SCHOOL SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY IN GEORGIA Overview and Comparison Presentation to Education Works Leadership Institute September 16, 2013

What are we talking about and why? The Academic Bottom Line Improving Student Academic Results Freedom granted through Waivers of Georgia Education Laws, Rules, Guidelines Flexibility Shorthand phrase meaning Georgia Education Law and all related Rules and Guidelines Title 20 Operational approaches school systems and schools can take to implement flexibility in exchange for a performance contract from the State Board of Education Flexibility Options Waivers of state class size, expenditure control, certification, and salary schedule requirements The Big Four 2

What is the basic flexibility bargain? ACCOUNTABILITYAUTONOMY Freedom from state controls Flexibility to Innovate Waivers from state laws, rules, guidelines More performance measures Higher Academic Expectations Students outperform state …. 3

Selecting a Flexibility Option June 30, 2015* By June 30, 2015* each local school system must choose to operate as one of the following: – Investing in Educational Excellence School System (IE 2 ) – Charter System – Status Quo School System Other options include: – System of Charter Clusters – System of Charter Schools – Strategic School System *Per OCGA §

What is an IE 2 system? A local district that has a performance contract with the SBOE (State Board of Education) that grants flexibility from specific Title 20 provisions, SBOE rules, and GaDOE (Georgia Department of Education) guidelines Definition The contract is between the district, SBOE and GOSA (Governor’s Office of Student Achievement) The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability Facts & Features Flexibility to innovate Financial savings possible from waivers Loss of governance over schools that fail to meet targets Relative Advantages/ Disadvantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not waived by the IE 2 contract Federal/State Compliance 5

What is a charter system? A local district that has an executed charter from the SBOE that grants the district flexibility from almost all of Title 20, SBOE rules, and GaDOE guidelines Definition The charter is a contract between district and SBOE The district gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability School-based leadership and decision-making Facts & Features School-level autonomy and accountability required Financial savings possible from waivers Additional per-pupil funding in QBE if appropriated Relative Advantages/ Disadvantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety) Federal/State Compliance 6

What is a system of charter clusters? A local district that has converted all its schools into charter clusters Each cluster includes a high school and all its feeder schools Definition Individual charter contracts between each high school cluster, the district, and the SBOE Each cluster gains autonomy and flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability Facts & Features Cluster-level autonomy and accountability required Financial savings possible from waivers Decision making is cluster-based Relative Advantages/ Disadvantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety) Federal/State Compliance 7

What is a system of charter schools? A local district that has converted all its schools into charter schools Definition Individual charter contracts between each school, the district and the SBOE Each school gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability Facts & Features Financial savings possible from waivers Eligible schools are eligible to enter the final federal Charter School Grant competition in January 2014 Decision-making is school-based Relative Advantages/ Disadvantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety) Federal/State Compliance 8

What is a strategic school system? A local district that has a performance contract with the SBOE that grants flexibility from specific Title 20 provisions, SBOE rules, and GaDOE guidelines Definition The contract is between the district and the SBOE The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability Facts & Features Short application process Some financial savings possible – but waivers with the biggest financial impact (the Big four) are not yet allowed Relative Advantages/ Disadvantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not waived by the performance contract Federal/State Compliance 9

What is a status quo system? A local district that has formally rejected all flexibility options Definition No performance contract No district flexibility from Title 20, SBOE rules, or GaDOE guidelines except in the case of a natural disaster Facts & Features No change is required No financial savings from waivers Relative Advantages/ Disadvantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with ALL state laws, rules and regulations Federal/State Compliance 10

Decision Considerations Which operational system best matches the strategies? What strategies can be used to close the gap? What are the gaps between CCRPI goals and CCRPI data? What are the CCRPI goals of the school system? What does the school system’s CCRPI* data show now? * College & Career Readiness Performance Index Which flexibility option best matches the strategies? What strategies can be used to close the gap? What are the gaps between CCRPI goals and CCRPI data? What are the CCRPI goals of the school system? What does the school system’s CCRPI* data show now? 11

Distributed 12 Centralized (or Other)Decentralized Are waivers needed? IE 2 System Status Quo Charter System Centralized, Decentralized, or Distributed? Yes No Waivers Decision Structure Considerations System of Charter Schools Strategic School System System of Charter Clusters

13 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >School System seeks waivers – must include at least one of the following: class size; expenditure control; certification; salary schedule >Schools must state how broad flexibility per- mitted by the Charter Schools Act will be utilized to improve student achievement >School must provide exam- ples of how they will utilize the broad relief from Title 20 permit- ted by the Chart- er Schools Act. >School System must state how bundled Title 20 waiver requests for flexibility permitted by state statute and State Board rule will be utilized. >School System cannot include the following: class size; expenditure control; certification; salary schedule. >School System must provide examples of how broad flexibility permitted by the Charter Schools Act will be utilized to improve student achievement >Waivers granted only in the case of a natural disaster >Statewide waivers expire June 30, 2015 Flexibility and Title 20

14 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo Cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct Schools cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct Cannot waive: >Big 4 >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct Cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct No waivers permitted except if natural disaster, but cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct Waiver Limitations 14

15 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Flexibility proportionate to student performance goals >School System Strategic Plan is required >School System must conduct a public hearing to share Strategic Plan >Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting. >Emphasis on parent/ community involvement, including maximum school level governance >Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting > Flexibility is proportionate to increase in student performance goals >School System Strategic Plan is required >School System must conduct a public hearing to share Strategic Plan >Approved by the Local School Board >Emphasis on parent/ community involvement, including maximum school level governance >Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting >School System must conduct a public hearing to provide notice of the system’s intent to select Status Quo >Local board of education must sign statement that the school system has selected Status Quo Unique Features

16 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Possible savings through flexibility >Regular QBE funding with more local school system expenditure controls >Possible savings through flexibility >Regular QBE funding with local expenditure controls >Federal charter school imple- mentation grants possible for each school >Possible savings through flexibility >Regular QBE funding >Possible savings through flexibility >Regular QBE funding with more local school system expenditure controls >Possible $100 (pre-austerity cut) per student >No savings through flexibility Fiscal Impact

17 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >School System may maximize school-level governance by granting local schools authority to determine how to reach goals >School System must grant each school substan- tial autonomy and maximize school-level governance and decision making over budgets, programs, personnel, and innovation >School System may maximize school level governance by granting local schools authority to determine how to reach goals, manage personnel, and develop innovative strategies >School System must provide each school with substantial autonomy and maximum school-level governance and decision making over budgets, programs, personnel and/or innovation >No change in school-level governance Governance

4 Responsibilities of a School Board Adopt a five-year strategic plan Strategic Plan Adopt a budget to fund the strategic plan Budget Hire a leader to implement the strategic plan within budget Superintendent Hold the leader accountable for implementing the strategic plan within budget Accountability 18

Sharing the Superintendent’s Authority 19 Beyond the 4 responsibilities of a school board, everything else is the Superintendent’s responsibility Therefore, it is the Superintendent’s authority that is shared with schools in a charter system or a system of charter schools The authority of a local Board of Education is not diminished unless it has inappropriately taken the Superintendent’s authority

Governing council composition reflects the diversity of the community Meets regularly and complies with Open Records and Open Meetings Laws Governing council sticks to governance and stays out of management Substantially autonomous from local district Receives regular updates on academic operational, and financial progress of the school Participates in regular governing council training each year 20 High Quality Charter System School Governance Standards

Charter System School Governing Team Autonomy 21 Reliance on authorizer (local, state) Independence from authorizer (local, state) Indicators of Autonomy Must make personnel decisions (People) Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time) Must set school budget spending priorities (Money) Must recruit/select governing board members without district assistance (except for initial group) Can contract for services provided by the district Indicators of Autonomy Must make personnel decisions (People) Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time) Must set school budget spending priorities (Money) Must recruit/select governing board members without district assistance (except for initial group) Can contract for services provided by the district The school should be as close to this end as possible

What is a charter system school? A school within a charter system that does not have a separate charter However, under Georgia law, it is a charter school Definition Must have the same level of flexibility and autonomy as a start-up or conversion charter school Can choose to have themes or other innovative features Requires local school leadership and decision-making Most common type of charter school in Georgia (229) Facts & Features School level governance requires school leaders, parents, and community members to set the school’s culture and identity Relative Advantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety) Federal/State Compliance 22

Charter system schools are charter schools Different starting points, but same end point Same starting point as a conversion charter, but a different end point 23 Conversion Charter School (LBOE, SBOE, school) Start-up Charter School Locally-Approved Charter School (LBOE, SBOE, school) State Charter School (Commission and school with SBOE review; school is an LEA) Charter System School (covered by the LBOE & SBOE contract )

College and Career Academies Since charter system schools are charter schools, and Since College and Career Academies must be charter schools, Many charter systems create new College and Career Academies through their charter system contract – rather than through a separate charter application process for the College and Career Academy

Career Clusters/Pathways College and Career Academies are increasingly being created to better provide for Career Clusters/ Pathways We have 17 Career Clusters -- all designed with the help of Georgia businesses. – Each Cluster has multiple Pathways students can choose Students take core set of classes coupled with electives based on their pathway

1.Architecture & Construction 2.Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources 3.Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications 4.Business Management & Administration 5.Education and Training 6.Energy Systems 7.Finance 8.Government & Public Administration 9.Health Science 10.Hospitality & Tourism 11.Human Services 12.Information Technology 13.Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security 14.Manufacturing 15.Marketing 16.Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics 17.Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

What is a college and career academy? A locally-approved, start-up or conversion charter schools -- or a charter system school -- that partners with a local district, area businesses, and a technical college Definition Many college and career academies originate from district programs College and career academy courses are a reflection of the community’s needs and businesses Georgia has 26 college and career academies – 19 have their own charters and 7 were created through a charter system contract Facts & Features Local districts demonstrate their commitment to preparing their students for college and careers Relative Advantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not waived by the contract Federal/State Compliance 27 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 4/30/2015

28 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures >Student performance goals must exceed previous system performance and must show annual improvement >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures >Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures Performance Evaluation

29 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Loss of governance of non-performing schools: (1) conversion to charter school; (2) operation by another school system; or (3) operation by private or non- profit entity >Charter status revoked for non- performing schools/clusters; those schools/clusters lose all flexibility >Possible fiscal impact due to loss of flexibility >Flexibility status revoked and school system reverts to Status Quo >Possible fiscal impact when converting from Strategic School System to Status Quo due to loss of flexibility >Charter status revoked and school system reverts to Status Quo >Possible fiscal impact when converting from Charter System to Status Quo due to loss of flexibility N/A Consequences

30 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education* >Charter School Governing Board, Local School System Board of Education, and State Board of Education >Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education N/A Contractual Partners *Required by statute that the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement participate in the IE 2 process.

31 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Initial term of contract is for 5 years >Contract may be renewed if contract performance goals are met for at least three consecutive years >Initial term of individual school contract is for 5 years >Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance >Subsequent contract term may range from 5 to 10 years if the charter contract goals are met >Single contract term of 2 to 5 years >Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance >Follow-up contract must be IE 2, Charter System, System of Charter Schools or Charter Clusters, or Status Quo >Initial term of contract is for 5 years >Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance >Subsequent contract term may range from 5 to 10 years if the charter contract goals are met N/A Length of Contract

Charter System Application What will you be able to do with a charter that you can’t do without a charter? What are your school system’s student performance objectives for the proposed charter term? What specific actions will your school system take to achieve your student performance objectives during the proposed charter term? Which of the specific actions in your academic plan require a waiver of state law, rule, or guidelines? What is the system’s plan to maximize school level governance? If funds are appropriated for the QBE weight for charter systems, for what purposes would you use the additional funds you would earn as a charter system? Six Questions 32

Strategic School System Application What waivers of Title 20 and the related Rules and Guidelines are you requesting and for what time frame? What specific part of your school district’s Strategic Plan will these waivers help you to implement? Which of your school system’s student achievement performance goals will be accomplished if you are granted these waivers? Three Questions 33

Petition Approval Process 34 Conversion charter petition Charter system petition LBOEGaDOESBOE Approval Review and make recommendation to SBOE New conversion charter school Approval Review and make recommendation to SBOE New charter system Y Y N N End Y Y N N Charter Advisory Committee review and recommendation to SBOE

What is the Petition Review Process? 35 Deadlines Nov 1 – for conversion charter schools and charter systems Mar 1 – for strategic school system Petition reviewed Legal review to ensure eligibility Substance review GaDOE/CAC panel interview with applicant Clarification/change letter to applicant Core focus and compliance Applicant responds to letter GaDOE makes approval/denial recommendations to SBOE SBOE reviews Item for Information including CAC recommendation SBOE approves/ denies Action Item Execution of the Contract

36 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo >Approved by local board >Petition sent to GaDOE >Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet >Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE) >Contract signed by all parties >Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 8 to 24 months >Approved by local board >Petition sent to GaDOE >Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet >Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE) >Contract signed by all parties >Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months >Approved by local board >Petition sent to GaDOE >Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet >Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE) >Contract signed by all parties >Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months >Approved by local board >Petition sent to GaDOE >Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet >Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE) >Contract signed by all parties >Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months N/A Petition Process

37 IE 2 System System of Charter Schools and Charter Clusters Strategic School System Charter System Status Quo O.C.G.A. § § § § § § § O.C.G.A. § § § § § § § § § § § § § § O.C.G.A. § O.C.G.A. § O.C.G.A. § Legal References

Flexibility Orientation Local Boards of Education make a significant legal commitment when they sign a charter system or IE 2 contract. It is therefore critical that both new Board of Education members and new Superintendents receive a detailed orientation on their charter system or IE 2 commitments as part of their “on-boarding” process

39 Category 1: Strategic School System Category 2: High Performing System Category 3: Charter System >Description: Receive Title 20 flexibility via waiver request process >Eligibility: Any system not categorized as 2 or 3. In general, this will mean system scoring less than an 80 on the CCRPI. >Incentive: Flexibility: Specific Title 20 regulations (including “Big 4” at the discretion of the SBOE) can be waived at the request of the system by the SBOE based on completion of strategic plan and monitoring by DOE. Plan must clearly indicate how the flexibility will affect student achievement. Higher bar on student achievement for Big 4 waivers. >Accountability: Term of waivers is 3 years, can only be revoked if system materially breaches its plan. -- or system can be promoted to Category 2 and get the broad flexibility waiver or go through the process to become Category 3. >Description: Receive Title 20 flexibility without waiver process >Eligibility: Granted automatically without process or performance contract if district meets (a1) and (a2), or (b): (a1) System CCRPI grade of >= 80 AND (a2) 90% of schools >= 80 (or all but 1 for systems with 10 or fewer schools) OR (b) Exceptional CCRPI growth (definition TBD) >Incentive: Broad flexibility. >Accountability: Maintain High Performance criteria; Term of broad flexibility is 3 years >Description: Receive Title 20 flexibility through charter system application process. >Eligibility: Any system is always eligible to apply but must go through the current application process; local school governance assurance >Incentive: Broad flexibility >Accountability: Student performance and local school governance HB 327: Georgia’s Statewide Tiered Accountability and Flexibility System (G-STAFS)

Additional Information 40 Garry McGiboney, Ph.D. Associate Superintendent Howard Hendley, Ed.D. Director, Policy Division Louis Erste Director, Charter Schools Division Allan Meyer Assistant Director Policy Division Morgan Felts Program Manager and Senior Attorney Charter Schools Division