Ball State University
Office of Charter Schools
General Policy on Handling Complaints about Charter Schools
One of the overall goals of the University is to honor the autonomy afforded to the
charter schools it authorizes while meeting the University’s responsibilities of
accountability delegated to the charter authorizer by the Indiana charter law. The
resolution of complaints about a charter school authorized by the University is a
component of that accountability responsibility.
When the Office of Charter Schools receives a complaint about any of the charter schools
it authorizes, the following procedures will be followed:
Complainants will first be advised to address their complaint directly to the school leader
or board of directors of the affected school for resolution. If, in the complainant’s
opinion, the complaint has not been satisfactorily addressed, the individual or
organization making the complaint may then submit it in writing to the Compliance and
Special Education Coordinator, Office of Charter Schools, Ball State University, Muncie,
wishing to make file a complaint, this site provides a full explanation of the Office’s
complaint procedures and a downloadable form on which the complaint may be made.
Complaints about issues such as compliance with federal or state laws or significant
violations of the school’s charter will be forwarded in writing within five (5) calendar
days to the school leader for response. A written response is expected from the school
leader within ten (10) calendar days. If after reviewing the written response, further
action is deemed to be warranted by the Compliance and Special Education Coordinator,
the Compliance and Special Education Coordinator may take actions including:
requesting additional information from the school, contacting the school’s board of
directors, imposing a corrective action plan on the school, or other such other action
deemed appropriate by the Compliance and Special Education Coordinator. Complaints
about day-to-day management or administrative issues will be passed on to the affected
school for response within thirty (30) calendar days.
Complaints that are submitted as “confidential” or “anonymous” will not be processed as
a formal complaint by the Office of Charter Schools. The complainant should note that
in most circumstances, the Office of Charter Schools has limited authority to conduct a
formal inquiry into a complaint in which the primary rationale for the complaint is
submitted anonymously.
A record will be made of all complaints, Office of Charter Schools’ inquiries and
responses, and actions taken by the Compliance and Special Education Coordinator. The
record will be kept in the Office of Charter Schools. A final response will be provided to
the complainant regarding the outcome of his or her formal complaint.
March, 2015
