What is smart growth?
A smart growth approach recognizes that not all growth by definition adds to the fulfillment of a vision, adherence to a mission, enhances the quality or performance of a school or the community of schools.
Smart growth recognizes that quality is as important if not more important than quantity in creating a community of schools or a movement.
A smart growth approach to public charter school development is based on principles that:
Foster distinctive, innovative and attractive schools with a strong sense of mission.
Smart growth encourages school developers to craft a vision, mission and set aspirations, standards and goals that will respond to the needs and demands of the community and the students that the school is committed to serving.
Fosters locally designed community-based and democratically governed schools.
Smart growth encourages school developers to develop governance and management structures, policies and practices that empower people to establish outcomes, oversee operations and ensure accountability.
Create new and different opportunities and choices.
Smart growth encourages innovative approaches and models of learning for young people and professional development for educators thus providing new and different opportunities and broader choices.
Makes development decisions that are rational, cost effective and data driven.
Smart growth encourages that decision making is based on data and real time information, solid research and sound planning.