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Charter Authorizer Agencies

Charter Authorizer Agencies. Public School Academies Unit Office of Education Improvement and Innovation Michigan Department of Education December 12, 2012. Agenda of Today’s Webinar . Welcome and introductions “Housekeeping” items Audience New authorizers New charter applicants

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Charter Authorizer Agencies

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  1. Charter Authorizer Agencies Public School Academies Unit Office of Education Improvement and Innovation Michigan Department of Education December 12, 2012

  2. Agenda of Today’s Webinar • Welcome and introductions • “Housekeeping” items • Audience • New authorizers • New charter applicants • Webinar objectives: • Participants will be able to articulate the various types of chartering agencies in Michigan • Participants will be able to describe the MDE expectations for authorizers • Participants will be able to identify available resources for technical assistance

  3. What is a Chartering Agency? • Statutorily legal, educational entity with sufficient capacity to issue a charter contract in Michigan, monitor legal and contract compliance for all public school academy contracts within its purview, and make rational decisions regarding the termination, suspension or renewal of those same contracts. In Michigan, that includes state public universities, community colleges, intermediate school districts, local education agencies, and other entities created through interlocal agreements between two or more of the other legal authorizers.

  4. Chartering Agencies and Chartering Regions State Public University • Potential to authorize a new school anywhere in the state Community College • Potential to authorize a new school anywhere in their geographical area (Except Bay Mills –Federal Tribally Controlled) Intermediate School District • Potential to authorize a new school anywhere in their district geographical area Local Education Agency • Potential to authorize a new school anywhere in their district geographical area Entities Created by Interlocal Agreements • Anew school’s location is limited to the authority of the two or more parties to the agreement http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Authorizers_List_-_Public_-_Updated_031111_357452_7.pdf

  5. Current Number of Recognized Chartering Agencies • State Public Universities (8 authorizers) • Community Colleges (3 authorizers) • Intermediate School Districts (16 authorizers) • Local Education Agencies (9 authorizers) • Entities Created By Interlocal Agreements (1 authorizer)

  6. Academies Currently Chartered Public School Academies (277) (total of all district-level charter contracts) Schools of Excellence (25) (serve general populations) Strict Discipline Academies (34) (serve expelled, suspended and adjudicated youth) Urban High Schools (9) (serve Detroit populations)

  7. Chartering Agencies Responsibilities • Establish and maintain a competitive charter application process • Establish and maintain a process for vetting, selecting, and assigning board members to the new academies • Ensure that charter contracts are issued to Michigan, nonprofit corporations • Provide a copy of the legally compliant, substantially complete, charter contract to the State Superintendent • Establish a process for amendment, termination and renewal of charter contracts • Establish a process for contract compliance monitoring

  8. MDE AND AUTHORIZERS • There are three main processes that directly involve MDE and authorizers: charter contract reviews, statutory compliance, and assurance and verification. • MDE interacts with the authorizer before and during the contract review process • Potential authorizers typically ask for opportunity to meet with MDE staff • New authorizers typically have questions about charter systems and processes • New authorizers typically have questions about the contract checklist • For new contracts from new authorizers, the time to review and make modifications is typically 30 to 60 days • After checklist items have been satisfied, the authorizer receives a letter from the State Superintendent that assigns a new district code • New district code assignment makes the new school eligible to receive state aid • MDE maintains a file system for all charter contracts and amendments • MDE routinely forwards copies of reports, investigations, complaints, and other similar items related to contract or statutory compliance

  9. Assurance and Verification Visits • Visits are voluntary, although no authorizer has every refused to participate • MDE schedules 10-12 visits per year, which means every authorizer is scheduled for a visit once every three years • Dates are mutually agreed upon by MDE representative(s) and the authorizer • MDE representatives meet at authorizer’s location for about four hours • MDE forwards a self-rating document prior to visit

  10. Assurance and Verification Visits • MDE reps review documentation maintained by the authorizer and complete a worksheet that covers the 16 criterion areas • MDE combines the self-rating and MDE comments into a Final Report • Visits really focus on technical assistance, providing any MDE/PSA updates, and establishing and/or maintaining a positive dialogue with the authorizer • Visits are not an audit. Visit reports are not punitive

  11. Assurance and Verification Visits • MDE uses these visits to gather best practices and procedures for dissemination to other authorizers • New authorizers and new school developers are encouraged to visit the PSA unit’s website at www.michigan.gov/charters for an extensive compilation of informational resources • A district authorizer’s handbook has been published and is available at the same site

  12. 16 Areas Focused on During Assurance and Verification Visits • 1.0 Overseeing Application, Authorization and Contracting  • 1.1 The Authorizer has a process in place for issuing charters, including open solicitation, evaluation of multiple applicants and consistent application of criteria including statutory requirements

  13. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 1.2 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSA’s obtain and properly maintain Michigan non-profit incorporation status • 1.3 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that required documents (including contracts, amendments and reauthorizations) submitted to MDE are complete, accurate, timely and updated

  14. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 1.4 The Authorizer has a process in place for determining and communicating reauthorizations, revocations and non-renewals of charters • 1.5 The authorizer has a process in place for conducting oversight or supervisory visits to the PSAs it authorizes

  15. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 2.0 Overseeing PSA Governance •  2.1 The Authorizer has a Board Appointment Process in place for ensuring that PSA Board vacancies are filled in a timely manner and member files are accurate and available including evidence of Oaths of Office, U.S. citizenship, conflict of interest statements, etc

  16. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 2.2 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSA’s comply with all applicable law, and for following up on allegations to the contrary • 2.3 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSA Boards establish reasonable governing policies, properly record and publish minutes, and ensure policies and minutes are readily available

  17. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 2.4 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSA’s operate an open application/enrollment process, properly noticed, which employs random selection if necessary to allocate limited slots • 2.5 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSA’s that engage ESP’s perform sufficient due diligence, employ independent legal counsel and negotiate “arms-length” agreements that are available for public review

  18. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 3.0 Overseeing Facilities • 3.1 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that all required occupancy and facility approvals have been issued, and that local health and safety citations are documented and followed up on as they are identified

  19. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 4.0 Overseeing Quality of Learning •  4.1 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that a PSA has established goals aligned to state, federal, and authorizer requirements, has identified methods of assessment (including MEAP/MME) that are rigorous and measurable and has in place a process that monitors a PSA’s student progress (growth) in achieving those goals

  20. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 4.2 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSAs employ teachers (or that the contracted educational services provider employs teachers on behalf of the PSA) who are certificated/highly qualified according to state board rule or who qualify under Section 505(2), and who have undergone criminal history background and unprofessional conduct checks

  21. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 5.0 Overseeing Financial Accountability • 5.1 The Authorizer has a process in place for ensuring that PSAs obtain an annual financial audit and submit it to ISD/MDE, and for monitoring PSA response to any audit exceptions, including identified related party transaction or other issues identified in the management letter

  22. 16 Areas Focused on During Visits • 5.2 The Authorizer has a process and standards in place to determine financial stability • 5.3 The Authorizer has a process in place to assist PSAs in avoiding or resolving any potential conflicts of interest, related party transactions, and/or in determining fair-market value when it cannot be established by ordinary means

  23. Self-Rating Document Authorizer: Person Completing the form: Date: 1.0 Overseeing Application, Authorization and Contracting 1.1 The Authorizer has a process in place for issuing charters, including open solicitation, evaluation of multiple applicants and consistent application of criteria including statutory requirements The process is (choose all that apply): Under development Complete Clear Consistent Improved Describe the process in brief. DOCUMENT CONTINUES THROUGH ALL 16 AREAS 1.1 - 5.3

  24. Self-Rating Document “Under Development” means that a policy or process: Falls short of the minimum criteria of “complete” because it is non- existent or not yet fully operational in one or more ways “Complete” means that a policy or process: Addresses all elements of the process description Includes methods for monitoring, documenting and following up on shortfalls AND Identifies consequences of non-compliance “Clear” means that a policy or process: Clearly defines expected actions and outcomes Has been made available to appropriate parties Identifies who is responsible for particular actions AND Identifies deadlines for specified actions

  25. Self-Rating Document “Consistent” means that a policy or process: Is applied across-the-board to all eligible or applicable entities, Is maintained, checked or applied on a systematic, scheduled or routine basis AND Produces up-to-date status information “Improved” means that a policy or process: Has data collected on its implementation Has identified patterns of success or challenge inherent in the data Has experimented with one or more possible interventions to determine whether they are capable of improving results as predicted

  26. MDE Worksheet

  27. Examples of Documents Reviewed • Audits and financial docs • Licenses, inspection reports, legal docs, certificates of occupancy, etc • State mandated reports and the process used to ensure proper submission • Budgets and quarterly reports presented by PSA Boards • Transparency reporting and PSA (not ESP) websites • Authorizer policies and procedures • Communications to PSAs or MDE • Forms that deal with applications, reauthorizations, on-site visitations, etc • Contracts and amendments • Media related docs • Compliance procedures and PSA Board minutes docs. • Copies of oaths, certifications, conflict of interests, background checks, etc DOCUMENTS CAN BE HARD COPIES, ON-LINE, ON DISKS/DRIVES, LINKED TO COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE, ETC

  28. Focused Areas of Support and Service Authorizer Development • www.qualitycharters.org/index.php • www.qualitycharters.org/emerging-leaders-program • www.qualitycharters.org/images/stories/Charter_School_Application_Process.pdf • www.qualitycharters.org/images/stories/Charter_School_Contracts.pdf Michigan Authorizer Resources • www.mccsa.us • www.charterschools.org • www.cmucso.org • http://michiganfuture.org/schools • http://www.michigan.gov/charters

  29. Focused Areas of Support and Service MDE’s Authorizer Handbook can be accessed from the PSA’s homepage at www.michigan.gov/charters

  30. Focused Areas of Support and Service Data and information, research and analysis, and reports • http://mathematica-mpr.com/publications/ • http://crpe.org/charter-schools-and-public-school-choice • http://credo.stanford.edu/aboutOverview.html • http://www.nber.org/custom?client=test3_fe&proxystylesheet=test3_fe&site=default_collection&btnG=Search&entqr=0&ud=1&output=xml_no_dtd&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&q=charter+schools

  31. Focused Areas of Support and Service Capacity, infrastructure • http://www.qualitycharters.org/images/stories/publications/PMRC_Monograph_FULL_PDF.pdf Board selection, criteria and development • http://www.charterschoolcenter.org/newsletter/march-2012-strategic-recruiting-charter-school-board-members • http://www.charterschoolcenter.org/sites/default/files/Creating%20Effective%20Govering%20boards.pdf • http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/download/Bd_Trng_HBk_051007.pdf

  32. Emerging/Trending Portfolio perspective • http://www.innovativeschools.org/content_pages/view/model_schools_portfolio_criteria • http://crpe.org/district-charter-collaboration Partnerships • http://www.charterschoolcenter.org/sites/default/files/Boston%20Charter-District%20Signed%20Compact.pdf Cyber • http://www.qualitycharters.org/publications-resources/cyber-series Special Education Guidance • http://www.charterschoolcenter.org/sites/default/files/operator_present.pdf

  33. Available Resources Charter School Contacts in Michigan: • MACSB– Bob Glees @ 517-819-4777 • MAPSA – Dan Quisenberry @ 517-374-9167 • MCCSA– Billie Wimmer @ 517-487-4848 • MDE – Mark Eitrem @ 517-373-4631 • NCSI – James Goenner @ 989-317-3510 Useful Websites: • MACSB – www.macsb.org • MAPSA– www.charterschools.org • MCCSA – www.mccsa.us • MDE – www.michigan.gov/charters • NCSI– www.nationalcharterschools.org • NACSA – www.qualitycharters.org

  34. CLOSING • We will remain online for a few minutes for any further questions • Please fill out the survey by clicking the survey link in the bottom left corner of the webinar window • Thank you for joining us today

  35. MDE PSA Unit Points of Contact • Beatrice Barajas, Secretary barajasb1@michigan.gov • Kim Sidel, Analyst sidelk@michigan.gov • Tammy Hatfield, Consultant hatfieldt@michigan.gov • Karla Browning, Consultant browningk2@michigan.gov • Neil Beckwith, Consultant beckwithn@michigan.gov • Ron Schneider, Consultant schneiderr8@michigan.gov • Phillip Caldwell II, Manager caldwellp@michigan.gov • Mark Eitrem, Supervisor eitremm@michigan.gov (517) 373-4631 MDEPSAGRANT@MICHIGAN.GOV http://www.michigan.gov/charters 35

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