Autonomies Checklist for New Small Schools and Small Learning Communities

First answer each question with a “yes” or a “no”. Then check whether the autonomies that you answered “yes” to can be met with Regular High School status. If not, then check the next column indicating that a special agreement with the school committee or the union or both is required. Then check whether the autonomy can be met with Pilot Status (In-District Charter), Dependent Charter High School Status, or Independent Charter Status.

Autonomy Does the new small high school or small learning community require…	Required? Yes/no	Regular High School Ö	Special Agreement? Ö	In-District Charter (Pilot) Ö	Dependent Charter Ö	Independent Charter Ö
1. …school status as opposed to a program or a school-within-a-school?
2. …a governing board independent from the school committee?
3. …the right to hire, and fire, its principal or headmaster?
4. …the right to select teachers and other staff, from within and outside the district, without regard for seniority?
5. …the right to fire or otherwise remove (excess) teachers and other staff
6. …budget autonomy through a lump-sum per-pupil budget?
7. …the right to seek outside funding and establish its own 501 (c)(3) foundation?
8. …the right to structure its own curriculum, assessment, and graduation requirements, distinct from those of the district?
9. …the right to set its own policies (promotion, graduation, attendance, discipline, evaluation instruments and procedures, working conditions, etc.)?
10. …freedom from school board regulations and teacher union contract provisions?
11. …the right to set its own school day and school year?
12. …the right to set its own workday and work year for teachers and other staff?

Autonomies checklist for new small high schools ã Bob Pearlman, 2001