march 2015. exceptional children programmatic issues – from the first day failure to have...
TRANSCRIPT
Charter School Law and Policies
March 2015
Things that Will “Take a Bite” out of your Program
• Exceptional Children programmatic issues – from THE FIRST DAY
• Failure to have appropriate policies OR failing to follow them
• Ignoring issues because they “will just go away”
• Test security or implementation
• Enrollment/lottery
Highlights of Accountability: Charter School Law
115C-218
State Board policies TCS-U series▪ 003 – 30 day admission
cycle▪ 004 – liability insurance▪ 006 – $$ impact of not
starting year meeting certification requirements
▪ 014 – amendment process
Charter Agreement Must have conflict of
interest and nepotism policies**
Cannot hire teacher with revoked license
Notification of default Fees that LEA charges SBE may do
announced or unannounced visits
New State Board Policies TCS-U-017 (Bid
Process) On a case-by-case
basis Statute says who can
assume a charter:▪ Comparable to LEA in
academics▪ Clean financials▪ Compliant with law,
policies, and bylaws
1. Revision of Renewal policy
2. Recodification3. Governance
policy???
Performance Framework
SBE Strategic Plan directs OCS to create
2014-15 is the baseline year for data
Held regional meetings and presented to CSAB
Will present 3 year trend
1.Academic
2.Operational
3.Finance
Senate 793
• Teacher, employed by the charter school, may be a board member but that person must be NONVOTING• Balance this with the Charter Agreement….
• No employee of charter school is immediate family of board member
• No employee shall be a voting member of the board• No board member is employee of for-profit company serving the
school• Renewal is 10 years unless one of the following:
• Not financially sound audits for 3 years• Not comparable with LEA academics last three years• Current compliance issues
What does the future hold???
Senate 793
• Expand one grade lower without SBE approval if….***• Academics are comparable to LEA in
previous year• Financial audits are sound previous year• School in compliance• Operation for less than 3 years
• Board member preference is no longer reserved for the first year only• Cannot exceed 15% (for board and staff
children) of total
Senate 793
• If single gender mission, the charter may limit admission on gender
• Statutory – Public Records Act and NC Open Meetings Law• CFO memo and yearly submission• Follow Retention and Disposition Schedule for LEAs
put forward by Department of Cultural Resources• Funding of charters
• LEAs must provide additional info in local current expense fund
• One year to pay settlement• Permanent plates if you run buses to pick up children
Senate 744 BUDGET bill
• Annual distribution of school/cyber bullying policies• Charters are encouraged to have…if you do, then
shall provide policy to staff, students, and parents in student/employee handbooks
• You must be thinking about this RIGHT NOW!!
• Property insurance system by SBE – stay tuned….
Senate 744 BUDGET bill
• AP/IB pay testing fees for students (if funds are available)
• Epi-pens and auto-injectors….effective 11/1/2014
• Funds for charter school closure -- $50,000• Groups that submit initial charters or
their renewal AFTER bill is law
Senate 370Student Right to Engage in Religious Activity
CONSULT WITH YOUR ATTORNEY FOR ADDITIONAL INTERPRETATION
• Students may voluntarily pray, express religious viewpoints at school (and in assignments), organize prayer groups, and possess or distribute literature
• Personnel cannot be prohibited from adopting a “religious posture” during the student-initiated activity
• Student prohibited from the above IF the school needs to do so for purposes of maintaining order, discipline, or the rights of other students
Common Core
• DO NOT FORGET: charter schools have curriculum flexibility
• A curriculum review board is formed to look at the standards• May keep some components of the common core
• Common Core and Essential Standards remain in place for now
• State Board of Education must approve any new curriculum