1. RESULTS EXCELLENCE INNOVATION The SCPCSD: LEA and Charter Authorizer
SOUTH CAROLINA
The SCPCSD: LEA and Charter Authorizer
Hunter Schimpff & Bobby Rykard

2. Objectives for this presentation
Explain our dual role as an LEA and as a charter school authorizer. Clarify what we do and don’t do.
Understand how we hold schools accountable.
Hear your questions about autonomy and accountability.

3. LEA Charter Authorizer
The SCPCSD is both:
LEA
Charter Authorizer

4. Dual Responsibility LEA Charter School Authorizer
The SCPCSD at a basic level as a Local Education Agency (LEA) is a legal custodian of state and federal funds, and is tasked with ensuring those funds are put towards educating all students at a high level.
The District is legally obligated to ensure school-level compliance with school functions. Examples include:
Student Information Systems and Records (responsible to the state)
Special Education service and delivery (responsible to the state who is responsible to the US Department of Education)
Federal funds programs (Title I, Title III, IDEA)
Teacher certification records (responsible to the state)
Charter
School Authorizer
Our role is to establish and maintain a system of high-quality, autonomous schools which provide excellent educational options for students and families.
We have high standards for school performance.
We protect student and family rights and guard the public interest.
We believe that school leaders and teachers are best positioned to improve
educational outcomes for students.

5. Charter authorizing simplified…
Maintain high standards
Protect student and public interests
Improve
Educational outcomes
Leverage school autonomy

6. Charter authorizers & charter schools…
Public charter schools retain more control over a greater percentage of dollars and more autonomy over how to spend those dollars at the school level to ensure student success. Some key tenets of the authorizer/charter school relationship:
As public charter schools, schools must be open to all students. The SCPCSD exists to ensure access and equity for all students and hold schools accountable for being non-discriminatory in admissions and educational service delivery.
Public charter schools receive public funds. The SCPCSD exists to ensure those funds are being spent responsibly through monthly and annual financial monitoring and reporting requirements.
With autonomy over most funds and control over many school level decisions, the SCPCSD does not exist in the same vein as a traditional school district central office. The District’s role is not to make many of the decisions that would impact the educational program at the school level.
The SCPCSD maintains high standards and expects public charter schools in its District to provide excellent and equitable educational opportunities to students. A term limited performance contract is the basis for the school’s existence. If the school is not performing according to this performance contract, the school can
be non-renewed at the end of the term (10 years) or revoked before the term expires.

7. Our role/your role, examples:
SCPCSD
Charter School
Determine viability of the charter school applicant group to carry out a given model successfully in a South Carolina community.
Monitor the school’s performance according to the performance goals for its particular model and the District’s School Performance Framework (SPF).
Facilitate background checks and ensure teacher certification requirements.
Provide and manage a student information system (SIS).
Provide Special Education training and ensure quality special education service delivery in schools
Receive state and federal funds and disburse to schools
Establish the school model (ex: Montessori, STEM, blended learning)
Personnel decisions
Establish and conduct staff performance evaluations
Plan and provide staff professional development
Choose the curriculum
Structure how the curriculum is taught
Set the yearly and daily schedule
Be non-selective in admissions
Educate all students who enroll, including students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and at-risk students
Establish a data-driven infrastructure to monitor student progress and manage finances and operations
Procurement and purchasing decisions
Find and procure school facility

8. Holding schools accountable:
Approve only high capacity applicant groups
Monitor adherence to legal requirements and performance according to specific charter goals and District’s School Performance Framework
Renew, approve expansion or replication, non-renew or revoke

9. Core Performance System
Holding schools accountable:
Core Performance System
Routine Year-Round Data Submissions
Annual SPF Review and Ratings
School Tours and Site Visit Protocols
SPF and Accountability Timelines Throughout Charter Cycle
Rewards and Sanctions
Intervention Ladder

10. TRANSITION SLIDE TEXT Core Performance System Anticipated Lifecycle
Pre-Opening
Pre-Opening Conditions/Pre-Open Site Visit
Year 1
School Tour
Years 2-3
Potential Site Visit
Year 4-6 (Mid-Term Review)
Site Visit
Years 7-8
Years 9-10
Renewal Inspection
Renewal Application
SCPCSD Board Votes on Renewal
SPF Review Every Year
Core Performance System
TRANSITION SLIDE
TEXT

11. Intervention Ladder Good Standing Caution Breach Revocation Review
Less intensive monitoring
Fewer site visits
Automatic replication & expansion
recommendation
Caution
Notice of Caution
Corrective action request
Failure to correct can escalate to Level 2
Breach
Notice of Breach
Increased monitoring and site visits
Failure to correct can escalate to revocation review
Revocation
Review
Notice of Revocation Review
Charter Review & Increased monitoring and site visits
Audits
Can lead to revocation recommendation

12. Student and Family Rights
School Performance Framework
Student Outcomes
Academic
Student and Family Rights
Financial

13. Academic & Finance Components
SPF Indicators
Academic & Finance Components
Academics
Finance
Student Achievement
Subgroup Performance
Student Growth
College & Career Readiness (HS)
Comparative Performance
State & Federal Accountability
Optional School-Specific Goals
Near-Term Indicators
Cash on Hand
Current Ratio
Debt-Not Delinquent/Default
Sustainability Indicators
Three Year Margin
Debt-to-Asset Ratio

14. Student & Family Rights Component
SPF Indicators
Student & Family Rights Component
Access & Equity
Health & Safety
Leadership
Admission/Enrollment
W/In 20% Racial Composition of Resident District
Ensuring Rights of Students With Disabilities
Ensure English Language Learners (ELL) Provided Appropriate Services
Monitoring Enrollment/Attrition
Safe/Secure Facilities
School Safety Plan
Certificate of Occupancy
Safe/Secure Environment
Background Checks, Employee TB Certificates, Student Immunizations
Appropriate Licensure
Administrator Certified or Experienced
75% Teachers Certified in Core Classes
School Leader & EMO Evaluations
Governance
Board Meetings/Training, Open Meetings, By-Laws
Financial Reporting
Audit, Corrective Actions, etc.
Fed/State Reporting

15. Questions?
Autonomy
Accountability