Community Schools
Richland Academy of the Arts Community Schools Program
We believe every child deserves access to quality education. That’s why Richland Academy is proud to be a sponsor of community schools in Ohio.
Offering Children Excellent Growth Opportunities
We are determined to provide our community schools with their oversight, mentorship, monitoring, and technical assistance with the same passion, fervor, and creativity that we provide our arts programming.
Our Community Schools Program is committed to excellent instruction, character development, social consciousness, and artistic culture in all that we do. Our staff is committed to excellent service and oversight and creating a friendly educational experience. We strive to provide a positive, and professional environment in all of our sponsored schools. The arts and education are our passion and we strive to guide our classrooms toward a curriculum that provides creative educational experiences.
The Power of Community Schools
Community Schools are innovative free public schools designed by educators, parents, or civic leaders that are open by choice and accountable to the State of Ohio for results. Charter schools (called Community Schools in Ohio) are independently run, innovative public schools that foster partnerships between parents, teachers, and students. Today, nationally, over two million children in 45 states plus the District of Columbia are enrolled. The National Association of Public Charter Schools has reported that for the past 20 years, the public charter school movement has been a leader in innovation and education reform.
By unleashing an environment of creativity in states and communities, charter schools have demonstrated that children of all backgrounds are capable of achieving high standards and that college and career readiness is a goal attainable for all. Community schools have led efforts to narrow achievement gaps and are showing that success is possible in neighborhoods where schools have been failing for generations. For these reasons, public charter schools have been the fastest-growing sector of America’s public education system.
- A community school is an independent public school that by law must perform well or it can be closed.
- A community school must practice open admission policies, meet health and safety standards, and comply with civil rights laws as well as state laws.
- A community school’s students must show satisfactory achievement equal to or better than the state average.
- A community school will often serve children whose needs, for one reason or another, are not met by traditional public schools.
- A community school provides freedom for educators and school founders to use curricula or programs to set up the school day in a way that meets all legal requirements and usually is a longer day and year. This freedom allows a school to address the special needs of its children directly.
- A community school chooses to focus on an area from arts to character education to athletics and others.
Our Team
Sheri Hughes
Director of RAA Community Schools
Dr. India Ford
Academics Lead, Regional Representative
Catherine West
Communications and Government Relations, Regional Representative
Ann Dettmer
Special Assistant
Gina Peters
Treasurer
Jason Moore
Fiscal Consultant
Adam Schira
Legal
Stephanie Teaford
Legal
Our Mission, Vision, & Value Statements
Mission for the Community Schools Program
Richland Academy of the Arts’ authorizing mission is to provide the oversight, monitoring, technical assistance, resources and leadership needed and wanted by its sponsored community schools for them to provide their students with superior academic opportunities while maintaining sound financial viability without violating their autonomy.
Vision for the Community Schools Program
To be the sponsor of choice for community schools in Ohio. By not limiting the imagination, we will honor developmental abilities and the growth of the whole child. We will cultivate communities that believe children need to grow up experiencing the arts and contributing back to their families and communities.
Value Statements for the Community Schools Program
Commitment
The Community Schools Program will provide a commitment to excellent instruction, character development, social consciousness, and artistic culture in all that we do. Our staff is committed to excellent service and oversight and creating a friendly educational experience.
Professionalism
The Community Schools Program will ensure a professional and safe environment in all of our places of learning. Our schools will be professionally structured for top academic performance. Our instructors and staff will be held accountable to the highest of educational standards.
Creativity
The Community Schools Program will guide toward creative educational experiences for all classrooms. Our focus is the students and what they learn and create, as we strive for ingenuity and unique learning opportunities.
Inspiration
The Community Schools Program will provide an inspiring educational experience. Our instructors and staff are passionate about developing learners of character and social consciousness who will use their lifelong love of learning to contribute back to their communities, families, and friends.
Community
The Community Schools Program will provide a cooperative spirit to our sponsored schools and their communities. Our instructors, staff, and students create an internal learning community, which will serve as a solid foundation for further education and employment.
Richland Academy Sponsorship Responsibilities
We are determined to provide our charter schools with the oversight, mentorship, monitoring, and technical assistance with the same passion, fervor, and creativity that we pour into our arts programming. Below, you’ll find links to resources related to our ongoing mission to ensure every child has incredible educational opportunities available to them.
Annual Reports
Richland Academy of the Arts Newsletter
Policies & Procedures
Below are links to our policies and procedures.
- New Governing Authority Board Member Approval Policy
- Community School Application Approval Policy
- Overseeing Community School Closure Policy
- System of Oversight and Evaluation Policy
- Community School Roles and Responsibilities Policy
- Sponsor Suspension, Non-renewal and Termination of a Community School Contract
- Contract Between Sponsor and Governing Authority Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy & Form
- Onsite Review Process Policy
- Community School Intervention Policy & CAP
- Roles & Responsibilities of Ohio Community School Sponsors, Schools, and Governing Authorities
Applications
Please contact Sheri Hughes at shughes@richlandacademy.com to request one of the following applications:
- New Start-up School Pre-Application
- New Start-up School Application
- Transfer School Pre-Application
- Transfer School Application
- Replicator School Pre-Application
- Replicator School Application
- Contract Renewal Application
- Contract Renewal Scoring Rubric
- Application Timelines
