From Idea to Open: How to Build a High-Quality Public School Through the BES Fellowship

Founding a school starts with a vision, grounds itself in community, and is driven by a commitment to transform education and ensure the success of students for generations to come.

Since 2001, BES Fellows have founded over 220 public charter schools across the country and are currently serving more than 75,000 students annually. They design school models tailored to the needs of their communities, serving students across the K–12 continuum with a focus on rigorous academics and specialized areas such as STEAM, career and technical education (CTE), leadership, entrepreneurship, project-based learning, the arts, and support for diverse learning needs.

Every August, BES welcomes a cohort of school founders through the BES Fellowship who embark on a multi-year journey to design, found, and lead an excellent school that reflects and responds to community needs. In addition to Fellows working closely with coaches who guide them in school design, governance, and finance and operations, BES partners with regional and national partners who champion our work and provide additional support.

WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL-FOUNDING PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

Fellowship Program: 1 or 2 Years

The Fellowship begins well before a school opens its doors. Over one year in the Build Track or two years in the Community Co-Design Track, Fellows participate in both virtual and in-person training, coaching, and school studies. In addition to engaging in at least two extended residencies, they receive 300+ hours of practice-based training, leadership coaching, and professional development.

During this phase, Fellows develop and implement a robust community engagement plan, build a founding board, and submit their charter application.

Planning Year

After authorization, the planning year is where Fellows transition to school leaders. They begin to recruit and hire mission-aligned staff, enroll students, develop curriculum and assessments, and finalize the systems that will define the school’s culture and academic experience.

Through Follow On Support, BES coaches Fellows on board transition, budgeting, facilities, student recruitment, curriculum planning, orientation, and more. Follow On Support continues in the following two years as Fellows receive differentiated coaching and support in the early years of operation.

Year 1 of Operation

This is a milestone year as vision becomes reality. Fellows welcome the founding cohort of students and lead them on the path to excellence. They also continue to hire staff, recruit students, write curriculum in preparation for future years, and ensure the school is financially and operationally sound.

BES provides guidance in areas such as leadership development, data analysis, closing gaps, financial analysis, and more.

Year 2 of Operation

During the second year of operation, BES continues supporting Fellows as they sharpen their academic focus, strengthen operational systems, and school culture. They also develop strategic plans to ensure financial and operational sustainability while also developing a leadership bench for future school growth.

HOW DO YOU START YOUR JOURNEY WITH BES?

If you are interested in applying to the BES Fellowship, here are recommended steps to take to ensure a successful application process:

1. Familiarize yourself with the BES Fellowship by reading through our program overview, criteria, deadlines, compensation, tracks, priority regions, and more.
2. Attend a webinar to learn from our team and gain strategies to strengthen your application.
3. Schedule a Q&A call to connect with a BES team member who can answer your questions.
4. Apply to the BES Fellowship. We review applications on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. 

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