Massachusetts Innovation Schools and Horace Mann Charter Schools

1. Massachusetts Innovation Schools and Horace MannCharter Schools Presentation: April 2014

2. Introductions Ruth Hersh Assistant Director Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign 781-338-3211 rhersh@doe.mass.edu Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Consider These Questions: Are you interested in starting or converting a school? Are you interested in redesigning a school(s)? What is the problem or problems the redesign would address? What is the strength or strengths the redesign would maximize? What are the current obstacles to solving the problem(s)? What are the current obstacles to maximizing these strengths? 3 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. Consider These Questions: Why are you interested in the Horace Mann or Innovation School Models? What is the need the Horace Mann charter school or innovation school would address? What are your core competencies? What additional expertise are needed to develop and submit a strong Horace Mann charter application or an Innovation school plan? Who else needs to be involved? 4 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. What are Innovation Schools Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Purposes of Innovation Schools M.G.L. c. 71§ 92(a) • Improving school performance and student achievement through increased autonomy and flexibility. • An Innovation School may be established as a new public school or as a conversion of an existing public school.

7. Types of Innovation Schools Innovation schools are custom made to meet the needs of the school community and can operate as: • New Schools • Conversion Schools • Academies

8. Six Key Areas of Autonomy and Flexibility

9. Two-Stage Authorization Process

10. Accountability • Innovation schools are accountable to their district and the expectation is that they will meet the measurable annual goals outlined in the Innovation School Plan. • Annually, schools are required to submit an annual report to the Department which provides data regarding the schools progress towards meeting its identified Measurable Annual Goals (MAGs).

11. What are Horace Mann Charter Schools Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

12. Purposes of Establishing Charter SchoolsM.G.L. c.71 § 89 (b) • Stimulate the development of innovative programs within public education; • Provide opportunities for innovative learning and assessments; • Provide parents and students with greater options in selecting schools within and outside their school districts; • Provide teachers with a vehicle for establishing schools with alternative, innovate methods of educational instruction and school structure and management; • Encourage performance-based educational programs; • Hold teachers and school administrators accountable for students’ educational outcomes; and • Provide models for replication in other public schools.

13. What is a Horace Mann Charter School? A public school serving residents within a school district with a defined relationship with the school district. Operates with certain freedoms and obligations that are fundamentally different from district public schools. Operates under a 5 year charter granted by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and approved by the local school committee. Is held accountable to the Commonwealth through Department oversight. The Department oversees 79 charter schools. 10 Horace Mann and 69 Commonwealth 13 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

14. Examples of Areas of Autonomy • Governance by board of trustees • Educational program including such key design elements as curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development • Direct control over school’s operating funds • Provisions of local collective bargaining agreements apply to the extent specified in the charter and/or the MOU between the board of trustees and applicable union • District rules apply to the extent specified in the charter

15. Horace Mann Is Horace Mann IIIs Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School* Salem Community Charter School UP Academy Charter School of Boston UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester* • Amesbury Academy Charter Public School • Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School* • Boston Day and Evening Academy Charter School • Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers Horace Mann Charter School • Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School* *Denotes Elementary Schools

16. Charter Authorizer in Massachusetts Since the Education Reform Act was enacted in 1993, the state has operated under a single authorizer: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) In addition to charter awarding and renewal, certain changes to a school’s charter are also subject to BESE approval: Amendments such as increases in enrollment or changes in grades served; or the Placement of certain conditions or probationary status 16 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

17. Accountability BESE is obligated by statute and regulations to conduct an ongoing review and, by the fifth year of operation, decide if a charter should be renewed. Renewal is based on affirmative information in three areas of inquiry: Academic program success Organizational viability Faithful to the terms of the charter Evaluation of the school’s success in these three areas is based on a variety of information that is provided by the school and gathered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 17 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

18. Approval Process • Innovation Schools Applicant submits prospectus to screening committee that includes the superintendent, school committee member, and union representative; develops innovation plan with stakeholders; and secures approval by the local school committee (the approval process is entirely locally based). • Horace Mann Charters BESE, local teachers’ union, and local school committee approval are required for Horace Mann I charter schools. Teachers’ union approval is not required for Horace Mann II (conversions), and for the HM III (14 new Horace Mann schools). The charter is granted to an independent board of trustees at each school.

19. Contractual Work Conditions Conversions • Innovation Schools Waivers from and/or modifications to collective bargaining agreements must be described within the innovation plan. In the case of a conversion, the innovation plan requires 2/3 approval of teachers in that school. • Horace Mann II Charters Horace Mann II (conversion) schools require an MOU to be approved by a majority faculty vote.

20. Contractual Work Conditions New Schools • Innovation Schools The terms of the innovation plan must be negotiated with the local teacher union. If an agreement cannot be reached, an expedited arbitration process is described in the statute, and states, "The arbitrator shall consider the parties’ positions and the needs of the students in the district. The arbitrator’s decision shall be consistent with the contents of the innovation plan developed by the applicant. The arbitrator shall, within 14 days of the close of the hearing, submit a decision which shall be final and binding on the parties. " • Horace Mann I & III Charters Horace Mann I schools must have an MOU (in which any modifications to or waivers from collective bargaining agreements are detailed) that is submitted to the BESE along with the charter application. Horace Mann III schools require negotiation and approval of the MOU after the charter is awarded; if agreement is not reached at least 30 days before scheduled opening, the school will operate under the terms of its charter until an agreement is reached.

21. Oversight/ Evaluation • Innovation Schools Local superintendent conducts an annual evaluation to assess progress with regard to stated goals in the innovation plan. • Horace Mann Charters BESE has oversight authority. School’s Board of Trustees also evaluates.

22. Accountability • Innovation Schools Innovation schools are subject to the state's overall accountability system as any other public school in the Commonwealth. The innovation plan, which includes information about the areas of autonomy /flexibility, related strategies that will be implemented in the school, and Measurable Annual Goals (MAGS), is approved and renewed by school committee for up to 5 years. If benchmarks are not met the school committee can amend the innovation plan or revoke the authorization of the school. • Horace Mann Charters Innovation schools are subject to the state's overall accountability system as any other public school in the Commonwealth. Charter renewal every five years by BESE; BESE can impose conditions and/or probation on renewal and require that certain benchmarks be met. Each school develops an Accountability Plan, approved by the Department.

23. District Control • Innovation Schools The school committee authorizers and, along with the Superintendent, oversees the innovation school. In general, district leadership continues to have authority, not beholden to another entity. If, however, the innovation school plan includes an advisory board of trustees, the district leadership and governing board may need to clarify lines of communication, areas of authority, and accountability. • Horace Mann Charters BESE authorizers and oversees the charter school, and holds the school accountable for outcomes. The board of trustees has the governing authority of the school. The school is its own LEA.

24. Ruth Hersh Assistant Director Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign 781-338-3211 rhersh@doe.mass.edu 24 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education