The purpose of this title is to establish the charter school application process, outline the content required for charter school applications, define the charter school application approval criteria, and develop the performance framework for charter school oversight and evaluation.

Authority for this title is RCW 28A.710.070, which establishes the Washington state charter school commission as an independent state agency whose mission is to authorize high-quality charter public schools throughout the state and to ensure the highest standards of accountability and oversight for these schools.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this title unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Applicant" means a nonprofit corporation that has submitted an application to an authorizer. The nonprofit corporation must be either a public benefit nonprofit corporation as defined in RCW 24.03.490, or a nonprofit corporation as defined in RCW 24.03.005 that has applied for tax exempt status under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501 (c)(3)). The nonprofit corporation may not be a sectarian or religious organization and must meet all of the requirements for a public benefit nonprofit corporation before receiving any funding under RCW 28A.710.220.

"At-risk student" means a student who has an academic or economic disadvantage that requires assistance or special services to succeed in educational programs. The term includes, but is not limited to, students who do not meet minimum standards of academic proficiency, students who are at risk of dropping out of high school, students in chronically low-performing schools, students with higher than average disciplinary sanctions, students with lower participation rates in advanced or gifted programs, students who are limited in English proficiency, students who are members of economically disadvantaged families, and students who are identified as having special educational needs.

"Business days" means the days of the week, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.

"Commission" means the Washington state charter school commission, its staff, or its delegee(s).

"Cultural responsiveness" means the desire and ability to allow for diverse ways of thinking and doing that take into account the cultures of all involved.

"Economic disadvantage" means demonstrating financial hardship such as receiving free or reduced lunch, or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.

"Online platform" means the online process as explained in Part I of this title that applicants use to complete and submit the application electronically.