It's hard to believe but it's that time of the year again—the beginning of a new school year. The entire Charter Schools Division staff extends a warm welcome back!
Unaudited Actuals Report
Each charter school is required to prepare year-end financial statements on forms that are prescribed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The forms prescribed by the SPI are the “Unaudited Actuals.” This report is due September 15, 2011. Hard copies with signatures are also required. The unaudited actuals should be sent to the attention of Julie Briggs, Charter Schools Division, 1430 N Street, Room 5401, Sacramento, CA 95814, jbriggs@cde.ca.gov.Student Achievement Plan (SAP)
Our oversight team has revised the SAP. If your school fails to meet its school wide or numerically significant subgroup Academic Performance Index growth targets or it fails to make Adequate Yearly Progress, it will be required to submit a SAP. Instructions and templates for the revised SAP will be available in the next several weeks. Should you have any questions regarding the SAP, please contact your CDE consultant liaison. The SAP (if applicable) is due October 1, 2011.
Web Site Posting
Please begin posting all of the information required by the MOU to be posted to the school's Web site (e.g., school calendar and bell schedule, student-parent handbook, governing board meeting dates and bylaws, etc.). Your school's CDE consultant liaison will be reviewing each school's Web site postings for compliance with the MOU as part of this year's school evaluation process.
Upcoming Fiscal Deadlines
| Reports | Dates |
|---|---|
| Unaudited actuals report (not for newly operational schools) | September 15, 2011 |
| First interim report | December 15, 2011 |
| Annual independent financial audit | December 15, 2011 |
New and Significantly Expanding Charter Schools
Here is a summary of the reports that affect the principal apportionment funding for new and significantly expanding charter schools:
Pupil Estimates for New or Significantly Expanding Charters (PENSEC)
This is managed by the School Fiscal Services Division (the same division that does principal apportionments). This should be filled out only by charter schools that are new or significantly expanding this year, which includes if they are adding a new grade level. The FY 2011-12 PENSEC was posted on the CDE Principal Apportionment, Fiscal Year 2011-12 Web page [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/pa/pa1112.asp]. You can only see a report if you have the PIN, but any submission that includes ADA will need to get a certification signed by the charter school, the authorizing agency, and the county. The FY 2011-12 PENSEC data collection deadline has passed. It was made available on July 5, 2011 and the data and signed certification are due to the California Department of Education by July 29, 2011. Includes questions needed to fund principal apportionments and categorical allocations (estimated enrollment, estimated ADA, estimated pupils eligible for free and reduced prices meals, estimated English learners, estimated economically disadvantaged pupils). The FIRST special principal apportionment advance payment made based on this data usually represents 37% of the advance and is usually released in September.
Charter School 20 Day Attendance Report (20-Day)
Also managed by the School Fiscal Services Division. Pretty much the same as the PENSEC only instead of estimated data it collects actual counts for the first 20 days of school. The 20 Day data collection will be available on the Internet towards the end of September/beginning of October and the data and signed certification are due to the California Department of Education by the end of October. The FY 2010-11 20-Day was posted on the CDE Charter School 20 Day Attendance Report, FY 10-11 Web page [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/pa/ch20dayactual1011.asp]. Like the PENSEC, you will only be able to see a report if you have the PIN, but any submission that includes ADA will need to get a certification signed by the charter school, the authorizing agency, and the county. The SECOND special principal apportionment advance payment made based on this data is usually represents 18% of the advance and is released by the end of December.
Accountability E-mail Listserv
Keep Informed on Important assessment and accountability dates by joining the Accountability e-mail Listserv. The Listserv is used to notify schools of information and updates regarding state and federal accountability. Anyone may subscribe to receive this information or unsubscribe at any time. To sign up go to the CDE Assessment and Accountability E-mail Listserv Web page [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/aamail.asp].
More Information
Each SBE authorized charter school has a primary and backup CDE liaison. If you have any questions please contact them directly. The main phone number for the Charter Schools Division is 916-319-0662
