CASI April 2024 Charter Chat Resource Page
Information and resources from the April 2024 Charter Chat, presented by the Charter Authorizer Support Initiative (CASI).Charter Chat Topics
- Legislative Updates by Santa Clara County Office of Education
- Program Hot Topics
- Fiscal Hot Topics
- California Department of Education and State Board of Education Updates
- Upcoming CASI Events
- Q&A from Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email
Disclaimer
The information contained on this page is provided as a reference only. Charter schools and chartering authorities are encouraged to review the laws and regulations and consult with their own legal counsel regarding the application to their specific situations.
Legislative Updates by Santa Clara County Office of Education
- AB 359 (Holden)
Pupil instruction: dual enrollment: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships - AB 1299 (Jackson)
School safety: school resource officers: school safety plans
- AB 1913 (Addis)
Pupil safety: child abuse prevention: training
- AB 1984 (Weber)
Pupil health: extreme heat
- AB 2019 (Fong)
Early and middle college high schools and programs: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
- AB 2097 (Berman)
Pupil instruction: high schools: computer science education courses: graduation requirements
- AB 2254 (Rubio)
Charter schools: renewal criteria
- AB 2887 (Maienschein)
School safety plans: medical emergency procedures
- SB 997 (Portantino)
Pupil health: naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray and fentanyl test strips
- SB 1080 (Newman)
Pupil nutrition: School lunch
- SB 1129 (Ochoa Bogh)
Local control and accountability plans: workgroup: template alternatives
- SB 1380 (Dodd)
Charter schools: establishment
- SB 1409 (Alvarado-Gil)
Pupil instruction: independent study
- 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.
Program Hot Topics
- Form 700
A Statement of Economic Interests, also known as Form 700, must be completed annually by April 1. Additional information is available at California Fair Political Practices Commission - Form 700.
- Safety Plan
Pursuant to California Education Code (EC) Section 47605, comprehensive school safety plans are to be updated by March 1 of each year. - Renewal Preparation
The CASI presentation on Road to Renewals from April 19, 2024, is now available on the CASI Quarterly Regional Trainings web page. It is a best practice for authorizers to start reviewing renewal criteria and processes prior to the final year of the charter term. - Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Preparation
Pursuant to EC Section 47604.33, each charter school’s LCAP is to be updated annually, approved by the charter school’s governing board, and submitted to the charter school authorizer and to the county office of education (COE) by July 1 of each year. - School Closures and Student Records
Pursuant to EC Section 47604.32, a charter school authorizer must provide timely notification to the California Department of Education (CDE) of a school that ceases operations. Please see CDE Charter School Closures for additional information regarding documentation and notifications of closure action, retention and transfer of records, financial close-out, disposition of liabilities and assets, and the responsibilities of a charter authorizer.
CASI participants have asked previously about transfer of student records during a closure. Per the CDE Student Records and Transcripts, the CDE does not have access to student records. For public schools, if a school is closed, they are to contact the local district or the COE. As charter schools are public schools, the question as to how to access student files for closed charter schools is based in the school’s charter petition. Most charters upon closure will send their files to either: (1) the charter management organization (CMO) or sister school in their organization, if applicable, or (2) the school’s authorizer. When files are missing, it becomes necessary to use the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS).
Fiscal Hot Topics
California Department of Education and State Board of Education Updates
- The Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) meeting was held on April 9, 2024. It reviewed nonclassroom-based funding determinations. The next ACCS meeting is scheduled for June 4, 2024.
- The California State Board of Education meeting was held on May 8, 2024.
Upcoming CASI Events
- Monthly CASI Charter Chat, May 29, 10–11 a.m.
- CASI Charter Authorizing and Oversight 101, June 18–19, at the 2024 California Charter Authorizing Professional (CCAP) Conference
. Save the date for June 18–21, 2024, at the Irvine Marriott.
Charter Chat Q&A
Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email
Will there be a separate Analysis, Measurement, Accountability, Reporting Division (AMARD) session on Charter School Performance Categories?
On March 26, 2024, the California Department of Education (CDE) Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division (AMARD) and the CDE Charter Schools Division (CSD) presented information about how the California School Dashboard informs the Charter School Performance Category Data File and provided an overview of the charter school renewal process.
Webinar Recording: Charter School Performance Categories and Renewals, March 2024
(Video; 54:55)
Where can authorizers find information related to charter school terms?
The CDE has recently updated its Data Files and Directory Information web page, which includes a compilation of data files and directory information pertaining to California charter schools.
What are the submission deadlines for 2024–25 State Board of Education appeals?
The CDE Appeals to the California State Board of Education web page has been updated to include submission deadlines for the 2024–25 fiscal year.
What are the items that authorizers should review on a charter school website?
There are multiple items which should be reviewed on a charter school website, including but not limited to, the following items reviewed annually by Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE):
- School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
- LCAP
- Board Agenda—Easy access, front page, 1-click
- Board Minutes—Most recent approved
- English Learner Advisory Committee (if applicable)—Agenda and minutes
- Title IX Policy and Procedures
- Charter School Complaint Form—CDE form with authorizer contact info
- Bullying/Cyberbullying Policy
- Safety Plan
- Independent Study Policy
- Student/Family Handbook
- Suicide Policy
- School Admissions: Preferences, application, lottery procedures
- School Contact Information
- Accessibility: Website in multiple languages, documents in multiple language
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Questions: Charter Authorizer Support Initiative | CASI@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-6029
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
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