CASI January 2024 Charter Chat Resource Page
Information and resources from the January 2024 Charter Chat, presented by the Charter Authorizer Support Initiative (CASI).Charter Chat Topics
- Legislative Updates
- Program Hot Topics
- Fiscal Hot Topics
- State Board of Education Updates
- CASI Annual Survey
- Upcoming Events
- January Charter Chat Q&A
- 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
- AB 446 (Quirk-Silva, Statutes 2023)
Pupil instruction: handwriting - AB 452 (Addis, Statutes 2023)
Childhood sexual assault: statute of limitations
- AB 557 (Hart, Statutes of 2023)
Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences
- SB 348 (Skinner, Statutes of 2023)
Pupil meals
- SB 616 (Gonzalez, Statutes of 2023)
Sick days: paid sick days accrual and use
- 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
- New California School Dashboard Deadlines for 2023–24
SB 114 includes new statutory deadlines for the publication of the California School Dashboard and related data submission deadlines. The California School Dashboard was released in December 2023. Additional information is available at California School Dashboard and System of Support.
- Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Mid-year Report
All charter schools, school districts, and county offices of education are required to present a report on the annual update to the LCAP and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Budget Overview for Parents on or before February 28 of each year at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board or body of the local educational agency.- The mid-year report must include the following:
- All available mid-year outcome data related to metrics identified in the current year’s LCAP, and
- All available mid-year expenditure and implementation data on all actions identified in the current year’s LCAP (Education Code [EC] sections 47606.5, 52062, and 52068).
- The mid-year report must include the following:
- School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
Schools must publish and submit their SARC to the California Department of Education (CDE) by February 1. Additional information can be found at School Accountability Report Card.
Fiscal Hot Topics
- Governor’s Budget
Below are highlights from the School Services of California (SSC) Dartboard 2024–25 Governor's Budget K-12.The Governor’s budget measures a $37.9 billion budget shortfall, but the proposal protects the education budget from any new cuts or deferrals:
- Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Fiscal Year 2024–25 is proposed at 0.76%, and the Governor’s Budget funds the COLA for LCFF and State Categorical Programs, such as the Equity Multiplier, Child Nutrition, Mandate Block Grant, and Special Education.
- The Governor continues the commitment to maintaining educational programs, including the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK), Universal Meals, and Special Education.
- There are no proposed cuts to the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant (LREBG); however, it will not receive the statutory COLA. The Governor proposes narrowing the use of the remaining LREBG funds to focus on students most impacted by learning loss.
- The Governor proposes to eliminate the allocation of funds for the reimbursement of “Other Costs” in the Charter Schools Facilities Grant Program.
- The Governor's proposal includes changes to clarify that charter schools are eligible to receive Education Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF); however, this statutory change may result in a shift in funding source, not additional funding for charter schools.
- Further details of the Governor’s Proposal are expected to be released in early February, including the trailer bill language.
- Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) Resources
State Board of Education Updates
- The California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting was held on January 18, 2024. During this meeting, the SBE affirmed the denial of the New Pacific School—Yuba City charter petition.
- An Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) meeting was held on December 5, 2023. The ACCS meeting for February 2024 was canceled.
CASI Annual Survey
Please complete the CASI Annual Survey
if you have not already done so.
Upcoming Events
CASI Events
- Monthly CASI Charter Chat, February 28, 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 Authorizer Events
- California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) Charter Schools Professional Council
- March 13, 2024, 11 a.m.–noon
- The LCAP: Bridging Educational Outcomes and Expenditures: To what extent do your educational program and expenditures align with the greatest needs of the students in your LEA? Reflect on this question and more at the upcoming LCAP presentation.
- Registration for The LCAP: Bridging Educational Outcomes and Expenditures
- Charter Authorizer Connection Professional Learning
- May 10, 2024, 9–11 a.m.
- Charter School Renewals: Join us as we hear an attorney’s perspective about the legal landscape of charter school renewals and what information your team will need to consider when a renewal petition is submitted to your office.
- Registration for Charter School Renewals
Charter Chat Q&A
January Charter Chat
If a charter school qualifies for Differentiated Assistance (DA), what is the process for accessing support? Who contacts the school?
The DA provider, whether the county office of education or geographic lead, has been directed to contact any charter school for which they may provide DA.
What are the new public reporting dates for the California School Dashboard?
SB 114
amended California Education Code Section 52064.5 to include the following future public reporting dates for the California School Dashboard:
- December 1, 2024
- November 15, 2025
- October 15, 2026, and October 15 of each year thereafter
Will the new California School Dashboard public reporting dates impact California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) End of Year (EOY) deadlines?
As described in the CDE’s “2023−24 End-of-Year Submission Deadline and Revised Rollout Plan for the New Four-Year Cohort Graduate Cut-Off Date” letter dated November 17, 2023, "CALPADS EOY Deadlines: The EOY deadline for 2023−24 will remain as proposed, August 16, 2024. This is approximately one week earlier than the 2022–23 EOY deadline. Recognizing that many staff who review certification reports are not available in July, and condensing workload is particularly difficult for small school districts where staff have multiple responsibilities, the CDE will continue to evaluate future EOY deadlines moving forward, which will likely need to be earlier in the coming years."
Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email
When is the Charter School Performance Category Data File going to be released?
The CDE intends to release the Charter School Performance Category Data File, including performance categories, as determined by the criteria outlined in AB 1505, prior to July 2024.
What are the best practices for audit extension requests?
Authorizers may ask a charter school for a letter explaining the rationale for the extension request. Additionally, an authorizer may ask for a board resolution or board meeting minutes documenting that the audit extension was approved by the charter school’s governing board.
Is a list available of the charter schools eligible for Differentiated Assistance (DA)?
The 2023 Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Charter School Assistance Status Spreadsheet Is available at CDE LCFF.
How does eligibility for DA impact charter renewal?
Pursuant to California Education Code 47607(c)(2), “(C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), a charter school eligible for technical assistance pursuant to Section 47607.3 shall not qualify for renewal under this paragraph.” A charter school eligible for DA shall not qualify for the High Performance Category renewal term of five to seven years.
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