Title 10, Part 422: Call for Quality Schools Guidance and Application Process Timeline for New and Existing Operators

Title 10: Education Institutions and Agencies Part 422: Call for Quality Schools Guidance and Application Process Timeline Part 422, Chapter 1: Call for Quality Schools Guidance and Application Process Timeline Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 37-28-9 and 15. Letter of Intent and Eligibility Prospective Applicant Informational Webinar This informational session will provide those interested in applying for a charter school during this application cycle with an overview of the process including an overview of the online portal for submission of documents, a high-level walk-through of the RFP, a detailed walkthrough of the proposal timeline, requirements, and eligibility demonstration. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the MCSAB website for on-demand viewing. For details visit chartershoolboard.ms.gov.

February 14, 2025

Letter of Intent Packets Due to MCSAB MCSAB staff and/or its external evaluator will review the Letter of Intent for each applicant. Conversion schools must submit their proof of support at this time. Letter of Intent packets must be prepared using the template provided and submitted via the online portal. (See SAMPLE Letter of Intent).

March 7, 2025

Eligibility Determination Notification The eligibility of an applicant team is determined by the successful submission of the mandatory Letter of Intent and the required accompanying documentation. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility via email. Applicants deemed ineligible will be disqualified from submitting a full proposal during this cycle.

March 14, 2025

Eligible Applicant Orientation Webinar Eligible applicants will receive an invitation to a webinar that provides a more detailed explanation of the evaluation process, a high-level walkthrough of the evaluation criteria, and time for applicants to ask questions. The webinar will be recorded and available for eligible applicant on demand viewing.

April 4, 2025

Call for Quality Schools Stage 1 Completeness Check Deadline for Submission of Complete Proposals All proposals must be submitted via the online platform in complete and final form. Independent evaluators will review proposals for completeness. *Monday Deadline

Call for Quality Schools Timeline 2026

May 19, 2025

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Initial Completeness Findings Distributed Independent evaluators issue a determination on completeness. If a proposal is incomplete (missing attachments) and/or incorrectly formatted, the applicant will be notified by email and have 48 hours to rectify issues and resubmit the proposal.

June 6, 2025

Remedy Window for Completeness Applicants who do not respond and/or fail to satisfy identified issues within the allotted remedy window will be disqualified from this cycle. *Monday Deadline

June 9, 2025

Final Completeness Findings Distributed Applicants will be notified of final completeness findings and eligibility to progress to Stage 2.

June 13, 2025

Stage 2 Threshold Quality Review Threshold Quality Review Begins June 16, 2025 Independent evaluators assess 5-7 critical elements of each proposal against the published Stage 2 evaluation criteria found in the application. Initial Stage 2 Threshold Quality Review Findings Distributed July 7, 2025 Applicants will be notified via email of initial Stage 2 findings. Applicants should refer to Guidance when developing a response. *Monday Notification Applicants Response to Initial Stage 2 Evaluator Feedback July 28, 2025 Applicants who do not respond by the 3:00 p.m. deadline will be disqualified from this cycle. Secondary Stage 2 Threshold Quality Review Begins August 1, 2025 Independent evaluators assess responses to initial Stage 2 feedback Final Stage 2 Findings Distributed August 15, 2025 Applicants are notified by MCSAB of final Stage 2 findings and eligibility to progress to Stage 3. Applicants found to be ineligible to move to Stage 3 will receive final summary findings and may apply again in future cycles. Application Committee/Special Called Meeting Tentative August 18, 2025 Call for Quality Schools Stage 3 Complete Proposal Review Begins Independent evaluation teams review each proposal against the Stage 3 criteria. Invitation to Capacity Interview All applicants that meet the necessary criteria will be invited by MCSAB to a capacity interview. Applicants not invited to a capacity interview will receive their final recommendation report at this time. Capacity Interviews Public Hearing – Public Comment Period

Call for Quality Schools Timeline 2026

August 18, 2025 September 19, 2025

September 22-26, 2025 TBD

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Post Capacity Interview Evaluation Team Recommendation. MCSAB notifies applicants of post interview recommendation. Friday Notification Final Applicant Response to Final Recommendation Due Applicants may submit a three-page written response to the post interview recommendation. Refer to guidance. Independent Evaluator Review Begins Review of applicant response Final Independent Evaluator Report and Recommendation MCSAB Application Committee Meets Committee meets to review and receive recommendation from evaluator Call for Quality Schools Decisions MCSAB ~ Final decision to approve or deny proposals submitted during the 2025 Call for Quality Schools Cycle

October 3, 2025 October 10, 2025 October 13, 2025 October 20, 2025

October 27, 2025 Board Meeting

Letter of Intent and Eligibility Prospective Applicant Informational Webinar This informational session will provide those interested in applying for a charter school during this application cycle with an overview of the process including an overview of the online portal for submission of documents, a high-level walk-through of the RFP, a detailed walkthrough of the proposal timeline, requirements, and eligibility demonstration. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the MCSAB website for on-demand viewing. For details visit chartershoolboard.ms.gov.

August 8, 2025

Letter of Intent Packets Due to MCSAB MCSAB staff and/or its external evaluator will review the Letter of Intent for each applicant. Conversion schools must submit their proof of support at this time. Letter of Intent packets must be prepared using the template provided and submitted via the online portal. (See SAMPLE Letter of Intent).

September 8, 2025

Eligibility Determination Notification The eligibility of an applicant team is determined by the successful submission of the mandatory Letter of Intent and the required accompanying documentation. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility via email. Applicants deemed ineligible will be disqualified from submitting a full proposal during this cycle.

September 12, 2025

Eligible Applicant Orientation Webinar Eligible applicants will receive an invitation to a webinar that provides a more detailed explanation of the evaluation process, a high-level walkthrough of the evaluation criteria, and time for applicants to ask

October 17, 2025

Call for Quality Schools Timeline 2026

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questions. The webinar will be recorded and available for eligible applicant on demand viewing. Call for Quality Schools Stage 1 Completeness Check Deadline for Submission of Complete Proposals All proposals must be submitted via the online platform in complete and final form. Independent evaluators will review proposals for completeness. *Monday Deadline

January 26, 2026

Initial Completeness Findings Distributed Independent evaluators issue a determination on completeness. If a proposal is incomplete (missing attachments) and/or incorrectly formatted, the applicant will be notified by email and have 48 hours to rectify issues and resubmit the proposal.

February 13, 2026

Remedy Window for Completeness Applicants who do not respond and/or fail to satisfy identified issues within the allotted remedy window will be disqualified from this cycle. *Monday Deadline Final Completeness Findings Distributed Applicants will be notified of final completeness findings and eligibility to progress to Stage 2.

February 16, 2026

February 27, 2026

Stage 2 Threshold Quality Review Threshold Quality Review Begins March 2, 2026 Independent evaluators assess 5-7 critical elements of each proposal against the published Stage 2 evaluation criteria found in the application. Initial Stage 2 Threshold Quality Review Findings Distributed March 20, 2026 Applicants will be notified via email of initial Stage 2 findings. Applicants should refer to Guidance when developing a response. Applicants Response to Initial Stage 2 Evaluator Feedback April 13, 2026 Applicants who do not respond by the 3:00 p.m. deadline will be disqualified from this cycle. *Monday Deadline Secondary Stage 2 Threshold Quality Review Begins April 17, 2026 Independent evaluators assess responses to initial Stage 2 feedback Final Stage 2 Findings Distributed May 1, 2026 Applicants are notified by MCSAB of final Stage 2 findings and eligibility to progress to Stage 3. Applicants found to be ineligible to move to Stage 3 will receive final summary findings and may apply again in future cycles. Application Committee/Special Called Meeting Tentative May 6, 2026 Call for Quality Schools Stage 3 Complete Proposal Review Begins

Call for Quality Schools Timeline 2026

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Independent evaluation teams review each proposal against the Stage 3 criteria. Invitation to Capacity Interview All applicants that meet the necessary criteria will be invited by MCSAB to a capacity interview. Applicants not invited to a capacity interview will receive their final recommendation report at this time. Capacity Interviews Public Hearing – Public Comment Period Post Capacity Interview Evaluation Team Recommendation. MCSAB notifies applicants of post interview recommendation. Friday Notification Applicant Response to Final Recommendation Due Applicants may submit a three-page written response to the post interview recommendation. Refer to guidance. Independent Evaluator Review Begins Review of applicant response Final Independent Evaluator Report and Recommendation MCSAB Application Committee Meets Committee meets to review and receive recommendation from evaluator Call for Quality Schools Decisions MCSAB ~ Final decision to approve or deny proposals submitted during the 2026 Call for Quality Schools Cycle

Call for Quality Schools Timeline 2026

May 8, 2026 June 5, 2026

June 15 – 19, 2026 TBD June 26, 2026 July 10, 2026 July 13, 2026 July 20, 2026

July 27, 2026 Board Meeting

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