Casting Call: Roles of the Board and Staff in Charter School Authorizing CARSNet San Diego, CA October 1, 2015 Presented by: David Patterson, Ed. D. Faris Sabbah, Ed.D. Devon B. Lincoln, Esq.

INTRODUCTION Board Member Assistant Superintendent Legal Counsel = Differing perspectives on the complexities of charter school authorizing What’s your perspective?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO AUTHORIZE A CHARTER SCHOOL? The Charter Schools Act of 1992 The Wilson case: one unified public school system Which agency provides oversight? 3

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AND ROLE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER? What an authorizer does What an authorizer does not do What an authorizer shouldn’t do, but sometimes does… Who does what 4

THE ROLES Board of trustees: Decision making based on the criteria of the law Relevant laws: –Education Code section (approval) –Education Code section (renewal/revocation) 5

THE ROLES What a board needs: High quality, unbiased analysis from staff Guidance about options, including feasibility/risk assessment 6

THE ROLES Superintendent: Implement board decisions Advise/guide/support the board Manage the authorizing process The relationship between the Board and the Superintendent at district/county level 7

THE ROLES Staff: CBO? Ed Services? Other? Designated charter coordinator? 8

THE ROLES Staff: Reality - may have many other jobs Need a level of support in order to meet responsibilities –Application review process more demanding and time sensitive than oversight 9

THE TOOLS The Law: –Approval –Renewal –Revocation 10

THE TOOLS Board policy and regulations –How they help –What they don’t do 11

OTHER TOOLS Charter review matrix Charter oversight matrix Other tools? 12

ACADEMIC OVERSIGHT Student achievement is the single most important component of authorizers oversight Within the context of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and Accountability Plan (LCAP) 13

AVOIDING SURPRISES Communication between all parties Creating a dialogue Building relationships 14

COMMUNICATION Presentations by petitioners at board meetings Meetings between petitioners and district staff during review 15

BEFORE THE BOARD Staff draft findings – timing and communication to petitioners Providing options for the board Outside Resources; legal, fiscal and educational program 16

BEFORE THE BOARD What the Board needs to know during: Approval Term of Charter Facilities Requests Renewal Revocation (and before!) 17

WHEN PROBLEMS ARE IDENTIFIED Violations of the law, violating the terms of the MOU, violating terms of the Charter Petition Investigative process Steps to resolve identified issues What happens if issues continue without resolution 18

Questions 19

CONTACT INFO FOR PRESENTERS David Patterson, Ed.D. Vice President, Placer County Board of Education Faris Sabbah, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Student Services, Monterey County Office of Education (831) Devon B. Lincoln, Esq. Partner, Lozano Smith

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