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STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

We aspire to be great community schools of choice. We are united behind the original ideals of the charter school contract. We embrace our diverse communities, which include immigrants, people of color, children with disabilities, the homeless, English language learners, people of all faiths, and the LGBTQ community. We believe in the power of schools to transform the lives of young people. We see how charter schools encourage innovation and strengthen our public school system.

 EQUITY 
As public institutions, our charter schools are open, welcoming, and responsive to our many stakeholders.
We are committed to transparency in our practices and accountability to our students, parents, government authorizers, and the public
We reaffirm that charter schools are public schools. All public schools should receive equitable funding.
 COLLABORATION 
Our workplaces are inclusive and collaborative.
Charter schools were created as laboratories of innovation, we seek out opportunities for collaboration with school districts, charter schools, and other educational entities.
We welcome opportunities to learn from and exchange ideas with our colleagues.
 AUTONOMY & ACCOUNTABILITY  
The work we do at our schools is for the greater good. We guard against any practice that subordinates the work we do to personal or corporate profit.
Autonomy in exchange for accountability is the bedrock principle of charter schools.
Real accountability must be rooted in the development of the whole child and the needs of society to strengthen our democracy and cultivate citizens.
 INNOVATION 
School innovation is reinforced by use of multiple measures for evaluation. We strive to develop measures of student growth that are aligned with the mission of our schools.
Our schools serve as laboratories for educational innovation.
We are obligated to research, develop, and implement new ideas, practices, and strategies.
 DIVERSITY 
We are determined to educate each of our students to the best of our ability.
We actively recruit, retain and serve the highest-need students, such as students with disabilities, English language learners, and students with challenging life circumstances.
We commit to serving students who reflect our communities and neighborhoods, especially students with the greatest educational needs.
 PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS 
Personnel evaluations and our employment practices are fair, equitable, and transparent.
Our schools provide innovative opportunities that encourage educators to excel at their craft.
Our faculty and staff engage in culturally responsive teaching practices.
We rely on professional and compassionate faculty and staff to model the attitudes we foster in our students.
We invest in our educators so that they can invest in our students, our schools, and our communities.
 QUALITY 
All students have the right to a high-quality education.
Our schools develop and implement policies and practices that strive for equitable outcomes
Our parents, students, and caregivers choose our schools and trust that we will provide a high-quality education.
 GOVERNANCE & COMMUNITY 
Decision makers actively engage with our students, families, faculty, staff, and community.
Our independence is a public trust and governed by Oregon public charter school statute.
Boards must be fully and demonstrably independent from service providers and have a robust process for community input.
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