San Tan Charter School's charter renewed for 20 years

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San Tan Charter School's charter renewed for 20 years

Posted Thursday, May 26, 2022 4:51 pm

Lucie Flagg

San Tan Charter School has earned approval for a 20-year renewal as a charter school.

The school, which opened in 2008 and includes two campuses in Gilbert, announced the renewal in a press release May 19.

“This renewal could not be a more appropriate recognition of the quality of education being offered at San Tan Charter School as well as the visionary leadership that led to its founding and ongoing operations,” board member the Rev. Tom Enneking said in the press release.

The renewal process required a desk review and a pop-in visit from the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, which occurred on Jan. 28, according to Dr. Kristofer Sippel, CEO and superintendent of schools.

These measures were taken to ensure that San Tan Charter School was in “compliance with federal and state laws, Arizona Administrative Code, the charter contract...and the program of instruction as approved in the application or amendment process,” according to the board.

A sample pop-in agenda published by the board explained that throughout their pop-ins, board staff walk the campus and visit classrooms to “observe instruction and the program of instruction in action.”

Brandon Tauscher, principal of San Tan Charter School’s Power campus, noted in the press release that he was pleased to welcome members of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools into the school for the review and pop-in visit.

“The feedback we received from the board during that process was extremely valuable, and we were able to implement new processes right away to help our school,” Tauscher said.

This feedback has helped to improve the school’s website clarity, such as the eligibility for military families without an Arizona address to enroll their children, according to school officials.