Contracts and Performance Frameworks
Charter Contract and Performance Frameworks
The Charter Contract outlines the rights and responsibilities of the Commission and the Charter School. The Charter Contract is an essential agreement articulating school autonomy, funding, administration and oversight, outcomes, measures for evaluating success, performance consequences, and other material terms.
Please contact the Commission’s Frameworks Team at frameworks.compliance@spcsc.hawaii.gov for more information regarding Charter Contracts, Charter Contract Amendment Requests, and the Charter Contracts Renewal process.
- Charter Contracts 4.0 and 4.1
- Contract Performance Templates, Amendment Guidelines, and Forms
- Renewal Process
- Renewal Dashboard
- 2025-2026 Renewal Cycle
Charter Contract 4.1
Charter Contract 4.1, was adopted by the Commission on April 9, 2026. Contract 4.1 included revisions to the Academic Performance Framework (APF) and Organizational Performance Framework (OPF), along with edits to the Charter Contract 4.0.
The Charter Contract outlines the roles, powers, responsibilities, and performance expectations for each party to this Charter Contract in the renewal and operation of a charter school.
The APF measures a charter school’s academic performance and is comprised of three (3) required performance indicators: Mission-Aligned Initiative, School-Specific Measure, and Academic Proficiency.
The OPF serves as the means by which the Commission addresses one of an authorizer’s core responsibilities: protecting the public interest. The OPF verifies whether the School is in compliance with the laws, rules, regulations, policies, and charter contract provisions.
The Financial Performance Framework (FPF) serves as a tool for the Commission to assess the financial health and viability of charter schools in its portfolio. The FPF intends to provide a financial frame of reference based on current and past financial performance of charter schools. The FPF adopts a risk assessment model as part of ongoing oversight and monitoring of charter schools’ fiscal activities, and renewal decision-making.
Charter Contract 4.0
Charter Contract 4.0, was adopted by the Commission at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Contract 4.0 included a new Performance Framework that encompassed a year of listening, engagement and working with schools to develop a performance framework that uses multiple measures and provides individual schools the opportunity to share measures of student growth aligned with their individual school initiatives. Click here for past charter contract 4.0 feedback and renewal information.
| CHARTER AMENDMENT REQUEST PROCESS GUIDELINES | LINK |
Amendment Forms for Schools on Charter Contract 4.0
| Educational Service Provider (ESP) Amendment Form | Link |
| Facilities Amendment Form | Link |
| Grade Level Change Amendment Form | Link |
| Mission Statement Amendment Form | Link |
| School Name Change Amendment Form | Link |
| Virtual/Blended Program Amendment Form | Link |
| Miscellaneous Amendment Form |
Other Amendment Forms
| Admission Policy Amendment Form | Link |
Note: Amendment forms for Schools on Charter Contract 4.1 will be provided at a later date.
Charter School Renewal Process
Charter school renewal is one of the Commission's most critical authorizing responsibilities, ensuring that only schools demonstrating strong performance and compliance continue to serve Hawaiʻi's students.
Authority
In accordance with Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) §302D-18(b):
"The authorizer shall issue a charter school performance report and charter contract renewal application guidance to any charter school whose charter contract is in its final contract year. The performance report shall summarize the charter school's performance record to date, based on the data required by this chapter and the charter contract, and shall provide notice of any weaknesses or concerns perceived by the authorizer concerning the charter school that may jeopardize its position in seeking renewal."
How Renewal Works
Every charter school operates under a contract with a specific term, typically 5 years. Before the contract expires, the Commission conducts a comprehensive renewal evaluation to determine whether the school should receive a new contract. This process protects the public interest while providing transparent, objective criteria that schools can track throughout their charter term.
The renewal decision evaluates three essential questions:
- Has the school met Performance Frameworks and Contract Conditions? The Commission reviews performance across all three frameworks—Academic (APF), Financial (FPF), and Organizational (OPF)—along with any specific conditions attached to the school's charter contract.
- Are there Material Violations, Fiscal Failures, or Substantial Legal Violations? The Commission assesses whether the school has demonstrated fundamental compliance with laws, regulations, and contractual obligations.
- Does the school address its performance and present evidence of viable turnaround? If deficiencies exist, the Commission evaluates whether the school has implemented effective corrective actions and demonstrated improvement.
Renewal Process
Renewal Timeline (General Process)
The typical renewal process includes:
- Performance Report Issuance - Commission staff issues comprehensive performance reports summarizing the school's academic, financial, and organizational performance
- Renewal Application Submission - Schools submit renewal applications addressing their performance, any identified concerns, and plans for continued success
- Commission Deliberation - The Commission reviews all materials and deliberates on renewal decisions
- Renewal Decision - Schools receive renewal decisions with any applicable conditions
Possible Renewal Outcomes
Based on the evaluation, the Commission may:
- Grant a 5-year renewal without conditions - School has met all standards
- Grant a 5-year renewal with specific conditions - School has generally met standards, but requires targeted improvements
- Grant a shorter-term renewal (less than 5 years) with or without conditions - School has performance concerns that need to be addressed within a shorter timeframe
- Deny renewal (non-renewal) - School has failed to meet standards and has not demonstrated capacity for turnaround
Renewal Deliberation Criteria
When making renewal decisions, the Commission considers multiple factors including but not limited to:
Performance Framework Questions:
- Has the School met the performance frameworks and charter contract conditions (if applicable)?
- Does the School's performance indicate an upward trend that provides confidence to move them forward? (APF)
- Does the School's performance, identified weaknesses and/or concerns on any one of the frameworks give cause to consider contract conditions or length of term?
Application & Turnaround Questions:
- Based on the School's application packet responses, does it address the school's performance, weaknesses or concerns, contract conditions (if applicable) and/or provide sufficient evidence that the school is projected to be successful in the future?
- Would the length of term allow the school to turn around for future success?
- Would the specific condition(s) allow for necessary improvements to the school based on the deliberation?
- Would the specific condition(s) provide enough detail and criteria to determine whether the condition(s) have been met during the next renewal cycle?
Legal Compliance Questions (per HRS §302D-18.2):
- Did the school commit a material and substantial violation of any terms, conditions, standards or procedures required under HRS 302D or Charter Contract? (Section 18.2(a))
- Did the school fail to meet or make sufficient progress toward performance expectations set forth in this Charter Contract? (Section 18.2(b))
- Did the school fail to meet generally accepted accounting principles of fiscal management? (Section 18.2(c))
- Has the school substantially violated any material provision of law from which the School is not exempted? (Section 18.2(d))
Resources
- Contract 4.0 Template - View the standard charter contract template
- Performance Frameworks - Learn about Academic, Financial, and Organizational Frameworks
- §HRS Chapter 302D - Public charter school statue
Performance Report Renewal Dashboard
The Performance Report Renewal dashboard provides a comprehensive, data-driven view of each charter school's readiness for contract renewal, integrating academic, financial, and organizational performance into a single accountability framework.
Charter school renewal is one of the Commission's most critical authorizing responsibilities. At the end of each charter term (typically 5 years), the Commission evaluates whether schools have met performance standards across three frameworks: Academic Performance (APF), Financial Performance (FPF), and Organizational Performance (OPF). This process ensures only schools demonstrating strong performance and compliance continue operating, while providing clear, objective criteria schools can track throughout their term.
The renewal workflow assesses three key questions: Has the school met performance frameworks and contract conditions? Are there material violations or substantial legal issues? If deficiencies exist, has the school demonstrated viable turnaround? Based on these factors, schools may receive full 5-year renewals, conditional renewals with specific requirements, or non-renewal decisions.
Using the Dashboard
The dashboard makes renewal criteria transparent and accessible, ensuring families, school leaders, and policymakers understand how decisions are made and what standards schools must meet to continue serving Hawaiʻi's communities. This interactive dashboard consolidates multi-year performance data across all three frameworks, enabling stakeholders to:
- Review cumulative academic performance including 4-year APF averages, mission-aligned initiative success, and Strive HI results
- Assess financial sustainability through risk assessment trends, key financial indicators, and fiscal management practices
- Evaluate organizational compliance via compliance rates across all 16 articles and 42 annual tasks
- Track performance trends over the charter term to identify improvement or decline patterns
Performance Report Dashboard
Summary of school performance data provided in performance reports can be accessed using the dashboard below.
Resources
Notice: We are currently experiencing a technical issue that may prevent some dashboards from displaying properly. If you encounter this issue, please try the following:
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2025-2026 Charter School Renewal Cycle
The renewal process applied to existing charter schools that were completing their current charter contract term on June 30, 2026.
Renewal Timeline and Key Dates
September 11, 2025 - The Commission approved the renewal timeline, process, and material at its General Business Meeting for the thirteen charter schools (Cohort 1) whose contract term ends on June 30, 2026.
December 19, 2025 - The Commission staff issued Performance Reports and related renewal material to Cohort 1.
January 2026 - Cohort 1 charter schools submitted their renewal applications and materials.
February - March 2026 - The Commission deliberated on the renewal or non-renewal of the charter contract for Cohort 1. [Authority: HRS §302D-18]
The Commission approved five-year charter contracts for Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School, Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao Public Charter School, Kua o ka Lā New Century Public Charter School, Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School, SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability, The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, and West Hawaiʻi Explorations Academy.
The Commission also approved five-year charter contracts with conditions for Kamaile Academy Public Charter School, Kona Pacific Public Charter School, Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School, and Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School.
In addition, the Commission approved a three-year charter contract with conditions for Ke Ana Laʻahana Public Charter School. Lastly, the Commission approved a two-year charter contract with conditions for Hakipuʻu Academy.
Contract Renewal Timeline and Process
Cohort 1 Schools (Contract Term Ending June 30, 2026)
On December 19, 2025, Commission staff issued charter contract renewal letters, Performance Reports, and renewal application templates for thirteen charter schools. Schools submitted their renewal applications and supporting documents in January 2026. Click on a school’s folder below to access the materials issued on December 19, 2025, as well as the materials submitted by schools in January 2026.
- Hakipu'u Academy
- Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School
- Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao Public Charter School
- Kamaile Academy Public Charter School
- Ke Ana La'ahana Public Charter School
- Kona Pacific Public Charter School
- Kua o ka Lā New Century Public Charter School
- Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School
- Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School
- SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability
- The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences
- Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School
- West Hawai'i Explorations Academy
Renewal Deliberation Schedule
The Commission will hold renewal deliberations for Cohort 1 schools during the following meetings:
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