Florida charter schools

1. Florida charter schools Presentation for FAPT June 2011

2. Overview • Public schools operated by private groups • Autonomy in exchange for increased accountability • Exempt from Education Code 1000-1013 (w/ exceptions) • Exempt from District Policy • Only local school boards may authorize charter schools

3. Statistics • 459 Charter Schools (Fall 2010) • 154K students (Fall 2010) • 77,000 Elementary • 41,000 Middle • 36,000 High • 43 School Districts

4. Demographics

5. Demographics

6. Growth

7. Growth

8. How a Charter School is Formed • Model application • Submitted to local school board (Aug 1) • 60 days to review (Model Evaluation) • Contract Negotiation (Model Contract) • School Opens

9. Model Forms • http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Charter_Schools/Forms_Charter.asp • Application, Evaluation, Contract • State Board Rule 6A-6.0786, F.A.C • Model Renewal in development

10. Rate of Application Approval

11. Application Data

12. Application Data

13. Charter Operations • Organize or Operated by Non Profit • Governing Board oversees operations • ESP, CMO, EMO • Comprehensive • Menu of Services

14. Oversight • Local School Board shall: • Monitor school’s progress toward goals in charter • Monitor revenues and expenditures • Ensure charter participates in state’s accountability system • Develop and review financial corrective action plans

15. Oversight Cont. • Sponsor shall provide: • Contract mgt • FTE and data reporting services • ESE administrative services • “services related to eligibility and reporting duties required to ensure that school lunch services under the federal lunch program, consistent with the needs of the charter school, are provided by the school district at the request of the charter school” • Test administrative services • Processing of teacher cert data services • Equal access to student information systems • 5% Admin fee (250 students)

16. Accountability • Autonomy in exchange for increased accountability • Termination of charter for poor academic or financial performance • 115 closures in last 5 years (RttT App) • No PLA Charter Schools

17. FCAT ComparisonElementary Reading

18. FCAT ComparisonMiddle Reading

19. Achievement Gap

20. Statutes and Rules • Section 1002.33 - establishes charter schools. • Section 1002.345 - establishes criteria and requirements for charter schools experiencing a deteriorating financial condition or a state of financial emergency. • Section 1013.62 - establishes charter school eligibility requirements, procedures, and uses for capital outlay funding. • Charter School State Board of Education Rules • Appeals Rule, SBE 6A-6.0781 - establishes procedures for appealing a district school board decision to deny an application for a charter school. • Applicant Training Standards Rule, SBE 6A-6.0785 - establishes a procedure by which sponsors may require charter applicants to attend training provided by the sponsor in lieu of the training provided by the Department. • Capital Outlay Rule, SBE 6A-2.0020 - clarifies eligibility requirements for capital outlay funding • Conversion Charter Ballot Process SBE 6A-6.0787 - establishes a procedure by which parents and teachers of public school may vote to submit an application for conversion to charter status. • Governance Training Rule, SBE 6A-6.0784 - establishes procedures for the approval of charter school governance training submitted to the Florida Department of Education • SBE 6A-6.0786 - provides the required model application format for potential charter school developers, an evaluation instrument for sponsors, and a model charter contract format. • Monthly Financial Statement and Financial Condition Rule, SBE 6A-1.0081 - establishes requirements related to the monthly financial statement that a charter school must complete and submit to its sponsor and establishes procedures for developing financial recovery and corrective action plans and determining a deteriorating financial condition. • Notice Requirements for Performance Data, SBE 6A-6.0788 - outlines the manner in which charter schools will provide student performance data to required recipients. • Charter School Rule Development • 6A-6.0781: Procedures for Appealing a District School Board Decision Denying Application for Charter School • 6A-6.0789: Definition of a Charter School Nonprofit organization

21. Websitehttp://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Charter_Schools/Websitehttp://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Charter_Schools/

22. Legislative Activity- Florida • 2010 Session • Minor changes • Admin Fee • Charter Systems • 2011 Session • SB1564 • HB7197 • SB736

23. Legislative Activity- Federal • Replication Grants for CMOs • More authorizer oversight • Funding unknown

24. Race to the Top • Establishing Charter Schools – ITN • $20 million • National Funding Organizations • Recruit and Support High-Quality Operators to High-Need neighborhoods (PLA) • $10 million Competitive

25. IEPC Staff- Charter • Karen Hines-Henry: Communications • Lacrest McCary: Policy Director • Chris Muire: Policy Director • Helen Giraitis: CSP Director • Tera Teders: Training Coordinator • Julia Somers-Arthur: Training and Resources • Jacque Hitchcock: Program Specialist • Charlene Burke: Grant Specialist • Laura Pond: Grant Specialist • Takiyah Randolph: OPS Support

26. IEPC- Charter Responsibilities • CSP Grant • $53 million • 130 active sub-grants • Merit Award Program • Class Size • Charter School Appeals • Governance Training • Charter School Capital Outlay • Corrective Action Plans • Differentiated Accountability • Annual Accountability Report • Annual Student Achievement Report • Outreach • Training/Technical Assistance/Support • Annual Needs Assessment • Over 1000 attendees 2010 • Sponsor Support • Intra-Department Coordination/Support

27. Contact Info Adam.Miller@fldoe.org Room 522 245-0998