Charter Schools Prepared for CCSESACCBEPTA Conference March 19, 2006

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Charter SchoolsPrepared forCCSESA/CCBE/PTA
ConferenceMarch 19, 2006

• Vicki L. Barber, Ed.D., El Dorado County
  Superintendent
• Marta Reyes, Director Charter Schools Division,
  CDE
• Rae Belisle, General Counsel, Sacramento COE
• David Long, Ed.D., Riverside County
  Superintendent

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Charter Schools

• Original Legislation 1992
• Originally limited to 100 Today over 500
  Charter Schools in California

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Legislative Intent

• Opportunities to establish independent schools to
  accomplish
• Improved pupil learning
• Increase learning opportunities
• Different and innovative teaching methods
• New professional opportunities for teachers
• Expand parent choice
• Hold schools accountable for measurable pupil
  outcomes
• Provide vigorous competition to stimulate
  continual improvements

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COE Focus

• Support for School Districts
• Secondary Applications
• Direct Applications
• County Program Charters
• Countywide Charters

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Support for School Districts

• Review Process Handbook
• Website edcoe.k12.ca.us
• Training for Boards and Administrative Staff
• Policy Adoption

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Charter Petitions

• LEA Generated
• Outside Generated
• Conversions
• Dependent/Independent
• Countywide (E.C. 47605.6)

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Petition Process(Non-Conversion)

• Petition Signatures
• 50 of parents/guardians - OR
• 50 of Teachers
• Required Affirmations
• Non-sectarian
• Not charge tuition
• Non-discrimination

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Petition Elements

• E.C. Section 47605 A P
• A. Educational Program
• B. Measurable Student Outcomes
• C. Measurement of Pupil Progress
• D. Governance Structure
• E. Qualifications of Staff
• F. Health and Safety Procedures

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Petition Elements (Cont.)

• G. Means Achieve Racial and Ethnic Balance
• H. Admission Requirements
• I. Financial Audit
• J. Pupil Suspension and Expulsion
• K. Staff Retirement System
• L. Attendance Alternatives

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Petition Elements (Cont.)

• M. Description of Employee Rights
• N. Dispute Resolution Process
• O. Labor Relations
• P. Closure of Charter School
• Supplemental Information E.C. 47605(g)

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Petition Review Timeline

• Timeline Begins Upon Submittal of Charter
  Petition to Governing Board
• Public Hearing within 30 days (60 days if
  Countywide Petition)
• Governing Board Grants/Denies Petition within 60
  days unless Extension Agreed Upon (90 days if
  Countywide Petition)

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Petition Review Timeline (Cont.)

• If approved State Board of Education (SBE)
  notified within 30 days unless extension agreed
  upon
• If denied Petitioner may submit to County Board
  of Education or SBE with same timeline noted
  above
• No appeal for Countywide

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Judicial Review

• If CBE/SBE fail to act on petition within 120
  days decision of District Governing Board
  subject to Judicial Review

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Secondary Application

• Denial by District Governing Board within COE
  jurisdiction
• Submittal within 180 calendar days
• County Board has 120 days to act on district
  governing board decision subject to judicial
  review

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Considerations for Secondary Application Review

• Original Petition Elements
• Full Review
• Charter Oversight
• School District Perspective

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County-operated Program Charters

• E.C. 47605.5 Charter Schools that serve pupils
  for whom the COE would otherwise be responsible
  for providing direct education and related
  services.

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County Program Charter Review

• Same Process and Elements
• If COE Revenue Limit, then still under E.C.
  Apportionment language

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Countywide Charters

• Charters providing instructional services not
  generally provided by COE to a student population
  that will benefit from those services and that
  cannot be served as well by a charter school that
  operates in only one school district. (E.C.
  47605.6(d))

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Countywide Petitions

• No conversions
• School districts notification of each facility in
  their boundaries
• County Board grant/deny within 90 days or 120
  days if agreement
• Can be Denied on any justifiable basis
• Cannot be appealed

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Major Concerns

• Time to Analyze Charters and Criteria for
  Approval/Denial
• Oversight Issues
• Programmatic Fiscal AB 1200
• Facility Issues
• Special Education

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Changes in Code

• 1998 AB 544 and AB 1115
• Funding Block Grant Provisions - Credentials
• 2002- AB 1994
• Geographic Restrictions on Charters
• COEs Investigate Complaints
• 2003 AB 1137
• Expands Oversight and Establishes
  Academic Criteria for Renewals

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Other Changes

• 2004 No major changes
• AB 1860 Vetoed by the Governor
• Advisory Charter Commission
• SB 740 Regulations
• Virtual Schools Policy
• Greater Emphasis on Quality
• Audits

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QUESTIONS??