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2013 Fall Charter Leader Meeting Access, Equity, and Excellence

2013 Fall Charter Leader Meeting Access, Equity, and Excellence. Plenary Session Charter School Accountability Overview with a focus on Access & Equity. October 30, 2013 Marlborough, MA. Office of Charter Schools & School Redesign Mission.

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2013 Fall Charter Leader Meeting Access, Equity, and Excellence

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  1. 2013 Fall Charter Leader MeetingAccess, Equity, and Excellence Plenary Session Charter School Accountability Overview with a focus on Access & Equity October 30, 2013 Marlborough, MA

  2. Office of Charter Schools & School Redesign Mission Diverse Pathways, One Destination: Success After High School To support and oversee the creation and sustainability of a variety of high quality public school options—including those that innovate in the areas of instructional practice, time, resources, and technology—to ensure that all students in the Commonwealth have equitable access to a pathway to success after high school.

  3. Office Priorities for 2013-2014 Priority 1: Codify and operationalize new and updated policy guidance documents related to accountability and networks/expansion. Priority 2: Develop and pilot new tools and processes for robustly assessing Charter School Performance Criterion #2: Access and Equity.

  4. Priority 1: Codify and operationalize new and updated policy guidance documents related to accountability and networks/expansion. Revise charter school regulations (approved by BESE by March 2014) Revise all key protocols/guides to align to revised Charter School Performance Criteria and findings from Charter Network Working Group Create clear new approval pathways for charter applications and major expansion amendments (particular for networks/replications)

  5. Charter School Performance Criteria(Criteria) v. 3.0 – June 2013 – Purpose • Articulate the expectations for all aspects of charter school accountability; • define charter school success and evaluation standards; and • clarify the connection between charter, state and federal accountability standards for schools. Faithfulness to Charter Academic Program Success Organizational Viability

  6. Charter School Performance Criteria(Criteria) v. 3.0 – June 2013 – Principles Note: Versions 2.0 and 3.0 are substantively similar. The most prominent shift is new clarity about expectations related to access and equity. Preserve operational autonomy Clarify all aspects of charter school performance Facilitate clear communication about charter school Align to the Massachusetts School and District Accountability System Balance clear performance expectations with Commissioner and Board discretion

  7. Charter School Performance Criteria Faithfulness to Charter

  8. Charter School Performance Criteria Academic Program Success

  9. Charter School Performance Criteria Organizational Viability

  10. Site Visits Protocol Revised Site Visit Protocol, October 2013 In conducting site visits, the Department is carrying out the requirements of 603 CMR 1.09(2), which outlines the ongoing review of charter schools Site visits are one of the means by which the Department documents each charter school’s performance and progress over time in terms of the Criteria: Faithfulness to Charter Academic Program Success Organizational Viability

  11. Site VisitsTypes *indicates type of visits where CSPC findings will be accompanied by ratings

  12. Site VisitsFindings and Ratings • Full Site Visits • Findingsmade for Criteria: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9 • Ratingsgiven for Criteria: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10

  13. RenewalApplication and Inspection Renewal Application Renewal application due August 1st before the fifth and final year of its charter Additional required documentation Renewal Inspection Revised Renewal Inspection Protocol, Sept. 2013, integrating key elements of the former Federal Programs Renewal Inspection Protocol On-site component (typically 3 days), with external consultants Renewal Inspection Report with Findings in 8 of the10 Criteria (not #3 Compliance or #5 Student Performance)

  14. RenewalDecision-Making Summary of Review (SOR) Comprehensive Summary of 5-year performance record Findings and Ratingsfor all Criteria Renewal Decision Considerations • Early warning systems • Context and trends • Subsequent renewals • Renewal Outcomes: • Unconditional Renewal (delegated to the Commissioner) • Renewal with Conditions (delegated to the Commissioner) • Renewal with Probationary Conditions (Board vote) • Non-Renewal (Board vote) See October 7, 2013 memo – Considerations for Charter School Renewal

  15. Priority 2:Develop and pilot new tools and processes for robustly assessing Charter School Performance Criterion #2: Access and Equity. • Access, Equity, & Excellence Conference for Charter Leaders – October 30, 2013 • Access and Equity Working Group in collaboration with Massachusetts Charter Public School Association • New tools and oversight systems: • Charter “DART” • Recruitment and Retention Plan Review and Follow-Up • “Mystery Parent” • Student Right to Attend – Notice & Guidance • Complaints and Concerns Tracking • Research/development initiatives • Voluntary common online application system • Examination of identification rates and practices regarding students with disabilities and English language learners TODAY!

  16. Access & Equity: Tools & OversightCharter “DART” The purpose of the Charter School Demographic and Analysis Review Tool (DART)is: • To provide a visual display illustrating comparative data specific for each charter school relative to its sending district(s) • To summarize data patterns across time • To inform charter school accountability

  17. Access & Equity: Tools & OversightRecruitment & Retention Plan Review Recruitment and Retention (R&R) plans are submitted annually as part of the Annual Report. Reviewed for rigor and specificity by the Access & Equity team using a checklist and demographic data as a “triage” tool. Revisions will be requested as needed. In the future, additional data collection and review, including targeted site visits, may be scheduled when serious concerns arise.

  18. Access & Equity: Tools & OversightMystery Parent - Pilot Inspired by the DC Public Charter School Board and based on “mystery shopper” concept. DESE will make random, unannounced calls to schools regarding enrollment of students with disabilities and ELLs. 2 calls per school, per cycle, with follow-up as necessary. Feedback provided to schools directly. Will drive development of possible trainings that the Department may conduct in collaboration with the field.

  19. Access & Equity: Tools & OversightStudent Right to Attend - Notice & Guidance Student Right to Attend Notice addresses the rights of students with special educational needs and English language learners to attend charter schools and to receive services. Special Education Notice is complete; an ELL version is under development. New proposed regulations will require provision of notice to parents at specific points in the admissions process. Also, a new advisory memo clarifying charter school responsibilities for students with disabilities and potential out-of-district placements is available.

  20. Access & Equity: Tools & OversightComplaints and Concerns Tracking • Basic information about how to file a complaint at http://www.doe.mass.edu/charter/complaints.html • Includes instructions filing a complaint • Step 1: Suggest contacting school administrators • Step 2: File a complaint with the Board of Trustees • Step 3: File for review by Commissioner, with complaint form • Complaints/Concerns database created. • Database allows for complaint tracking by school, topic, complainant and date. • Complements existing system of complaints filed elsewhere in ESE (e.g. with PQA). • Will drive development of possible trainings.

  21. Access & Equity: Tools & OversightWhat about Districts? • Specific legal requirements and issues apply to the charter sector uniquely. • Charter DART will provide comparison data on both charter schools and their sending district. • Complaints regarding districts practices that affect access and equity should be filed, too, e.g.: • student records transfer • mailing list provision • ESE is an equal opportunity enforcer

  22. Office of Charter Schools & School Redesign Contact Us Cliff Chuang, Associate Commissioner cchuang@doe.mass.edu, 781-338-3222 Alison Bagg, Coordinator of Accountability abagg@doe.mass.edu, 781-338-3218 Barry Barnett, Coordinator of Access & Equity bbarnett@doe.mass.edu, 781-338-3225 Alyssa Hopkins, Coordinator of New Schools ahopkins@doe.mass.edu, 781-338-3219 Ruth Hersh, Policy Coordinator rhersh @doe.mass.edu, 781-338-3211

  23. Q&A

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