Oregon Public Charter School Program Accountability

Oregon Department of EducationAugust 4, 2004

Public Charter Schools

SimilarOpen to all

studentsNon-selectiveCertain laws must

be followed (Civil rights, IDEA, Due process, open meetings etc)

Per pupil funding formula

DifferentCreated by

applicationSchools of choice

(staff and students)Operates

pursuant to performance agreement (charter)

Evaluated on outcomes written in charter

Charter School Reform Strategy

Focus on performance-based system, not process/regulationProvide public school choiceIntroduce competitionAllow for innovationInstructionally neutral

National Overview

41 States with charter lawsState charter laws vary widelyFederal support growing

Large charter grant program Regulatory burden growing

Traditional Paradigm

School District Board

Central Office

District Schools Goals

Charter Schools

New Paradigm

School District Board

Central Office

Charter Schools

District SchoolsGoals

ESDs – Other Service Providers

A Different District-School Relationship

District is not responsible for making the school succeed

District is responsible for holding the school accountable for its success or failure

A Different District-School Relationship

For special education: District is responsible for the student’s special education.

District is responsible for the oversight of implementation at the charter school.

Components of Oregon’s Law

Any person or group may propose/developNew, “conversion”, or school w/in existing schoolProposals approved by school districtsSBE sponsorship on appealUp to 5 year term

Charter Law, continued

Minimum of 25 studentsNon-discriminatory admissions, lotteryUp to one-half of teachers/administrators may be non-TSPC licensedFunded through districts

Accountability

Accountability is a cornerstone of charter schoolsCharter schools are subject to ALL accountability regulations, including NCLB, IDEA, civil rights, etc.The sponsoring district is responsible for carrying out the NCLB (Title I, II, etc.) accountability provisions and elements of IDEA and civil rights.

NCLB Allocation of funds

Charter schools are treated as a school with in the districtThe LEA (sponsoring school district) allocates funds to charter schools on the same basis as other district schools

IDEA Allocation of funds

Charter schools are treated as a school with in the districtThe LEA (sponsoring school district) allocates funds to charter schools according to statute and charter.The LEA treats the charter school as any other school in distributing special education services.

School Choice

Charter schools may be listed by an LEA as a choice option (but not yet for IEP teams).Must have met AYP and not identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring

School Choice (cont.) If more students apply for admission than can be admitted, the school may weight the lottery in favor of students seeking to change schools under the public school choice provisions of ESEA Title I, for the limited purpose of providing greater choice covered by those provisions Example: Each student seeking to transfer under Title I, receives two or more chances to win the lottery, while all other students would have only one chance.

AYP…part of the contract?

NCLB holds charter schools accountable for making AYP, just like other public schoolsSponsoring districts may incorporate the AYP definition into the charter contract, especially a new schoolPossible for a charter school to meet its contractual requirements, but fail AYP Also possible for the reverse,

meeting AYP, but fail to meeting contract obligations

Supplemental Services

Eligible to become supplement service providerCharter school may not be in “school improvement”

Current charter school successes

Increased student performanceInnovative curriculum and instructionInnovative management, operations and facilitiesHigh staff satisfaction and engagementHigh parent/student involvement and satisfaction

Charter School Struggles

Facilities and fundingUnclear goals and limited performance dataInternal governance disputesInadequate planningInexperienced leadership and staffInadequate, non-existent or “overkill” oversightImplementing special education requirementsImplementing civil rights laws

Keys to SuccessRealistic plan and timelineDetailed school design upfrontClear, common and coherent mission/visionPositive relationship with sponsorStrong team with broad expertiseTrainingFunding independent from State School Funds (SSF)

Responsibility of Sponsor

Application processClarityFairnessRigor

Performance ContractingOngoing OversightRenewal Decision-making

Contacts Margaret Bates margaret.bates@state.or.us 503-378-3600, Ext. 4503

Rendy Delvin rendy.delvin@state.or.us 503-378-3600, Ext. 4450

Rae Ann Ray raeann.ray@state.or.us 503-378-3600, Ext. 2311