Table Of Content

CHARTER SCHOOL OVERSIGHT“ Some areas of charter school oversight are easy to overlook. Here area few practical tips for ensuring you meet your legal and moral obligations, and your charter schools are “delivering the goods.” 90 Leadership the new frontier aliforaia ha ssore charter ‘Schools more than 900 ope ing etter than anyother tate inthe nation. This amber ‘a predited to grow Exponential Cort spondinglyisimperative tose exponen til growth n or commizment to provide crclent overght tour charter schol ‘Ar public choo, charter are funded byt dollar For this eton, the charter suthorizerhe a fdciaryrerporsiiity provide tong oversight, ensoring fonds sre propellloestd to fall the schools ‘sion. Beyond dollar there ithe moral ‘mandate to cave thet charter choose tance tent earning, ‘ypial and appropriate oversight que tions inclae, ‘Are stdents earning? What credence demonstrates eademic draco sent?" What evidence uggs that ena have secs to the edostonpoogran Inching stodent with pea needs™ ‘When accountability questonsaressted fund answered bythe charter overght ‘hors wearin the bes positon tlhe taxpayer tht hee “incubator fr edacs tional innovation” ar delivering the gods. “The charter athorner =the ent that roved the charter izemponuible forts overightAlmostll chrterachoolin Cal foeninarelcllyaprovedbycthers school istrict governing board ora county bourd fedacation. Thislegl esponsibility tied to an euthoriter ability forthe charter school Ovenightis ere Despite noting basic guideline for the oveight procs th Edveaton Code doe sot profi mach nsghtastohow athorz: crs shosld cary out oversight. The ato Fleer mat be sary with epardoonersight implementation. Additionally school board ‘members have an obligation othe tadents inched tenure thy aeceeiings ality ection The proce of ethorsingincdes er eral corsponents ints the approval fie chartertopetsioner thathave resented 2 innovative and complete petition, The se ond component is oversight, incading the By Spt Meda Fated collection and diteminaton of dts from the charter. Thirlends to the thir compo: ‘ents making decvions about thei ofthe charterbaed on that dat California har moved tomardregiring ‘more academic and fica wcountablity for charter school While thishelpe enue charters ar operating effectively. nde tothe dutesofthe authorize ‘An unavolable realty ‘Unfortanatey itis common sentiment ‘mong sate education leaders that local ‘uthoriers donot provide the comprehen- sive oversight needed to ensure that charter ‘cols are sccesul This maybe tae in tome cates athe unavoidable reality into- day's economic atmosphere is that choo! Aistetsand county offices of education re straggling to meet the neds oftheir own dents and often ack he capacity con- uct thorough oversight Usually, single Aistit or county employe is responsible for oversight othe approved charersnad- ion o myriad other responsiilis. ‘To asst wth oversight, most charter suthorizere <ertanding with its charter school. MOU ‘reatonrbest conducted ring the charter petition approval proces. The MOU willbe the operating agreement between the authorize nd the charter schoo Key ‘components ofany MOU willexplicly cite both how oversight willbeimplemented end ‘the necessary information the charter e- ied oimpart. ‘Wihilesome oesghcareasarapparent, (academic Benchmarks, fiscal accountabil- in) wilfocasonisues often overlooked Governance (Charter schools creat their own gover= ance structure response forall aspects ofthe charter The quali ofthe governance team impacts the quality ofthe edveation the dena recie awe asthe safety nd ellbeiag of eterjoneia the sehoo ‘Wischeautorize? responslity to en- ture thatthe charter schoo governance teamie Running the school cording to sate sd federal law and good practice = Bnforcing byl and plies hat e- ‘ect the proce forthe day to-day running ofthe schoo, which should include fsa ‘management, peronne decisions, eck ‘ional program and tudent ay. “Following the Brown Act. + Providing parent scott the leader ‘hip ofthe schol. Ara matter facie ‘requirement in Faestion Code thatthe ‘charter petition ha outlined proces to in determining the charter is demonstrat- ing financial ability and fective nancial management In adition tothe regula Fnencal porting required by law, authorizes wil ‘want to enrore thatthe charter school hat procedures and policies in place that dem ‘onstrate how the charter can manage: ‘ance ffeciey. Por instance: sep parent involved in the poverance of the choo: Parent involementisan unde Ingtenetofcharerlawandauthrierwant tomake ore thatitisbeingimplemented Auto ieverfcharter governance confit ofintere Tere arena pei ane currently governing charter boards with ‘pct conics ofimeret. Pract tips Pat yourself on the carter school's e- smalls to ensure that you receive charter ‘board agendas and minutes. This wil help youmonitorthecharterbourd’s work tis ecommended thatthe authorizes ‘hare lisson attend carter board meet Inge to beter undertand how the mestngs are running and ifthe charterboardisfo- Sowing town oly. ability of charter school frequent topic of discussion. Indeed, most charters {all due to thie inability to meet Banca blgatons. The uthocier play larg ole + Does the charter have am adequate: countingsyten? “Aether internal controls in pce hat prevent the mite of charter shoo fonds? “Aresudit findngraddresedina ely ‘want detrmineifthe charter schol {eis inaynewih the charter school ea tional program. Fer example ifthe charter schoo has» program that provides online leering the bedgetshouldrefect apprope steexpener for technology egsipment nd staffing of technology expert the school hha math an eiene fora, the budget should efet that the appropriate currcw: Jum sparcased and afibeing provided ‘profesional development in thot ses. ‘Are the students learning? Increased academic achievement ithe bate for charter aw. The carter school ven increased Neibility and freedom in Implementing its program. In return, the ‘etool must show academic progrets that rector exceeds that of the choo trict where the dents woul otherwise attend. [November/December2011 3, ‘Whena petitioner sabmiteachaterpe- schoo demonstrate tha hey have attained tion ool authorize, there ae many the sil, knowledge and atitades spec required components ofthe petition the eda goaltin the choo’ educational pro foundersoftherchool mast addres One of ram” There are goals and outcomes that thoecomponentsistadentoutzomesSpe- are uniguetothe charter schoo Promises te nerease student achievement for use by the charter school. Thecharterpetitiones received approval, ‘Pupiloutcomer: for parpoteofthir part, based on ase opromisesto increase student means the extent to which all pupils ofthe achievement via an innovative aeademic mployessot_| EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE Dros smaster's egreeproyrans, |” igvors goletonal actin door masa \stacneditefer anemia! nest tals one spooning mS. iniahr eae tn: ots neo Sor inornatansesticns. |” premments e = compneabrnstes 6 "MS. in tan esos Development Siti en eso homay sprain wt ease Pearce wedchngs naar waa stings. For mars information, cl S16325 48 oromat Sty rehomed ode, drexel.edu/sacramento 92 Leadership program. The petition expres atcolater how the charter will accompli thee ende snd what benchmarks willbe uted mes ‘ore odent achievement "There are other seacemicrequiremente ‘that must be met inorder foracharterto be renewed, Sadly there tandards ate right fullyinadeguat nd low. Along with her the charter epulaly messi niga oa the golsandbenchmarksstatedinthechar terol giveth auhorzera barby which 0 ‘meatae the charter The MOU (addesed Effective charter oversight takes time and diligence. Closing a charter school can be painful for all involved. ‘next pag) should bedsignedso thatthe ‘proces for pthering the information and ‘ata neded to measure the charter’ prog iectie carter overight taestimeand Ailigenee Asmany dtc know closingor Quality oversight is derigned to prevent charters fom closing except in extreme “imperative tht ea dnc and county of ‘ees of education review their charter over sigh policies nd procedoresto ear they reflective enforced county oie of edacation that have ce srenoteremptffom providing he oversight ‘egiredy aw Ath lw andepsatone pple to independent charter ae alo 3p ‘led dependent charters. Span Medana Fata recor, Coleone Solitons Car totes Ferme inomaon abut ovens and shops vst wenchareavorscan,