s&p global ratings: charter schools outlook 2020
TRANSCRIPT
S&P Global Ratings:
Charter Schools Outlook 2020
Copyright © 2020 by S&P Global.
All rights reserved.
Jessica Wood, Sector Leader
Peter Murphy, Analytical Manager
Avani Parikh, Lead Analyst
Beatriz Peguero, Lead Analyst
Shivani Singh, Lead Analyst
January 8, 2020
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Agenda
2
• 2019 Rating Action and Distribution
Summary
• 2020 Outlook
• Risks and Opportunities
• Q&A
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2019 Rating Action and Distribution
Summary
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Charter Schools Ratings Distribution
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As of Dec. 31, 2019
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
A- BBB+ BBB BBB- BB+ BB BB- B+ B B- D
C
Source: S&P Global Ratings. Data as of December 31, 2019
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Ratings Distribution by State
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As of Dec. 31, 2019
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
CA TX UT CO MI MN AZ PA FL NV NJ NY DE ID
Ratings Distribution by States with > 5 Ratings
B+ andBelow
BB
BBB
A
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Charter Schools Outlook Distribution
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As of Dec. 31, 2019
• 82% Stable
• 35 credits on negative
outlook
• 13 credits on positive
outlook
• 2 credits on CreditWatch
Negative12%
Positive5%
Stable82%
Creditwatch1%
Source: S&P Global Ratings. Data as of December 31, 2019
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2019 New Public Ratings
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School State Date Rating Outlook
Albany Leadership Charter High School For Girls NY 7/12/2019 BB Stable
Arizona Autism Charter School AZ 9/4/2019 BB Stable
Arizona School for the Arts AZ 6/26/2019 BB+ Stable
Blackstone Valley Preparatory RI 6/26/2019 BB+ Stable
Caliber Schools CA 12/11/2019 BB+ Stable
District of Columbia International School DC 6/7/2019 BBB Stable
Doral Academy of Nevada (Fire Mesa and Red Rock Campus Projects) NV 3/18/2019 BB+ Stable
First State Montessori Academy Charter School DE 8/12/2019 BBB- Stable
Itineris Early College High School UT 10/21/2019 BB Stable
James Irwin Charter Schools CO 6/14/2019 BBB Stable
KIPP Bay Area Schools CA 6/24/2019 BBB Stable
KIPP Nashville TN 6/26/2019 BBB- Stable
KIPP SoCal Public Schools CA 5/15/2019 BBB Stable
Odyssey Preparatory Academy AZ 8/27/2019 BB- Stable
Somerset Academy of Las Vegas - Lone Mountain Campus NV 3/19/2019 BB Stable
Trillium Academy MI 2/20/2019 BB Stable
Village Tech Schools TX 6/26/2019 BB Stable
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History of Rating Changes
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40
30
20
10
0
10
20
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
History of Charter School Rating Changes (2012 - 2019)
Upgrade
Downgrade
C
Source: S&P Global Ratings. Data as of December 31, 2019.
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2019 Rating Actions
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Multiple Notch Rating Actions, 2019
School State Date To From Description
Prairie Seeds Academy MN 2/25/2019 BB- BB+Operational deficits which are expected to be ongoing
ASU PreparatoryAcademy AZ 4/17/2019 BB BBB-
On May 24, 2019, following its lowering to 'BB', the rating was withdrawn
STRIDE Academy MN 4/1/2019 D CC
On April 4, 2019, following its lowering to 'D', the rating waswithdrawn
ASPIRA of Florida,Inc FL 7/31/2019 D B
Failure to pay debt service. On September 16th, 2019, the rating was withdrawn
Plymouth Educational Center Charter School MI 7/26/2019 CC B-
Forbearance discussions and expected non-payment of bond principal
Plymouth Educational Center Charter School MI 11/1/2019 D CC
Missed 11/1 principal payment under forbearance agreement
Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen CO 7/19/2019 B+ B- Growth in enrollment and finances
Saginaw Preparatory Academy MI 10/21/2019 B BB
Heightened uncertainty surrounding SPA’s charter contract and potential for non-renewal
Affirmation82%
Downgrade8%
New7%
Upgrade3%
Source: S&P Global Ratings. Data as of December 31, 2019
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U.S. Charter Schools Outlook 2020:
Stable
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Major Criteria Factors
• Economic Fundamentals
• Size/growth enrollment
• Wait list/retention rate
• History of Statutory Framework
• Charter Standing
• Academic Quality
• Management/Governance
• Lease adjusted MADS coverage
• Excess Margin
• Total Revenue
• Unrestricted days cash on hand
• Unrestricted reserves/debt
• Lease-adjusted MADS burden
• Debt-to-capitalization
• Financial policies
ENTERPRISE PROFILE FINANCIAL PROFILE
On 12/20/19, S&P published a Guidance Document related to our Charter
School Criteria, focused on our calculation of lease-adjusted MADS coverage,
generally the heaviest weighted component of our financial profile assessment.
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Other Considerations/Adjustments
• Large networks
• Academic distinction
• Significant financial flexibility
• Very low debt/student
• Limited academic offerings or
potential student pool
• Volatile enrollment
• Relocation/construction risk
• Misses academic performance
requirements
• Limited financial flexibility
• Below 1.0x MADS coverage
• Significant unfunded
pension/OPEB
• Contingent liabilities
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POSITIVE NEGATIVE
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What We Are Watching For In 2020
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Changing Political Environment Charter School Briefs
• In 2019, S&P Global Ratings' charter school team introduced a series of Charter School
Briefs--a snapshot of the operating environment for charter schools on a state-by-state
basis.
• These reports include a rating and median overview, descriptions of the statutory and
authorizer framework, our credit perspectives on state fundamentals, and a forward-
looking analysis of trends and risks in our "What We're Watching" view.
• Changes in the political landscape of these states over the past year have meant that
our view of statutory frameworks continues to evolve, as new legislation is introduced or
enacted, and as education competes with other priorities in state budgets.
• In 2020, the Charter School Briefs will continue to provide a valuable snapshot of
charter school trends by state.
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• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Utah
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Changing Political Environment Example: California
AB 1505 – Places new restrictions on charter schools. The bill includes revisions to all key aspects of the
state’s 25-year old charter school law: the approval and renewal of charter schools; the appeals process for
charter school petition denials; and credentialing requirements for charter school teachers. Will give public
school districts more authority to reject petitions for new charter campuses, phase in stricter credentialing
requirements for charter school teachers, and place a two-year moratorium on new virtual (cyber) charter
schools.
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What We’re Watching:
• AB1505, anti-charter political sentiment
• Labor relations
• Funding increases
• Population decline
• Pension funding levels
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In Michigan, the governor had originally vetoed an increase of roughly $240 per student for charter schools
as part of budget deliberations, but did not veto a similar increase for traditional public schools. Ultimately,
while the veto was reversed as part of a long-awaited FY2020 budget compromise, this highlights one
example of how charter school funding is differentiated from and often lags traditional public school funding.
.
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What We’re Watching:
• Funding cuts
• Slow population growth
• Potential funding increases
• Equalization
• Labor relations
Changing Political Environment Example: Michigan
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In 2019, approved decommission of the Illinois State Charter School Commission. In Chicago alone, charter
enrollment grew by 5% over the last five years, while enrollment in the Chicago Public Schools dropped by
nearly 10% over the same period.
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What We’re Watching:
• Increased regulations, decommissioning of the Illinois State Charter School Commission
• Labor relations: unprecedented increase in charter school strikes began in 2018
• Rising pension costs and low funding levels
• Chicago out-migration
• Volatile state funding dynamics
Changing Political Environment Example: Illinois
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Competition and Demographics Charter School Student Enrollment
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Competition and Demographics Minor Enrollment Projections
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Disruption Caused by Event Risks Unionization/Strikes
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Date EventDuration and # Students Impacted
Reason for Strike Charter School(s) Rating
Dec 4 – 7, 2018Chicago strike; first charter school strike
4 days and 7,500 students
Pay, class sizes, and other issues
Acero Charter School Network
BB+/Stable
Jan 14 – 22, 2019
First teachers' strike in LA since 1989 and first time a charter school joined a strike in California
6 days and 500,000 students, including 1,200 charter school students.
Pay, class sizes, cap on charter schools, hiring full-time nurses and librarians, reducing standardized tests
More than 30,000 teachers from the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) public teachers' union, including teachers from the Accelerated Schools charter network
Unrated
Feb 5 – 18, 2019Second Chicago charter school strike
Two weeks and 2,000 students
Pay, class sizes, and other issues
Chicago International Charter School Network (4 schools: ChicagoQuest, Northtown Academy, Ralph Ellison and Wrightwood)
BBB/Stable
May 1st, 2019
Third Chicago charter school strike; first multiple-employer charter strike in Chicago
1 day and 1,600 students
Pay, benefits, and classroom resources
Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy; The InstitutoJustice Leadership Academy; Latino Youth High School
Unrated
October 17 – 31, 2019
Chicago citywide strike spreads to charter schools, fourth Chicago charter teachers strike
11 days and 300,000 students, including 400+ charter school students
Pay, class size, classroom resource, charter school cap, and other issues
Around 25,000 teachers from the Chicago Teachers Union, in addition to Passages Charter School
Unrated
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Disruption Caused by Event Risks ESG Look Back
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Environmental Climate-related risks
Impact of environmental regulation
Energy utilization practices
Land & water use
SocialValue proposition of education
Demographic changes
Affordability
Workforce & diversity
Community development
GovernanceStructure & oversight
State support framework
Headline risk
Transparency & reporting
Cybersecurity
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Growing Pension and OPEB Costs
StateBest 2018
Funded Ratio
Wisconsin 102.93%
South Dakota
100.02%
New York 98.95%
Washington 93.75%
Idaho 91.64%
StateWorst 2018
Funded Ratio
New Jersey 38.41%
Illinois 38.98%
Colorado 43.76%
Kentucky 44.83%
Connecticut 46.65%
Source: S&P Global Ratings - U.S. State Pension Reforms Partly Mitigate The Effects Of The Next Recession, September 26, 2019
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Economy at Peak of Cycle
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S&P Global Economic Overview
2018 2019f 2020f 2021f
Key Indicator
Real GDP (year % ch.) 2.9 2.3 1.9 1.8
Real GDP (Q4/Q4 % ch.) 2.5 2.2 2.1 1.7
Real consumer spending (year % ch.) 3 2.5 2.4 2.1
Real equipment investment (year % ch.) 6.8 1.5 0.8 2.5
Real nonresidential structures investment (year % ch.) 4.1 -4.9 -2 2.6
Real residential investment (year % ch.) -1.5 -1.8 1.6 2.7
Core CPI (year % ch.) 2.1 2.2 2 2
Unemployment rate (%) 3.9 3.7 3.5 3.6
Housing starts (annual total in mil.) 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3
S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (Dec. to Dec. % ch.) 5.8 3.2 1.8 2
Light vehicle sales (annual total in mil.) 17.3 17 16.4 16.3
Federal Reserve's fed funds policy target rate range (Year-end %) 2.25-2.50 1.50-1.75 1.50-1.75 1.50-1.75
What does this mean for Per-Pupil Funding?
• Expected to be stable to increasing in FY2020
• Beyond our outlook period, slowdown impacts could vary greatly by
state.
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Per-Pupil Funding Levels Vary State by State
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Selected States with many charter school ratings
• Arizona: Per-pupil funding has risen over the past few years; it increased by 4.4% in fiscal 2019 and is increasing by a similar amount in fiscal 2020, which we view favorably
• Florida: In recent years, per-pupil funding has increased between 1% and 2% annually and is projected to continue growing at similar rates in the near-term due to a charter supportive state funding environment. However, funding remains below pre-Great Recession levels.
• Utah: In recent years, per pupil funding has increased 2%-4% annually and is projected to continue to increase in the near term.
• Texas: While overall state funding has experienced steady increases in recent years, to match population growth throughout the state, base funding per student remained flat this decade at about $5,100.
• Colorado: After several years of 2%-3% growth, per-pupil revenue rose close to 6% in fiscal 2019.
• Pennsylvania: Per-pupil funding fell unexpectedly in fiscal 2017, creating operational pressure for some schools. Since then, funding for Pennsylvania charter schools has increased modestly in both fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and volatility seems to be in the past, with fiscal 2020 funding up 7-8%.
• Michigan: In recent years, per pupil charter school funding has increased roughly between 1% and 2% annually, and is projected to continue to increase in the near-term. For FY20, there is an increase of roughly $240 per student for charter schools.
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In 2019, Florida required schools districts to share tax revenues generated from school district-voted
discretionary millage levies with charter schools based on each charter school’s proportionate share of the
district’s total unweighted FTE enrollment. Florida also provided $158.2 million to its charter school capital
outlay fund.
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What We’re Watching:
• Favorable population growth anddemographics.
• Potential for increased funding.
• Equalization
• Teacher recruitment and retentionchallenges: Florida ranked among the bottom 5% for teacher salaries
Funding Equality Creates Opportunity Example: Florida
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House Bill 3 (HB3) which was passed and became law in June, is an $11.6 billion measure that provides
charter schools more money for employee salaries and programs like full-day pre-K and increases the state
share of retirement payments for all educators. The effects of the bill on charter schools’ financial operations
and overall credit quality are uncertain. Some schools will benefit from the extra funding; however, the added
spending requirements may offset the additional funds received.
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What We’re Watching:
• Population growth
• Expected funding increases
• Equalization
• Low threat of teacher strikes
• Charter and public school partnerships
• Pension funding levels
Funding Equality Creates Opportunity Example: Texas
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Charter School Expansion
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By year, fall 2005 to fall 2017
Source: Data from National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
*based on estimated figures
1.02
1.161.28
1.44
1.61
1.80
2.03
2.27
2.51
2.69
2.84
3.02
3.17
3.7
4.04.3
4.64.9
5.35.6
6.0
6.56.7
6.97.1
7.1
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Sch
oo
ls, i
n T
ho
usa
nd
s
Stu
den
ts, i
n M
illio
ns
Students Schools
% market share 2.1% 2.3% 2.6% 2.9% 3.2% 3.6% 4.1% 4.5% 4.9% 5.3% 5.6% 6.0% 6.2%
net sector growth n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 282 348 374 349 372 245 261 129 71
*
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Charter School ExpansionS&P Rated Largest Networks
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Charter Network State # of Students # of Schools
Student Growth Rate (3-
year-avg) Authorizer Growth / Expansion Plans Rating
IDEA Public Schools TX 53,000 91 22.9%Texas Education Agency
Plans to add 20 schools in fiscal 2021 and 30 schools in fiscal 2022
A-/Stable
Harmony Public Schools
TX 34,709 57 3.2%Texas Education Agency
Plans to open 9 new schools over the next few years to grow to 66 schools and approximately 37,800 students by 2022-2023
BBB/Stable
KIPP Texas TX 29,492 55 8.2%Texas Education Agency
Expansion plans over the next few years are contingent upon meeting internal financial targets, likely to add a few schools per year up to current cap of 38,000 students
BBB+/Stable
BASIS Schools Inc.AZ, LA, TX, and DC
19,326* 27 14.7% 4 different authorizers Planning for 7,000 additional students over 5 years BB/Stable
Uplift Education TX 18,426* 40 9.7%Texas Education Agency
Three new schools projected for FY2020 BBB-/Stable
Responsive Education Solutions
TX 17,631* 71 -2.4%Texas Education Agency
Texas expansion strategy is to open between 2-5 new schools each year and is targeting enrollment around 29,700 by FY2021, including 7,700 in TX Virtual
BBB/Stable
Aspire Public Schools CA, TN 17,52940 (13 secure the bonds)
3.4%14 different authorizers
Plans for new schools in Stockton and Los Angeles in the next few years
BBB/Stable
GreatHearts Arizona AZ 13,90121 (19 secure the bonds)
6.1%Arizona State Board for Charter Schools
No specific plans for expansion at this time, but exploring options and continuing to fill in capacity at existing campuses
BBB-/Stable
Alliance For College-Ready Public Schools
CA 13,32725 (15 secure the bonds)
4.6%Los Angeles Unified School District
No expansion plans in the near future BBB/Stable
Noble Networks of Charter Schools
IL 12,309 17 1.0% Chicago Public SchoolsNo plans to expand to more sites, but do have plans to grow enrollment to around 15,000 students
BBB/Stable
*as of fall 2018; all other data as of fall 2019
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Access to Capital
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• Low interest rate environment, strong demand for high yield
muni debt
• Increasing options for Charter Schools
• First ever pooled Charter School loan program
• State credit enhancement programs
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Q&A
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CHARTER SCHOOL ANALYTICAL TEAM
Head of Analytics and Research Analytical Manager Sector Leader
Robin Prunty
Managing Director
(1) 212-438-2081
Peter Murphy
Managing Director
(1)212.438.2065
Jessica Wood
Senior Director
(1) 312-233-7004
Analytical Team
Laura Kuffler-Macdonald
Senior Director
(1) 212-438-2519
Avani Parikh
Director
(1) 212-438-1133
Beatriz Peguero
Director
(1) 212-438-2164
Shivani Singh
Director
(1) 212-438-3120
Bobbi Gajwani
Director
(1) 312-233-7001
Ying Huang
Director
(1) 212-438-7613
David Holmes
Associate Director
(1) 214-871-1427 [email protected]
Brian Marshall
Associate Director
(1) 214-841-1414
Ann Richardson
Associate Director
(1) 214-765 5878
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Analytical Team – Continued
Stephanie Wang
Associate Director
(1) 212-438-3841
Natalie Fakelmann
Associate
(1) 312-256-4353
Robert Tu
Associate
(1) 415-371-5087
James Gallardo
Associate
(1) 303-721-4391
Gauri Gupta
Associate
(1) 312-233-7010
Amber Schafer
Associate
(1) 303-721-4238
Mikayla Roller
Research Assistant
(1) 303-721-4942
Eli Harden
CREDit Analyst
(1) 212-438-1756
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Additional Resources
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Top Ten Credit Stories for 2019
U.S. Charter Schools 2019 Year In Review
Charter Schools Medians Report
Fiscal 2018 U.S. Charter School Sector
Medians: Overall, Enrollment And Financial
Performance Improved
Charter School Briefs:
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Illinois
Default Study
2018 Annual U.S. Public Finance Default
Study And Rating Transitions
S&P U.S. Public Finance
https://www.spratings.com/us-public-
finance
Criteria
U.S. Public Finance Charter Schools:
Methodology And Assumptions,
Jan. 3, 2017
Guidance- Lease-adjusted Maximum
Annual Debt Service Coverage
Dec. 20, 2019
Additional relevant criteria
Group Rating Methodology
Nov. 19, 2013
Industry Risk
Nov. 19, 2013
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Utah
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