Office of Charter Schools

2008-09

FALL VISIT TAKE-AWAYS

Focus Areas reviewed in this year’s Fall Visit Staffing: Vacancies, Teacher Credentialing, TB clearance, and Fingerprinting Governance: Open Meeting Practices and Provisions of the Brown Act, and Inspecting Governing Board Agendas and Minutes. Facilities: Lease Status, Building Occupancy Status, Fire and Safety Inspections Supplemental Hourly Instruction: compliance, Student Eligibility, Documentation and Reporting SARC: Reporting Deadlines and Site Contacts Admissions: Enrollment Application, Public Lottery Process, Waiting List Procedures, Recruitment Strategies Parent Involvement: Practices, Home / School Communication, Complaint Procedures Discipline: Policies, Suspension & Expulsion Procedures, Student Exit Processes Health Screening: Food Program Overview, Reflection on Monthly Charter Meetings

Measurable Pupil Outcomes: Preview of Spring Visit Focus on Progress Towards Outcomes

Take-away’sTake-away’s

Transparency: Many schools’ policies such as complaint procedures, suspension & expulsion and enrollment were detailed, in writing, in the handbook or distributed widely Many schools lacked clearly defined policies, in writing, in the handbook or distributed widely in at least one or more areas

ISSUES:Some schools do not have all staff with required certification, TB, or DOJ clearance Most schools not in “school buildings” lacked evidence of occupancy status, permits Some schools use contracts that could be construed to incur expulsion for reasons other than those in policy Some schools do not perform required health screening

Staffing:Governing Text: Education Code, NCLB, Health Code, Charter Terms

Teacher Certification Health and Safety:08-09 Review Cycle Core/College Prep

o Valid CA Certificationo County Temp Acceptable

09-10 Review Cycle to include: Non-Core/Non-College Prep

o Subject Matter Competency

Must have prior to start Must be consistent with

assignment

TB Clearance Department of Justice

Clearance

Must have Prior to start

Compliance Form

To be created for use by OCS during Fall Visits 1. School Responses to Inquiry 2. Non-Compliance Record

- Instances of Self-Reported Non-compliance- Instances based on Record Review

•Revised Spreadsheet(to be completed by school prior to visit& submitted electronically):

- Type of Credential including subject matter authorized- Add Middle Name (CTCC online review)

- Expiration date of TB Clearance- Remove Date of Birth Request

RESPONSE:STEP 1: NOC (Notice of Concern): Required documentation of compliance by deadline.> Credential non-compliance: provide minimum 20 calendar days to provide documentation of compliance> TB/DOJ non-compliance: Require immediate action to remove non-compliant staff from workplace; provide a minimum 10 calendar days to provide documentation of compliance

Compliance timeline recognizes that the date of the Fall Visit has likely occurred after some period of non-compliant employment.

STEP 2: NOV (Notice of Violation): Spell out violation, cure date, possible remedy.> Credential non-compliance: dependent on case-by-case analysis of circumstances> TB/DOJ non-compliance: may result in initiation of immediate revocation due to imminent health and safety risk to students.

RESPONSE:Evaluate practice through Fall Visit Document Review and Inquiry Grade Schools (letter grade)

Based on: Lottery, Preferences, recruitment, admissions

School 1 2 3 4 Grade

Oak Tree Y Y N Y B

Collegiate N Y Y N C

Aim High Y Y Y Y A

Admissions Grade Sheet:Y) Meets Standard N) Not Meeting Standard1.Lottery2.Preferences3.Recruitment4.Admissions

ADMISSIONS

Lottery:Governing Text: Education Code, Charter Text

Given that Law Requires Holding a Lottery

Standard

Y/N Lottery Held Random Public Drawing in ALL cases where ALL applicants are not accepted

Y/N Application includes deadline In writing; widely distributed

Y/N Lottery Date In writing; widely distributed

Y/N Lottery procedures in writing In writing; widely distributed/describe process which ensures random drawing

Y/N Waiting List - Procedures Checklist: In writing Includes Order of preferences Describes efforts to contact Defines Transferability yr. to yr.

Y/N Application acceptance start date

Enrolling year on application (or space to “write-in” Requested grade

Y/N Notification of Space (Enrollment Offers)

In writing Registration requirements

Seek to ensure schools maintain records of:Number of applications receivedResults of LotteryWaiting Lists

Preferences:Governing Text: Education Code, Charter Text

• Current Students• Students living in the jurisdiction of OUSD (Oakland)• Approved charter terms

Preferences permitted to all schools by authorizer:• Allow sibling as second only to current students.• Allow children of Staff (provisional with 3 yr. review of impact)

Additional preferences permitted on a case by case basis and ONLY if essential to fulfill the mission of the school.

Preferences: STANDARDS• In writing, widely distributed• Provided with application for admission• Require information within application to determine preference eligibility

Recruitment:Governing Text: Education Code, Charter (Racial and Ethnic Balance)

STANDARDSEvaluated through Fall Visit inquiry

Y/N Efforts Are they likely to achieve balance?

Y/N Evidence of efforts Artifacts, documents

Y/NMonitor

Does board consider recruitment results?

Y/N Revised recruitment based on results

Admission Requirements:Governing Text: Education Code, Charter (Admissions Requirements)

STANDARD

Y/N Is the Practice Aligned with the Charter

Y/N Are Requirements essential to achieving the school’s mission