CASI October 2023 Charter Chat Resource Page

Charter Chat Topics

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

Legislative Updates

• Assembly Bill 611 (Weber)
  This law requires notification to parents of any change to the certification status of a nonpublic school or agency in which their student attends within 14 days. The law was signed by the Governor.
• AB 1078 (Jackson) Instructional Materials and Curriculum: diversity
  This law would prohibit the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school from refusing to approve or prohibiting the use of any textbook, instructional material, or other curriculum or any book or other resource in a school library on the basis that it includes a study of the role and contributions of any individual or group consistent with the above-described requirements relating to instruction in social sciences and the adoption of instructional materials that accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society. The law was signed by the Governor.
• AB 1604 (Bonta)
  This bill requires changes to the Charter Schools Facility Grant Program to include returning facility funds if a charter school closes and the facility is owned or leased from a third party. The law was vetoed by the Governor.
• Senate Bill 10 (Cortese)
  This law requires that opioid overdose training and prevention be included in safety plans for all schools. The law was signed by the Governor.
  
  In addition, SB 10 amended California Education Code (EC) sections 47605 and 47605.6, specifically the requirements for closure procedures. In the table below, see EC Section 47605, as amended by SB 10:
  
  

  Education Code	Previous Text	Revised Text
  47605(c)(5)(O)	The procedures to be used if the charter school closes. The procedures shall ensure a final audit of the charter school to determine the disposition of all assets and liabilities of the charter school, including plans for disposing of any net assets and for the maintenance and transfer of pupil records.	The procedures to be used if the charter school closes. The procedures shall ensure a final audit of the charter school to determine the disposition of all assets and liabilities of the charter school, including plans for disposing of any net assets and for the maintenance and transfer of pupil records. If the charter school leases or rents its facility from a related party or subsidiary, as identified in its audited financial statements according to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or owns its facility, the charter school shall include a statement describing its plans for the use of the facility in its final audit.

• SB 274 (Skinner)
  This law extends the prohibition against suspension or expulsion for willful defiance for all grades kindergarten through 12, inclusive, through July 1, 2029, but would retain a teacher’s existing authorization to suspend any pupil in a grade from class for any of the listed acts, including willful defiance, for the day of suspension and the day following as provided. The law also requires school administrators to notify the referring staff of what actions were taken and, if none, the rationale. The law was signed by the Governor.
• SB 671 (Portantino)
  This bill requires all local educational agencies (LEAs) to update their Comprehensive School Safety Plans to include procedures to assess and respond to reports of any dangerous, violent, or unlawful activity conducted or threatened at school. It also requires plans to be in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 plans. The law was signed by the Governor.
• SB 760 (Newman) All Gender Restrooms
  All schools shall maintain at least one all-gender restroom for student use by July 1, 2026. LEAs may use an existing restroom for this purpose. The law was signed by the Governor.
• SB 141—Education Finance: Education Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill
  The “Clean-up Language” Trailer Bill was signed into law on September 13, 2023, and takes effect immediately. This bill “cleans-up” language, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Early Education Act
  • Learning Recovery Emergency Fund
  • Administrator/teacher ratios
  • Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
  • Revises how the 10:1 adult to pupil ratio is calculated in Transitional Kindergarten
• 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.

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Program Hot Topics

• Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) Reviews
  California Education Code (EC) Section 47605(c)(5)(F) requires each charter school to develop a school safety plan, including the topics listed in EC Section 32282(a)(2)(A–J), and for that charter school to review and update its plan by March 1 each year. It is considered a best practice for authorizers to require their charter schools to share their CSSP after March 1 of each year and review that the CSSP includes all topics listed in EC Section 32282(a)(2)(A-J) The notice requirements under EC Section 32288 are not extended to charter schools.
  
• Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Midyear Update
  The following guidance has been added to the California Department of Education (CDE) Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) FAQs web page as of October 2023:
  • What are the requirements for the mid-year update to the LCAP?
    All charter schools, school districts, and COEs are required to present a report on the annual update to the LCAP and the 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 LEA. 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 (EC sections 47606.5, 52062, and 52068).
  • Is there a required template for the mid-year update?
    No, there is no requirement for LEAs to use any particular template. It is up to the LEA to determine how to present and report the required information to their local governing board or body.
  • Will the mid-year update report be included in the LCAP?
    No, the mid-year update will not be included in the LCAP; however, the information presented may inform the development of the following year’s LCAP.
• Charter School Use of District Facilities (Proposition 39) Process Begins
  EC Section 47614 requires that school districts make available to all charter schools operating in their school district with projections of at least 80 units of average daily attendance (ADA) facilities that will sufficiently accommodate all of the charter’s in-district students, and that the facilities be “reasonably equivalent” to other classrooms, buildings, or facilities in the district. By November 1, charter schools must submit their request for facilities to the school district(s) in which they are serving students. The district must provide a final offer and acceptance by May 30.
  

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Fiscal Hot Topics

• California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) Census Day Data
  The official submission window for CALPADS Census Day Data is October 4–December 15, 2023. Please note, Fall 1 attendance data is used to calculate unduplicated counts for the purpose of Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) concentration and supplemental grant funding.
• Charter 20 Day Attendance Report
  Pursuant to EC Section 47652, charter schools that submitted a 2023–24 Pupil Estimates for New or Significantly Expanding Charters (PENSEC) report must also complete the 20 Day Attendance Report. The 2023–24 Charter 20 Day Attendance Report and the signed certification were both due to the CDE by October 31, 2023.
• First Interim
  Pursuant to EC Section 47604.33(a)(3) the First Interim Report is due to the chartering authority and COE by no later than December 15 for the reporting period ending October 31.
• Audit Report
  Pursuant to EC Section 41020(h) LEA audit reports must be filed with CDE, the State Controller’s Office (SCO), the local County Superintendent of Schools and, if applicable, the chartering entity, by December 15 of each year.

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State Board of Education Updates

• The next California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting is scheduled for November 8–9, 2023.
• The Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) meeting scheduled for October 3, 2023, has been canceled. The next ACCS meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2023.

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Charter Chat Q&A

October Charter Chat

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Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email

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