How to Apply
Partners for Developing Futures seeks exceptional leaders of color with entrepreneurial drive and a desire to make a difference in the lives of low income and minority students through the development of high performing charter schools. We seek individuals interested in starting new schools in underserved communities or charter school entrepreneurs who seek to replicate for the first time in order to develop a small network or feeder pattern of high performing charter schools.
Partners Mentoring and Investment Program will provide exceptional entrepreneurs of color with a multi-year financial investment (not to exceed $230,000.00) and multi-year mentorship from a distinguished mentor who possesses a track record of success and who has undergone extensive training in executive coaching and mentoring to support the entrepreneur in launching a new charter school or small network of schools. Selected entrepreneurs will benefit from being a part of Partners National Network of Education Entrepreneurs. In addition entrepreneurs will participate in Partners Community of Learning and Practice, a two year program dedicating to developing entrepreneurs as recognized regional and national leaders in the sector. Partners targeted recruitment and rigorous selection process will yield investment in six exceptional entrepreneurs per year.
Application and Selection Process
The following are the steps of the Partners Entrepreneur Selection Process:
1) Application: To apply, you first need to submit the following items (all detailed in the Application Form, which can be download here.) to partners@partnersdevelopingfutures.org:
- Application Cover Sheet
- Letter of Interest
- Description of the organization you intend to build and/or operate
- Budget/Budget Narrative
- Resumes of your organization’s leadership/management team
- Three essays (see questions on page 1 of the application)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Any additional supporting evidence (optional)
2) In Person Interviews: The strongest applicants will be interviewed in person by Partners program staff.
3) Invitation to Designs of Excellence Institutes: The strongest candidates, as evaluated in the application and interview stages, will be invited to participate in a Designs of Excellence Institute hosted by Partners. This 3-day institute will expose candidates to proven school designs, instructional leadership, and the performance management of charter schools. All costs (travel, meals, incidentals) are covered by Partners for Developing Futures.
4) Partners Entrepreneur Selection: After each of the selection phases described above, Partners staff will determine which candidates will be recommended to the Partners Board for multi-year investment and membership into the Partners Mentorship Program. No more than six entrepreneurs will be selected per cohort.
Application Deadline: January 15, 2013
Please submit all materials to partners@partnersdevelopingfutures.org.
Click here to download our Application Process Timeline.
Commitments and Expectations from Selected Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs selected to participate in the Partners Investment and Mentoring Program must make the following commitments:
• Participate in monthly mentoring/executive coaching sessions provided by a distinguished member of Partners Faculty of Mentors over a two to four year period (length of mentoring relationship will vary from entrepreneur to entrepreneur.
• Participate in Partners Community of Learning and Practice (three sessions per year over two years. Each session will begin on Thursday morning and end by noon on Saturday). All costs to participate covered by Partners for Developing Futures.
• Participate in Partners student achievement data gathering process
• In collaboration with mentor develop annual school success plans that include goals directly aligned to Partners Measures of Excellence metrics and an explanation for uses of Partners financial investment. Plans must be approved by the charter school’s board.
• Submit annual reports as required by the Partners investment agreement • Participate in annual evaluation of Partners assigned mentor and Partners recommended external partner organizations (if applicable).
• Promote the Partners Brand by identifying membership in Partners National Network of Education Entrepreneurs when appropriate
• Assist Partners with outreach and recruitment efforts by recommending exceptional entrepreneurs of color to apply.
Partners Measures of Excellence Metrics
Partners will track the progress and success charter schools and networks throughout its investment and mentoring relationship with selected Entrepreneurs. In fulfilling its vision of dramatically increasing the number of minorities leading cost-effective, high-quality charter schools and charter school networks, Partners must be relentless in its focus on excellence and maintain high standards in selecting and supporting minority-led schools. Partners will analyze standardized assessment data as part of its evaluation of funded schools because they are an essential measure of performance and accountability. Partners will also examine other widely accepted indicators of performance and effectiveness. Funded charter schools and networks will provide necessary data and report on benchmarks that Partners will use to measure their progress and success over time. This includes:
• An annual evaluation of:
1. Comparative Results on Standardized Assessments – annual analysis of student performance on state assessments, including No Child Left Behind’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements, to track student performance and growth over time compared to traditional district and state public schools on average.
2. Cohort Gains and Growth – student performance, by cohort, upon enrollment through graduation as demonstrated by annual gains on national norm-referenced standardized assessments compared to other schools.
3. Other Leading Indicators
a. Attendance – annual average daily attendance
b. Student Retention – percentage of students who re-enroll each year, excluding students
who move out of commuting distance
c. College Admissions Tests - all students take the SAT, PSAT, or ACT
d. Graduation Rates – percentage of students who graduate on time
e. College Enrollment – percentage of high school graduates who enroll in college within the
year following graduation
f. Demand – the number of applications per seat
g. Time Spent on Instruction – length of school day and year, and average hours spent on
academic/core instruction per day.• Quarterly financial reports that pay particular attention to overall cost effectiveness, cost per seat metrics, ongoing progress towards financial sustainability, and cost per unit of student achievement gain.
• Annual operations reports that include leadership and staffing issues, board development and effectiveness, fundraising, and key partnerships and local support.
