Independence School Local 1

1300 W 36th St - Baltimore MD - 21211
Type of autonomy arrangement: School Charter / Bylaws
Basic Profile

Opened In

2007

Grades

9-12

Environment

Urban

Type

Chartered
Autonomies

Program

Determine learning program
Set school-level policy
Determine professional development
Determine authorizer assessments
Determine state assessments

Personnel

Select colleagues
Evaluate colleagues
Transfer or terminate colleagues
Determine tenure policy
Select leaders

Administrative

Determine school budget
Set staff pattern
Determine compensation
Determine teacher workday
Set schedule
Teacher Authority Is...
De Jure and De Facto

De jure the teachers’ autonomy is written into the school’s charter, which was approved by the district. It is also written (“more vaguely”) into the bylaws of its operator, Baltimore Teachers Network. In the area of selecting leaders, the school’s board has de jure authority. De facto, teachers select leaders and board approves. In the areas of transferring or terminating colleagues and evaluating colleagues, a teacher with an administrative credential has de jure authority. De facto, teachers make decisions in these areas and the administrator approves.

About the Learning Program

Independence School Local 1 is organized around experiential learning through internships and field-based projects and around the natural consequences that come from real world feedback on your actions. Teachers and students use the city, the wilderness, and city and local partnerships as instructional tools to link learning with real life.