CASI January 2023 Charter Chat Resource Page

Charter Chat Topics

1. Legislative Updates
2. New Laws Updates
3. Program Hot Topics
4. Fiscal Hot Topics
5. State Board of Education Updates
6. Upcoming Events
7. Q&A from Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email

Legislative Updates (As of January 25, 2023)

• The new Legislative Session has begun. Legislators have until February 2023 to introduce new bills.
• To follow current legislation at the California Legislative Information website:
  • Under "Quick Bill Search," select either "Bill Number" or "Keyword(s)"
  • Enter the bill number or keyword, respectively
  • Once the desired bill is located, click "Add to My Favorites." This will prompt the user to create a profile and receive email updates on the status of the desired bill.

Return to Top

New Laws Updates

• Minimum Wage The minimum wage law sets minimum wage in California at $15.50/hour for businesses with more than 26 employees. (Senate Bill [SB] 3 )
• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Ratios TK classrooms must have a 1:12 adult to student ratio. (Education Code [EC] 48000[g] )
• Deterring Union Membership This bill authorizes an employee organization to bring a claim, subject to a civil penalty, before the Public Employment Relations Board alleging that a public employer violated existing law prohibiting a public employer from deterring or discouraging union membership. (SB 931 )
• Leaves There are changes to the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) for Bereavement Leave and Family Leave .
• Wage Scales An employer can no longer inquire about an applicant’s previous salary information and must include the pay scale in job postings. (SB 1162 )
• Brown Act Teleconferencing Options (Assembly Bill [AB] 2449 )
  Specifically, meeting teleconferencing policies and practices should be reviewed to:
  1. Reflect on the expiration of pandemic-related emergency flexibility that currently is set to expire after February 28,  2023,
  2. Refresh understanding of pre-existing teleconferencing options under the Brown Act, and
  3. Consider how to implement the additional new teleconferencing option under AB 2449, which establishes new rules for board member participation in meetings if a physical or family medical emergency prevents a member from attending in person. Please refer directly to the bill language for specifics requirements. There are a number of caveats and restrictions. (SB 955 )
• Open Meetings Ensure documentation related to an agenda item is available for public inspection at a designated office or website at least 72 hours in advance. (AB 2647 )
• Ethics Training Board Members shall complete ethics training within one year of joining the board and every two years thereafter. (AB 2158 )
• Juneteenth June 19 is now a Federal holiday. (AB 1655 )
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems and Filters Inspect and test campus HVAC systems to meet required specifications. (AB 2232 )
• Excused absences for Student Civic or Political Events Middle school and high school students must be excused for a civic or political event as long as the student notifies the school ahead of the absence. This bill allows for one excused absence for one school day-long event per year. (SB 955 )

Return to Top

Program Hot Topics

• 2022 Dashboard Released On December 15, 2022, the 2022 California School Dashboard restarted for the first time since 2019, showing that California’s four- and five-year high school graduation rates hit all-time highs in 2021–22, while the state’s chronic absenteeism rate mirrored national trends. The California Department of Education (CDE) has provided local educational agencies (LEA) with the 2022 Dashboard Summary (PDF) to provide essential background information and factors to consider when reviewing the data reports.
• School Accountability Report Card (SARC) The SARC must be published and submitted to the CDE no later than February 1 of each year and are considered current through January 31 the following year.
• Physical Fitness Tests The 2022–23 physical fitness test (PFT) is to be administered between February 1 and May 31, 2023, in accordance with the 2021–22 changes noted below.
  • Administration and data reporting requirements of the PFT:
    • Administration
      • Body Composition component is no longer required
      • The reporting of student performance using the Healthy Fitness Zones are not required
    • Reporting
      • Schools are not required to collect or use height and weight, including body mass index, for data reporting
      • Schools are not required to collect or use gender for data reporting
      • Schools are not required to collect or use age for data reporting
      • Student participation (by component, by grade) shall be reported in the LEA’s annual SARC
• CASI January Quarterly Regional Training On January 13, 2023, CASI held a virtual training session on charter school renewal. Below are guidelines for the renewal timeline:
  • Charter submits renewal petition (including signed certification of completion)
  • 60 days from submission, hold public hearing
  • 90 days from submission, hold decision hearing
  • Post findings and recommendations 15 days prior to decision hearing
  • Appeal within 30 days if denied and submit petition to both district and county at same time
  • Remand back to district if petition is materially changed to re-review within 30 days

Return to Top

Fiscal Hot Topics

• Governor’s Budget— The budget is currently at a $24 billion deficit, but there are no cuts to education. The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 8.13 percent. However, this is still the preliminary budget and will go through many discussions until the budget is finalized in June. CASI will provide additional details after the May Revision to the Governor’s Budget.
  • Charter School Facility Grant Program (CSFGP) (SB 740)—The CSFGP will be receiving the 8.13 percent COLA and, consistent with the 2022 Budget Act agreement, will receive a one-time investment, which includes augmentation for “other costs”. However, the proposal does not include any further funding past a one-time investment.
  • Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Equity Multiplier—Eligibility for this funding is proposed to be based on individual school site’s federal free meal eligibility. Please note, this is not the same as Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRPM). Those elementary/middle schools serving 90 percent and high schools serving 85 percent of eligible students would receive this funding.
  • Transitional Kindergarten (TK)—The Governor’s proposal does not include any funding for facilities for TK expansion for charter schools.
  • Arts, Music, and Instructional Material Block Grant—Please note, the governor has proposed approximately a one-third reduction in one-time funding provided in the 2022–23 enacted Budget
  • Items worth highlighting that are not in the Governor’s Proposal include no relief for the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), no additional COVID-19 related relief, and no average daily attendance (ADA) relief for charter schools.
• Second Interim The second interim report is due March 15 for the period ending January 31.

Return to Top

State Board of Education Updates

• The ACCS meeting on December 8 considered requests for nonclassroom-based funding determinations. The video link is available at ACCS Meeting Webcasts.
• The SBE meeting was on January 19–20, and the agenda included requests for nonclassroom-based funding determinations.

Return to Top

Upcoming Events

Return to Top

Charter Chat Q&A

Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email

Return to Top

Return to Monthly Charter Chats

Return to Charter Authorizer Support Initiative