Chief of Staff Christy Junkins, and Naomi Morgan, Chief of Accountability and School Performance. There are 10 members of the Institute’s leadership cabinet.

Governance Structure

The Institute is governed by an seven-member board, which appoints a superintendent, who runs the daily operations of the district. The Institute’s board of trustees has authority over the management of the Institute, which exercises direct oversight of its portfolio of charter schools. The Institute reports to the South Carolina Department of Education and must ensure that the schools in its portfolio follow federal, state, and local laws.

Relationship With Erskine College

Erskine College delegated its sponsoring authority to the Charter Institute at Erskine, which is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in that state of South Carolina. The Institute is governed by an independent board that is chaired by current Erskine College President Dr. Steven Adamson. Erskine College does not and cannot receive any state funds from the Charter Institute or its charter schools.

South Carolina Charter Schools Act and The Role of an Authorizer

South Carolina Charter Schools Act

The South Carolina Charter Schools Act (“the Act”), codified in Title 59, Chapter 40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, establishes the framework for charter schools in the state. Key features of South Carolina's charter authorization system include:

• Multiple statewide authorizers, including non-profit entities
• Authorizer independence from traditional school systems
• Statewide jurisdiction for authorizers
• Specialized authorizer expertise in charter school operations
• Potential for alternative accountability measures, subject to state approval

This "authorizing shop" model differs from many other states and may have several implications:

• Potentially increased access to charter schools, particularly in areas where local districts might be hesitant to authorize charters
• More specialized support and oversight for charter schools
• Possible encouragement of innovation in school models and authorizing practices
• A system of checks and balances in the charter sector

However, this model also presents challenges, such as ensuring consistency across different authorizers and maintaining uniform standards for all charter schools.

Role as an Authorizer

As a charter school authorizer in South Carolina, the Institute's responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and approving charter applications
• Monitoring school performance and compliance
• Providing support and resources to authorized schools
• Ensuring accountability and adherence to state and federal education laws
• Promoting best practices in charter school education

Through these functions, the Institute plays a significant role in shaping the charter school landscape in South Carolina. Its impact on educational quality, innovation, and access continues to be a subject of discussion among educators, policymakers, and community members.

Finances

Under the South Carolina Education Finance Act, each school is allocated state funds based on its enrollment[10]. As codified in the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, Title 59, Chapter 40, Section 55 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, Institute-sponsored schools operate under a contract with the Institute and pay a fee of no more than 2 percent of its state allocation per fiscal year to the authorizer for its services as a sponsor. The Institute uses this revenue for its operations and to provide support for schools and their children per the Act. The Institute publishes its financials on its website.

Charter Approval Process And Oversight

According to the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, the Institute, as a charter school authorizer in South Carolina, is responsible for reviewing charter applications, approving new schools, and providing ongoing oversight. This section outlines the processes involved in charter approval and the Institute's oversight responsibilities.

Charter Approval Process

The Institute follows a multistep process for charter school approval, as outlined in its Charter School Application Packet:

Letter of Intent: Prospective charter school operators submit a letter of intent to the Institute.

Application Submission: Applicants complete a comprehensive charter school application, which includes:

• The proposed school's mission and vision
• Educational program and curriculum
• Governance and organizational structure
• Financial plan and budget projections
• Facilities plan
• Student enrollment and recruitment strategies
• Staffing plans

Application Review: Institute staff and external reviewers evaluate the application based on established criteria.

Capacity Interview: Applicants participate in a capacity interview with the review team.

Public Board Hearing: The Institute holds a public board hearing to gather community input on the proposed charter school.

Decision: The Institute's board makes a decision to approve or deny the charter application.

Contract Negotiation: If approved, the Institute and the charter school negotiate and sign a charter contract.

Annual Awards Banquet

The Institute hosts an annual awards banquet attended by nearly 500 people at the Columbia Convention Center. The 2023 banquet marked the Institute’s 5-year anniversary celebration. The Institute presents both teacher of the year and student of the year awards and special recognition for school staff members.

Institute Blog

The Institute maintains a blog to spread awareness about the positive impact charter schools are having across South Carolina.

Education and Immersion Program

The Institute implemented a new Education and Immersion Program in 2023, taking school leaders and teachers to Miami, to meet with high-performing charter school counterparts. The delegation learned about best practices for professional development and data-based analysis to improve student performance. The Institute also led a delegation to London in 2024. The purpose of that trip was to meet with charter leaders and educators and learn about their teaching methods, best practices, and strategies for increasing student achievement. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 assessment results showed that 15-year-old students in England scored above the international average in mathematics, reading, and science. The delegation also met with elected officials in Parliament who support school choice. The delegation met teacher counterparts as well. David Crook, school leader for the Cyber Academy of South Carolina, published an op-ed in the Greenville News providing more details about the delegation’s visit, “How Erskine’s Charter Institute is raising ‘global awareness’ of S.C. students.” In the op-ed, he notes that "[t]he Charter Institute at Erskine seeks to 'move the needle.' Providing high-quality education today transforms our youths into tomorrow’s leaders. Our teachers and school leaders are passionate about their work, dedicated to serving their students every day. We are grateful for this opportunity to learn from our English counterparts. We hope the Institute’s Education and Immersion Program continues to foster professional development and global awareness."

Kids First Conference

Until 2024, the Institute partnered with the South Carolina Public Charter School District (SCPCSD) to host a joint conference at the Columbia Convention Center, focusing on professional development for charter school board members and school leaders. The Kids First Conference was first held in 2021, the second annual conference in 2022, and the final conference occurred September 26-27, 2023. It was during this timeframe that the Institute overtook the SCPCSD as the largest charter school district in the state and became one of the fastest growing school districts in South Carolina. At the start of the 2024-25 school year, the Institute oversaw nearly 26,000 students while the SCPCSD managed just over 18,000. As a result, the SCPCSD declined to co-host the Kids First Conference with the Institute and instead, developed its own “2024 Leaders Summit,” to be held for only one day, on October 29, 2024. This much smaller event is scheduled to take place at the SCPCSD’s office in downtown Columbia. The meeting is ostensibly the SCPCSD’s attempt to host a smaller professional development training for some of its own school leaders and board members. Following the Institute’s focus on innovation in charter school education, the SCPCSD also branded its summit with the theme “Insights to Innovation,” with a focus on “innovative strategies that put Kids First.”

Ambassador program

The Institute annually admits a handful of students to its prestigious ambassadorship program. Interested students submit an application and conduct a series of interviews with Institute leaders to gain admittance to the program. The Institute has 16 student ambassadors for the 2024-25 school year.

National School Choice Week

The Institute plays an active role each January, supporting National School Choice Week in South Carolina. The Institute partners with State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver and promotes school choice throughout the state. Governor Henry McMaster is a regular speaker at the annual rally at the statehouse every January and issued a proclamation on January 27, 2024, in recognition of the nationwide celebration.