Georgia Charter Schools Commission: Lessons from 2009 Cycle
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Transcript of Georgia Charter Schools Commission: Lessons from 2009 Cycle
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Company
LOGO
Georgia Charter Schools Commission: Lessons from 2009 Cycle
2010 Georgia Charter Schools Association ConferenceMarch 11-12, Marietta, Georgia
Dr. Ben Scafidi; Andrew W. Broy
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Growth of Charter Sector
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Types of Charter Schools
•Start-up (Traditional or LEA Start-up)•Conversion•System Charters
Locally Approved
•State Chartered Special Schools
State Approved Charters
•Start-up Schools authorized by Georgia Charter Schools Commission
Commission Approved
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Georgia Charter Commission
HB 881
• Creates 7-member “Charter School Commission”• Members appointed by State Board of Education on recommendation of Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House• Commission given power to authorize charter schools• Commission authorized to award “full” funding to approved charter schools
• Calculated on allotment sheet
HB 881 Authorizing Process
• Requires petitioners seeking commission authorization to file with a local school district first; commission can only act 60 days after submission to local district• Exception for charter school proposing to enroll students from five or more districts
• State Board can overturn the decision of the Commission with a supermajority vote (2/3 of members)
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Georgia Charter Commission
HB 881 Existing Charter Schools
• State Chartered Special Schools: Can seek commission authorization at end of current charter term or sooner if State Board allows.
• Start-Up Schools: Can seek commission authorization at end of current charter term or sooner if State Board and local board allow.
• Conversions, Charter Systems: Cannot seek commission authorization.
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Commission Applications
•Commission application on Department of Education website
Application
•Due August 1, 2010 to Commission•Make sure to comply with all requirements listed on application•Number of copies, length, etc.•Nonconforming applications
Deadline
•Received 125 letters of intent for start-up charter schoolsInterest
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Charter Period
Initial Charter
•Five to Ten Years
Renewal
•One to Ten Years
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Application Process
1. Review of application legal compliance, educational plan,
governance framework
2. Interview Process Used to determine capacity of school
leadership team to carry out plan
3. Recommendations Communication from the Commission staff to
the full Commission explaining recommendation and rationale
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Application Process
ApplicationLocal denial issueRevisions to submitted applicationLaw requires “joint submission” and does
not permit the Commission to act until 60 days after local submission SBOE Rule requires a school to respond in
writing to the reasons for local denial Explanation should be organized to respond
to each concern raised by local board
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Application Process
After Submission
• Once applications are submitted, they will be reviewed for completeness by Commission staff
• Only complete applications will be reviewed• After review, applicants will be contacted in writing about status of
application and interview process
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Interview Process
Leadership Team:
• Founder (principal)• Board Chair• CFO• Additional Team Members
Interview Allows the panel to:
• Determine the capacity of the leadership team• Ask clarifying questions about the application• Judge the effectiveness of the proposed leader• Determine whether the school will be able to serve students well
Key to Success:
• Capacity and plan• Can the school handle LEA status?
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Interview Process
•Curriculum•Assessment Plan•Performance Goals
Academic Plan
•Financial plan, including facilities•Local support for enrollment•Cash flow, timing of funding
Capacity
•Governance structure and board•Teacher quality and school leadership•Relationship with EMO/CMO
Business Plan
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Recommendation and DOE Role
Panel recommendatio
ns
Commission consideration and vote
Possible SBOE
reconsideration
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What is innovation?
• Characteristics of Georgia Charter Schools
• Uniforms: 34• Extended day: 28• International Baccalaureate: 8• Single gender classes or
school: 8• Career academy: 6• Range of annual facilities
costs: $0 - $1,350,211
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Commission Considerations
Quality, Quality, Quality
• Geographic location of Charters• Rural districts and districts with exceptional need• Urban areas with no start up charter schools (Macon, etc.)
• High Schools• Multi-district schools• Truly unique models• New management company• Theme offerings
• Performing arts, military themed, single-gender, dual language
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Charter Commission Lessons
Sound financial management Strong student performance goals Leadership (effective principal) Quality teachers A realistic facilities plan Effective governing board High levels of local support Stable/increasing student population Focus on academic outcomes Organizational and governance vision
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Commission Applicant Mistakes
1. Weak student performance goals Imprecise, not targeted, not set out by year Not sufficiently rigorous No use of norm referenced in addition to CRCT
2. Inconsistencies in the application Poor writing, lack of attention to detail
3. Power imbalance between management company and governing board
4. No understanding of waivers
5. Unrealistic budget assumptions
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Commission Applicant Mistakes
1. Examples from actual applications Management company contract terms inconsistent with
budget Lack of connection between waivers sought and
curricular approach Student goal baseline set below district average Goals included for three of five years of proposed
charter No goals for all five years of term Attendance zone not explained 3% Commission withhold, TRS contributions, and
health care costs not included in budget
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Race to the Top
• Stimulus (ARRA Funding)• $787 Billion in additional
funding• Roughly $120 Billion
devoted to education• Most allocated through
existing formulas and state fiscal stabilization
• $5 billion reserved for Innovation
• $4 Billion for Race to the Top for states
• $650 million for Investing in Innovation Fund (50, 30, 5)
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Race to the Top
4 Assurances: Teacher quality and distribution State data system Turning around low performing schools Standards and assessments link to college,
work ready standards and benchmarkedOther considerations
Legal ability to link state assessment systems with individual teachers and schools
No cap on charter school authorization Common core standards
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Company
LOGO
Georgia Charter Schools Commission: Lessons from 2009 Cycle
2010 Georgia Charter Schools Association ConferenceMarch 11-12, Marietta, Georgia
Dr. Ben Scafidi; Andrew W. Broy