For years the TPCA Board has believed that Longmont needs a solid Charter High School to offer parents and students the charter experience all the way to college.  The possibility that it would be a Twin Peaks high school was not certain, but planning and discussions about this were an integral part of the facility selection and development at South Sunset.  In early 2010 in consultation with other local charters coupled with extensive research, TPCA decided to go ahead with the project and submitted am application for renewal of the charter to the St Vrain Valley School District. This asked for an extension of the charter to allow the addition of classes from grade 9 to 12 and for the charter to run for 15 years. The school will be housed in the second half of our building and will boast sports facilities, its own auditorium and gymnasium.

Charter schools renewals can be difficult.  Licensing authority's are justifiably rigorous when they review applications. Even so, Twin Peaks Charter Academy is an established and successful charter school and is well versed in understanding the needs of its district. It is confident that this extension will be ratified.

See http://www.longmontcharterhs.org/ for information

Attached are the application and supporting documents that were submitted on March 8th to the District.  The District now has 75 days to consider the application before we can proceed further.  We will bring you updates on this process as they happen and on the construction of the building through out the year.

Cover Letter, Application, Organization Chart,  Results & Objectives, Audit, Classical Education, Curriculum Map, Act Profile Report

First Floor, Second Floor, Sports Field,

The Anticipated Timeline would be;

SEPTEMBER, 2009 Establish High School Feasibility Committee

OCT, 2009 – FEB, 2010 Research Curriculum, Sports, Facility, Finances, and Interest

DECEMBER, 2009 Establish Charter Renewal Committee

JANUARY, 2010 Request Feedback from SVVSD Board of Directors and Staff

FEBRUARY, 2010 Request Feedback from TPCA Board and Charter League Staff

MARCH, 2010 Submit Application to SVVSD for Accountability Committee Feasibility Review

APRIL, 2010 Accountability Committee Submits Recommendation to SVVSD Board

APRIL, 2010 SVVSD Board Approves TPCA Request

APRIL, 2010 TPCA applies for BEST grant to help fund facility project (not included in budget).

APRIL, 2010 TPCA begins bond issuance process for high school and to refinance existing school.

APR, 2010 – NOV, 2010 TPCA completes all plans for high school.

JAN, 2011 – JUL, 2011 Construction of high school space in existing facility and high school enrollment.

AUG, 2011 Open High School

Twin Peaks Charter Academy was approved as the first charter school in the St. Vrain Valley School District, in Longmont Colorado, on September 11, 1996 to begin operations in the fall of 1997.  In 1999, TPCA applied for and received a six year charter renewal from the district.  Once again, in 2005 another charter renewal application was submitted and approved for operation for five years, from Fall 2006 - Summer 2011.

Charter Schools are public schools governed by parents, operating under a chartering authority.  St. Vrain Valley School District (www.stvrain.k12.co.us) is the chartering authority for TPCA.  

A Charter, and subsequent Charter Renewal, is a document that defines the broad guidelines of how the school will operate.  Annually, SVVSD requires TPCA to negotiation with the district to agree on details of purchasing services and other relationship details.

TPCA operates under the St Vrain School district's policies and regulations unless a replacement has been adopted.  As TPCA adopts policies they are submitted to the district for approval. The school also operates according to all Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S), except for specific CDE approved waivers that the district requests on TPCA's behalf.  During annual contract negotiations any new C.R.S waiver requests may be requested.

Twin Peaks Charter Academy - Charter