Summer Summit June 30 – July 1, 2015

5. We needed another acronym in education? TOP REASONS FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK 4. Our assessment system is not complicated enough. 3. All the other kids (states) are doing it. 2. Confused Framework for Homework and now look what we’ve got to do. 1. Because TEC§ says so.

Performance Framework (c) (a) Texas Education Code (TEC)

TEC § CONTENT. (a) Each charter granted under this subchapter must: (1) describe the educational program to be offered, which must include the required curriculum as provided by Section ; (2) provide that continuation of the charter is contingent on the status of the charter as determined under Section or or under Subchapter E, Chapter 39; (3) specify the academic, operational, and financial performance expectations by which a school operating under the charter will be evaluated, which must include applicable elements of the performance frameworks adopted under Section ;

TEC § RENEWAL OF CHARTER; DENIAL OF RENEWAL; EXPIRATION. (c) At the end of the term of a charter for an open-enrollment charter school, if a charter holder submits to the commissioner a petition for renewal of the charter and the charter does not meet the criteria for expedited renewal under Subsection (b) or for expiration under Subsection (d), the commissioner shall use the discretionary consideration process. The commissioner's decision under the discretionary consideration process must take into consideration the results of annual evaluations under the performance frameworks established under Section The renewal of the charter of an open- enrollment charter school that is registered under the agency's alternative education accountability procedures for evaluation under Chapter 39 shall be considered under the discretionary consideration process regardless of the performance ratings under Subchapter C, Chapter 39, of the open-enrollment charter school or of any campus operating under the charter, except that if the charter holder has been assigned a financial accountability performance rating under Subchapter D, Chapter 39, indicating financial performance that is lower than satisfactory for any three of the five preceding school years, the commissioner shall allow the charter to expire under Subsection (d).

TEC § BASIS FOR CHARTER REVOCATION OR MODIFICATION OF GOVERNANCE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commissioner shall revoke the charter of an open-enrollment charter school or reconstitute the governing body of the charter holder if the commissioner determines that the charter holder: (1) committed a material violation of the charter, including failure to satisfy accountability provisions prescribed by the charter; (2) failed to satisfy generally accepted accounting standards of fiscal management; (3) failed to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the students enrolled at the school; (4) failed to comply with this subchapter or another applicable law or rule; (5) failed to satisfy the performance framework standards adopted under Section ; or (6) is imminently insolvent as determined by the commissioner in accordance with commissioner rule.

TEC § PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKS; ANNUAL EVALUATIONS. (a) The commissioner shall develop and by rule adopt performance frameworks that establish standards by which to measure the performance of an open-enrollment charter school. The commissioner shall develop and by rule adopt separate, specific performance frameworks by which to measure the performance of an open-enrollment charter school that is registered under the agency's alternative education accountability procedures for evaluation under Chapter 39. The performance frameworks shall be based on national best practices that charter school authorizers use in developing and applying standards for charter school performance. In developing the performance frameworks, the commissioner shall solicit advice from charter holders, the members of the governing bodies of open- enrollment charter schools, and other interested persons.

TEC § PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKS; ANNUAL EVALUATIONS. (b) The performance frameworks may include a variety of standards. In evaluating an open-enrollment charter school, the commissioner shall measure school performance against an established set of quality standards developed and adopted by the commissioner.

TEC § PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKS; ANNUAL EVALUATIONS. (c) Each year, the commissioner shall evaluate the performance of each open-enrollment charter school based on the applicable performance frameworks adopted under Subsection (a). The performance of a school on a performance framework may not be considered for purposes of renewal of a charter under Section (d) or revocation of a charter under Section (c).

Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 19 TAC Chapter 100. Charters Subchapter AA. Commissioner's Rules Concerning Open-Enrollment Charter Schools § Performance Frameworks. The performance of an open-enrollment charter school will be measured annually against a set of criteria set forth in the Charter School Performance Framework (CSPF) Manual established under Texas Education Code, § The CSPF Manual will include measures for charters registered under the standard system and measures for charters registered under the alternative education accountability system as adopted under § of this title (relating to Accountability Rating System).

How Are You Doing? The Charter School Performance Framework is intended to provide parents, the public, charter operators, as well as the authorizer with a snapshot of each charter’s performance aligned to academic, financial, operational, and governance standards.

Guiding Areas academic financial operational

of the Framework Determine whether charter schools are: academically successful and effective; financially healthy and viable; and operationally effective, well-run, and compliant.

Data Sources The academic performance framework is completed using the state accountability rating system and publicly available information.state accountability rating system The financial framework pulls information primarily from independent financial audits and the Charter School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).Charter School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) The sources for the operational framework will include self-reported data, third-party monitoring, and authorizer monitoring (e.g. school visits).

Using the Performance Framework Self-assess overall health and viability of their school throughout the charter term. Used to inform decisions that will help to identify schools that are candidates for replication or expansion, intervention, renewal or nonrenewal, or closure. Inform the public of the strength of the portfolio.

Section 1: Academic Framework Section 2: Financial Framework Section 3: Operational Framework Charter School Performance Framework

Section 1: Academic Framework The Academic Framework includes indicators that evaluate charter academic performance. This section evaluates charters in the following areas: Student Achievement Graduation Rates

Section 1: Academic Framework This section answers the evaluative question: Is the academic program a success? A charter that meets the expectations in this area is implementing its academic program effectively, and student learning – the central purpose of every school – is taking place.

Section 1: Academic Framework For indicators in this framework, a charter receives one of four ratings: Exceeds Expectations, Meets Expectations, Does Not Meet Expectations, or Not Applicable.

Section 2: Financial Framework The purpose of the Financial Framework is to provide key data to assess the financial health and viability of charters. Charters are evaluated in a number of areas, including: Critical Indicators Fiscal Responsibility and Data Quality Personnel

Section 2: Financial Framework For each indicator in this framework, a charter receives one of two ratings: Meets Expectations, or Does Not Meet Expectations.

Section 3: Operational Framework The Operational Framework includes indicators that allow TEA to evaluate the compliance-related standards that the charter must meet. The charter is already required to meet the standards in this section through state and federal law, rules, regulations, or the charter contract.

Section 3: Operational Framework The Operational Framework is broken into several areas of compliance requirements: Education Program Governance and Reporting

Section 3: Operational Framework For many indicators in this framework, a charter receives one of three ratings: Meets Expectations, Does Not Meet Expectations, or Far Below Expectations. For other indicators, a charter receives a Meets Expectations or Does Not Meet Expectations.

Timeline December 2013 – December 2014 CSPF stakeholder development meetings Spring/Summer/Fall 2015 finalize CSPF, draft Manual Fall CSPF (report-only) sent to each charter March CSPF published on public web

Takeaways The Charter School Performance Framework: is designed to comply with statutory requirements; will be used as a decision-making tool; and includes available data (state accountability ratings, Charter FIRST, PEIMS, accreditation, Charter School Tracking System, site visits). 27

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