WELCOME TO TABS Training Activities for Business Staff We are pleased to welcome you to the final session of the TABS program! TABS is designed to provide topic-specific knowledge about a variety of school business topics. “Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice” Presented by Charter School Financial Services March 11, 2005

Training Activities for Business Staff (TABS) San Diego County Office of Education Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center March 11, 2005 Charter Schools Public Schools of Choice

“... Anyone closely allied with a public school - - whether a parent or family member of a student, or a teacher, administrator or classified staff member - - can attest to the perils resident in the complex tangle of rules sustaining our public school system. These include the potential to sap creativity and innovation, thwart accountability and undermine the effective education of our children.” WILSON v. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 89 Cal.Rptr.2d 745, 75 Cal.App.4 th 1125 (1999)

Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice PRESENTERS Delano Jones, Charter School Technician Carole Parks, Ed.D. Consultant, Business Advisory Services

Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice AGENDA Table Discussions of Workshop Outcomes Overview of Charter Schools Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools Flexibility Oversight of Chartering Agency Questions

Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice Welcome Introductions Table Discussions of Workshop Outcomes

Overview of Charter Schools California was second in the nation to authorize charter schools. California Charters Schools Act of 1992 Political support from both sides of the aisle 40 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have charter laws today.

Overview of Charter Schools Public charter schools funded by the state (Wilson v. State Board of Ed., 1999) Nonsectarian Non-discriminatory Voluntary student enrollment

Overview of Charter Schools Charter is a contract between chartering agency and charter petitioners Term usually 3-5 years Supplemented by MOUs Application for 5-year renewals

Overview of Charter Schools Expand educational choices for parents and students Provide competition to stimulate continual improvement Change from rule-based to performance-based accountability system linked to pupil outcomes

Overview of Charter Schools San Diego Unified School District #028, Charter School of San Diego (1993) #033, Darnall E-Charter (1993) 51 charter schools in operational charter schools in San Diego County in

Maturity of 51 Charter Schools San Diego County to 3 years45% 4 to 5 years20% >5 years35%

Overview of Charter Schools Growth of charter schools Proponents and opponents Marketing –Internet –Direct advertising Entrepreneurial approach Support from state and national organizations

Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools Charter schools tend to be much smaller than traditional schools Charters are allowed to waive many state laws, rules, and regulations Educational management organizations found more frequently in charter schools than in traditional public schools

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools Charter schools have student demographics similar to other public schools Charter schools are funded by the state and by private foundations. They are more flexible than a traditional public school because they can choose their own curriculum and teachers.

Charter school teachers are less likely to be certified than their peers in traditional public schools Less teaching experience Charter school parents claim to be more involved than with previous schools Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools Charter schools are not homogeneous (not all the same) There is no single charter effect Part of the motivation behind creating charter schools is to foster innovation, which leads to different approaches

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools They vary along several dimensions Differences affect: –Accessibility –Achievement –Operation –Governance

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools Accessibility - Student Representation Charter School students: More likely to be black and less likely to be Hispanic or Asian but no more or less likely to be white. Racial mix of student varies by charter school type Differences between groups tends to be small

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools Accessibility - Student Representation Charter school admissions processes differ little from admissions processes in a traditional public school Charter schools are more likely than traditional schools to focus their services on specific student populations

Similarities and Differences Charters and Traditional Public Schools There is no conclusive data to indicate that students in charter schools perform better than students in traditional schools

Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice Flexibility

Charter Schools Flexibility Who initiates the Charter petition process? Teachers and/or other educators Parents Charter developer(s) School district governing board

Charter Schools Flexibility Is this proposed charter school a start-up charter or a conversion from an existing public school? Start-up Conversion Charter district

Start-up or Conversion Charter Start-up76% Conversion24%

Charter Schools Flexibility Type of Curriculum Classroom-based Nonclassroom-based (independent study) Combination (classroom-based and independent study)

Type of Curriculum Classroom-based65% Nonclassroom- based or combination (classroom-based & independent study) 35%

Number of students enrolled Less than 10019% % % % 500 or more37%

Charter Schools Flexibility Grade Levels Operated Elementary Secondary Combined grades Must include same grades as chartering authority

Grade Levels Operated Elementary grades57% Secondary grades14% Combined grades29%

Charter Schools Flexibility Which students will the proposed charter school serve? Socio-economically disadvantaged students Academically low performing students Culturally diverse student body Similar racial ethnic ratio as school district English learners Gifted or talented students Students focused on academic interest area

Charter Schools Flexibility Which students will the proposed charter school serve? Students residing primarily in area of school district Students in San Diego, Riverside, Orange, and/or Imperial Counties Must be California residents Must enroll voluntarily in charter school

Charter Schools Flexibility Where will the charter school serve students? Central city charter school site Urban fringe/large town site Home schooling Rural charter school site Nonclassroom-based distance education only

Charter Schools Flexibility How will this proposed charter school operate? Nonprofit public benefit corporation, IRC 501(c)(3) Dependent “arm of the district” Independent, direct-funded For profit, by an educational management organization (EMO)

Charter Schools Flexibility How is charter school governance established? Appointed board Elected board Stakeholder representation on board Nonprofit public benefit corporation bylaws provide for board of directors School district governing board provides governance.

Charter Schools Flexibility Who comprises the charter school leadership? Chief administrative officer Director Business manager Leadership resembles traditional public school with principal as site administrator

Charter Schools Flexibility How many persons (FTEs) will be employed? Management Certificated Teachers Noncertificated positions Paraprofessionals (Must voluntarily be employed.)

Charter Schools Flexibility Will the charter contract out any services? Management services Special education (CDE- authorized provider) Business

Charter Schools Flexibility What is the general atmosphere of the external environment of the proposed charter school? Chartering authority County office of education Surrounding traditional schools Community

Charter Schools Flexibility What revenues will be applied for to supplement the regular state funding for charters based upon pupil attendance? State and federal charter planning and development grants Loans Private grants Private fundraising and donations

Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice Oversight of Chartering Agency

Charter Organization Locally funded (Dependent with School Board Governance) 16% Direct funded 84% Incorporated 501(c)(3) 53%

Charter Schools Oversight Financial Oversight – Is the charter school a financially viable enterprise?

Charter Schools Oversight A charter school sponsor maintains fiscal oversight responsibilities in the key areas of accounting, pupil accounting, budgeting, and payroll.

Charter Schools Oversight The chartering authority shall use any financial information it obtains from the charter school to assess the fiscal condition of the charter.

Charter Schools Oversight The charter shall provide reports to the district and county office: Preliminary Budget First Interim Report Second Interim Report Annual Report of Revenue and Expenses Annual Audit Report

Charter Schools Oversight Supervisorial oversight fee of actual costs not to exceed 1% of defined state revenue of the charter Liability protection from debts, obligations, and claims of charter school

Charter Schools Oversight County Superintendent has oversight authority to: Make reasonable inquiries Monitor operations Conduct investigation into operations

Charter Schools Oversight Program Oversight – Is the charter living up to the outcomes promised in the charter?

Charter Schools Oversight The chartering agency may inspect or observe any part of the charter school at any time.

Charter Schools Oversight Is the charter school conducting a successful educational program that benefits pupils who attend?

Charter Schools Oversight Are all students participating in the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program? Has the charter attained its Academic Performance Index (API) Growth Target?

Charter Schools Oversight Are all charter facilities accessible under American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Are all student facilities free of religious artifacts when school is open?

Charter Schools Oversight Procedures are available to resolve disputes relating to provisions of the charter. Substance of dispute could result in action including revocation of the charter. Notice to cure Board action to revoke

Questions Charter Schools, Public Schools of Choice

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