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Executive Summary
Bright Futures Charter Academy is a nonprofit that plans to open and run a tuition-free public charter school in the east side of our city, serving kindergarten through second grade in our first year, adding a grade each year, with a focus on reading. This plan covers our first five years of operation. A charter school begins with a long planning period and an application to an authorizer, which is described in the sections below.
Every child deserves a school where they are known, challenged and supported. Many families in our community say that the schools available to them do not meet their children's needs. A charter school is a public school, open to all students and free to attend, that is run independently under a charter, with more freedom in return for being held accountable for results. We plan to open a school that is excellent, honest about results and accountable to families.
In Year 1 we plan to serve about 120 students in kindergarten through second grade. Our Year 1 budget is about $1,170,000, growing to about $3,021,000 by Year 5 as we grow from 120 students in Year 1 to 320 in Year 5, adding grades and students each year. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small amount set aside in savings.
We are asking the Lakeshore Community Trust for $150,000, as part of the $150,000 in grants and contracts we need for Year 1. The other $1,020,000 in Year 1 comes from per-pupil state funding, which we plan to grow to about $2,944,000 a year by Year 5. Grant money helps pay for the planning and start-up of the school and for programs that state funding does not cover. Most of our income, once open, comes from per-pupil state funding.
We will measure how many students we enroll and keep, how students grow in reading and math, how many students graduate or move on ready for the next stage, and how families rate the school. We will report results to our funders every six months.
Company Description
Bright Futures Charter Academy is a nonprofit organization in Georgia. A 501(c)(3) public charity
Our mission. To give every child a rigorous, joyful education that prepares them to succeed in school and life.
How we started and what we have done. We began in 2024 when a group of teachers and parents started meeting to design a school for our neighborhood. We have since held 20 community meetings and collected more than 400 signatures from families who want a new school.
What we do:
- Plan, apply for and open a public charter school, following the process set by our authorizer and state law.
- Operate a school that is free to attend, open to all students and admits by lottery if more students apply than we have seats.
- Serve every student, including students with disabilities and students who are learning English, as the law requires.
- Hold ourselves to clear goals for student learning, and share the results publicly.
- Be governed by an independent board that includes parents and community members.
Where we work. A leased building on the east side, open Monday to Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Our partners. A charter school support organization that advises us, a university education school, a community center and two local churches.
Honest note about the process. Starting a charter school is a large, multi-year project. It usually takes one to two years to write the application, gain approval from an authorizer (such as a school district, a state board or a university), find and prepare a building, hire staff and enroll students. Teams that succeed have experienced educators, business and legal advice and strong community support. Federal Charter Schools Program grants, passed through the state, can help with start-up costs, but they are competitive.
How we are run. A volunteer Board of Directors (a small group of community members who oversee the organization) meets regularly, approves the budget, reviews the finances and oversees the Executive Director.
Problem & Opportunity
Why this school is needed.
Many families in the east side of our city are not satisfied with their options for their children's education. Some schools are overcrowded, some have low test scores or high turnover, and some do not offer the programs families want. Families who can afford to move or pay for private school have choices. Many do not.
Facts about our community. According to the state report card, many third graders in our neighborhood schools do not read at grade level.
Gaps in the help that exists now:
1. Results. In some schools, many students are not reading or doing math at grade level.
2. Fit. Some students need a different approach, such as smaller classes, a longer day or a particular program.
3. Voice. Parents often feel they have little say in their child's school.
4. Support. Students need counselors, special education and help to overcome barriers.
5. Choice. Families with fewer resources have fewer options.
What we have seen ourselves. Many parents told us they had asked their school for more help for their child and were told there was no room in a smaller class.
Who we serve first. Students in kindergarten through the grades we serve, with priority as the law allows for students from families with low incomes and students who are struggling in other schools, in students in kindergarten through grade 2 who live on the east side, with admission by lottery.
Products & Services
How the program works.
1. A strong, focused school model. Our school uses a clear curriculum, small class sizes and a longer school day or year, as described in our application.
2. Excellent teachers. We recruit, train and support teachers, pay them fairly and give them time to plan and learn together.
3. Support for every student. We serve students with disabilities and English learners as the law requires, and provide counseling and support. Curriculum, technology and student services cost about $80,000 in Year 1, and grow as we grow.
4. Accountability. We set clear goals, give regular tests and report results to families and our authorizer.
5. Family partnership. Parents are part of our governance and are involved in school life.
How we will measure results. We measure student learning with state tests and regular assessments that show growth over time, attendance, student and family surveys and how many students stay with us. We report these publicly, and our authorizer reviews them when deciding whether to renew our charter. Our goals for Year 1: enroll 120 students; have 94% daily attendance; show reading and math growth for at least 70% of students; and have 90% of families say they would recommend the school.
Market Analysis
Where we work and who we serve.
We serve students in the east side of our city, especially students in kindergarten through grade 2 who live on the east side, with admission by lottery.
How we know families want this. More than 400 families signed a letter of interest, and 150 attended our information sessions.
How many we will reach. In Year 1, about 120 students in kindergarten through second grade. We plan to add grades and students each year, reaching about 320 students by Year 5. The number of children in our area, the performance and capacity of nearby schools and the number of families on waiting lists for other schools are common ways to size the need, and the guide for this plan shows where to find them.
How families reach us. Churches, libraries, community centers, social media and word of mouth.
Competitive Landscape
Other help, and how we work with it.
- District public schools serve most students in our area. We want to work well with them, and we know we are choosing to compete for students. We have met with the authorizer and submitted a letter of intent.
- Other charter schools may serve our community. We study them and learn what works.
- Private and religious schools charge tuition or have limited seats. Our school is free and open to all.
- Magnet and selective public schools admit only some students. We admit by lottery.
- Homeschooling and online options suit some families. We offer another choice.
What makes us different: small classes, a longer day with support time and a strong role for parents in the school's governance
Marketing & Sales Strategy
How we reach people and build support.
Reaching people:
- Information sessions at libraries, churches and community centers, in the languages families speak.
- Flyers, social media and school fairs.
- Word of mouth from parents and community leaders.
- Open houses where families can meet teachers and see classrooms.
Funding and rules. Charter schools are funded mostly with per-pupil public funds, which vary by state and often do not include money for buildings. That is why many charter schools rent space and rely on grants and donations for start-up costs. Charter schools must follow many of the same laws as other public schools, including those on special education and testing, along with the terms of their charter.
Volunteers. Parents, retired teachers, church groups and college students.
Raising money beyond grants. Per-pupil state funding are planned at about $1,020,000 in Year 1, growing to about $2,944,000 by Year 5, through a yearly giving campaign, business and community partners, a community event and online giving. Raising more of our own money means we depend less on any one grant or contract.
Operations Plan
How the program runs.
How the school year works:
1. Open enrollment, with a lottery if more students apply than we have seats.
2. Teachers prepare in the summer, with training and planning.
3. A school day built around reading, math, science, social studies and the arts, with support time.
4. Regular assessments, family conferences and reports.
5. Annual review by the Board and reports to our authorizer.
An information session. The Head of School explains our model, a teacher leads a short demonstration, and families ask questions and learn how enrollment and the lottery work.
Law and governance. Our nonprofit Board holds the charter and is responsible for the school's finances, compliance and results. We carry insurance, pass an annual financial audit, follow public meeting and public records laws, and keep our building safe and accessible. We hire a school leader with strong experience and review their work each year.
Privacy. Student records are protected by federal law (FERPA). We share them only as the law allows, and funders get totals, never names.
Equipment. In Year 1 we buy about $150,000 in equipment (classroom furniture, technology, a library, science supplies, safety systems and building improvements), then about $15,000 to $20,000 a year to replace worn items.
Staff. Year 1: one Head of School, twelve teachers and six instructional aides and support staff. By Year 5 we plan for thirty-two teachers and sixteen aides and support staff, as we add grades and students. All teachers hold the credentials our state requires, and all staff pass background checks.
Office work. Bookkeeping, insurance and reporting cost about $30,000 in Year 1.
Management & Organization
Who leads the organization.
Victor Russell, Head of School and Executive Director.
The Head of School leads the organization, raises money and manages grants and contracts, builds partnerships, oversees the finances and reports to the Board. Planned salary: $82,000 a year.
Teachers. Teach classes, plan lessons, assess students and work with families. Twelve positions in Year 1, growing to 32 by Year 5, at a planned salary of $52,000 each. Qualifications we look for: certified in our state, at least two years of experience and a strong record of student growth.
Instructional aides and support staff. Support teachers, students with special needs, counseling and the school office. Six positions in Year 1, growing to sixteen by Year 5, at a planned salary of $38,000 each.
Volunteers. Parents and community volunteers help with events, reading and mentoring. They complete background checks and follow school rules.
Board of Directors. A five-member board including Fatima Fisher, who brings nonprofit finance experience.
Money management. Grant and contract money is tracked separately so we can show each funder exactly how their money was spent. An outside accountant reviews our books every year.
Milestones Narrative
Our goals and how we will measure them.
Year 1:
- Receive our charter and sign our lease before the school year begins.
- Hire our Head of School, our teachers and our staff, and enroll our first students.
- Enroll about 120 students in kindergarten through second grade.
- Reach our Year 1 goals for attendance, student growth and family satisfaction.
- Stay within a balanced budget of about $1,170,000.
Year 2: budget of about $1,556,000.
Year 3: budget of about $2,024,000.
Year 4: budget of about $2,521,000.
Year 5: budget of about $3,021,000.
Over the five years: add grades each year until the school is full, grow to about 32 teachers and 16 support staff, and prepare for our first charter renewal. Facility costs grow about 25% a year, curriculum, technology and student services about 40% and administration about 35% as enrollment grows.
How we will check our results. We track attendance, test scores, student growth and family surveys, and report them to our Board, our authorizer and our families. Every year, we have an independent audit. Our authorizer reviews our results and decides whether to renew our charter.
Funding Request
What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $150,000 from the Lakeshore Community Trust for planning and start-up costs for our first year, including curriculum, technology and teacher training, for January through December 2027. Year 1 budget: about $1,170,000, planned to balance. Year 1 money coming in: - Grants and government contracts: $150,000 (this request plus other grants we are applying for). - Per-pupil state funding: $1,020,000. Year 1 costs: - Head of School and Executive Director: $82,000. - Teachers: $624,000. - Instructional aides and support staff (special education, counseling, office): $228,000. - Facility lease or mortgage (grows as grades are added): $80,000. - Curriculum, technology and student services (grows with enrollment): $80,000. - Administration and charter compliance (audits, reporting, insurance): $30,000. - That is about $1,124,000 in costs. The remaining $46,000 or so goes into savings. Equipment we buy once at the start (about $150,000) is paid from startup money, not from the yearly budget. The next five years. Our budget grows from about $1,170,000 in Year 1 to about $3,021,000 in Year 5 as we add grades, teachers and students. Grants and contracts are planned at $150,000 in Year 1, $82,000 in Year 2, $79,000 in Year 3, $86,000 in Year 4 and $77,000 in Year 5. Per-pupil state funding grows from $1,020,000 to $2,944,000, so grants become a smaller part of our budget over time. Savings. We start with about $60,000 of our own plus $250,000 in startup support, and we add to savings each year. Important for charter schools. Per-pupil funding is paid by the state, often in monthly installments that depend on enrollment counts. If enrollment is lower than planned, income drops right away, while costs like salaries and rent do not. Before opening, we need start-up funds to cover the first months and a reserve. A building lease is a large, multi-year commitment, so we get legal advice before signing. Help we receive that is not cash. Donated space, volunteer hours, donated equipment and supplies, and professional help are a real part of what we do and are not counted in the budget above. Donated meeting space and legal advice, about 800 volunteer hours and donated books If we are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status. One way is a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that agrees to receive grants for you and pass them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Many funders accept this. Another way is to start smaller: work with an experienced charter organization or a charter support group in your state, form a strong founding team, and begin with a small first grade level. This is a large undertaking, and good advice from people who have done it is worth a great deal. Strong results from a small start make larger grants and contracts easier to win.
Appendix Notes
Documents to attach with this proposal:
- Your IRS 501(c)(3) letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current budget.
- A list of your Board members and what they do.
- Your charter application or the steps and timeline for it, and any letters from your authorizer.
- Letters of support from families, community leaders and partners.
- Your Board list, with the skills and backgrounds each member brings.
- Your lease or letter of intent for a building, and a copy of your enrollment plan.
- Resumes for your Executive Director and key staff. If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.
The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Staff pay: Head of School and Executive Director $82,000; each teacher $52,000, growing from 12 to 32; each instructional aide or support staff member $38,000, growing from 6 to 16.
- Facility lease or mortgage about $80,000 in Year 1, rising about 25% a year; curriculum, technology and student services about $80,000, rising about 40% a year
- Office costs about $30,000 in Year 1, rising about 35% a year.
- Grants and contracts set so each year's budget balances with a small amount saved.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your organization's real budget.