West Side Union SD (Healdsburg) | BP 0420.41 Philosophy, Goals, Objectives and Comprehensive Plans
Charter School Oversight
The Governing Board recognizes its ongoing responsibility to oversee that any charter school authorized by the Board is successfully fulfilling the terms of its charter and is providing a high-quality educational program for students enrolled in the charter school.
(cf. 0420.4 - Charter School Authorization)
(cf. 0500 - Accountability)
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall identify at least one staff member to serve as a contact person for each charter school authorized by the Board. (Education Code 47604.32)
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall visit each charter school at least annually and may inspect or observe any part of a charter school at any time. (Education Code 47604.32, 47607)
The Superintendent or designated charter school contact shall attend meetings of the charter school governing body whenever possible and shall periodically meet with a representative of the charter school.
Waivers
If the charter school wishes to request a general waiver of any state law or regulation applicable to it, it shall request that the district submit a general waiver request to the State Board of Education (SBE) on its behalf. Upon approval of the Board, the Superintendent/Principal or designee shall submit such a waiver request to the SBE on behalf of the charter school.
(cf. 1431 - Waivers)
Provision of District Services
The charter school may purchase administrative or other services from the district or any other source. (Education Code 47613)
Whenever the district agrees to provide administrative or support services to a charter school, the district and the charter school shall develop a memorandum of understanding which clarifies the financial and operational agreements between them.
At the request of a charter school, the Superintendent/Principal or designee shall create and submit any reports required by the State Teachers' Retirement System or Public Employees' Retirement System on behalf of the charter school. The district may charge the charter school for the actual costs of the reporting services, but shall not require the charter school to purchase payroll processing services from the district as a condition for creating and submitting these reports. (Education Code 47611.3)
Material Revisions to Charter
Material revisions to a charter may only be made with Board approval. Material revisions shall be governed by the same standards and criteria that apply to petitions for the authorization of charter schools as set forth in Education Code 47605 and shall include, but not be limited to, a reasonably comprehensive description of any new requirement for charter schools enacted into law after the charter was originally granted or last renewed. (Education Code 47607)
If an approved charter school proposes to establish or move operations to one or more additional sites or grade levels, the charter school shall request a material revision to its charter and shall notify the Board of those additional locations or grade levels. The Board shall consider approval of the additional locations or grade levels at an open meeting. (Education Code 47605)
The Board shall have the authority to determine whether a proposed change in charter school operations constitutes a material revision of the approved charter.
Monitoring Charter School Performance
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall monitor each charter school that is authorized by the district to determine whether it complies with all legal requirements applicable to charter schools, including making all reports required of charter schools in accordance with Education Code 47604.32. Any violations of law shall be reported to the Board.
The Board shall monitor each charter school to determine whether it is achieving the measurable student outcomes set forth in the charter, both schoolwide and for each numerically significant student subgroup served by the school as defined in Education Code 52052. This determination shall be based on the measures specified in the approved charter and any applicable memorandum of understanding, and on the charter school's annual review and assessment of its progress toward the goals and actions identified in its local control and accountability plan (LCAP), as reported in the California School Dashboard.
The Board shall monitor the fiscal condition of the charter school based on any financial report or information obtained from the charter school, including, but not limited to, the charter school's preliminary budget, annual update of the charter school's LCAP, first and second interim financial reports, and final unaudited report for the full prior year. (Education Code 47604.32, 47604.33, 47606.5)
The district may charge up to one percent of a charter school's revenue for the actual costs of supervisorial oversight of the school. However, if the charter school is able to obtain substantially rent-free facilities from the district, the district may charge up to three percent of the charter school's revenue for actual costs of supervisorial oversight or, if the facility is provided under Education Code 47614, the pro-rata share facilities costs calculated pursuant to 5 CCR 11969.7. If the district charges the pro-rata share, it may also charge one percent of the charter school's revenue in oversight fees. If the district is given responsibility for supervisorial oversight of a charter school that was authorized by SBE on appeal, the district is not limited to these percentages and may charge for the actual costs of supervisorial oversight and for the administrative costs necessary to secure charter school funding. (Education Code 47613)
(cf. 7160 - Charter School Facilities)
Technical Assistance/Intervention
Whenever a charter school is identified for technical assistance based on the performance of one or more numerically significant student subgroups on SBE-established criteria, the charter school shall receive technical assistance from the County Superintendent of Schools. Such technical assistance shall be focused on building the charter school's capacity to develop and implement actions and services responsive to student and community needs, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (Education Code 45607.3)
1. Assisting the charter school to identify its strengths and weaknesses in regard to the state priorities applicable to the charter school pursuant to Education Code 47605. This shall include working collaboratively with the charter school to review performance data on the state and local indicators included in the California School Dashboard and other relevant local data and to identify effective, evidence-based programs or practices that address any areas of weakness.
2. Working collaboratively with the charter school to secure assistance from an academic, programmatic, or fiscal expert or team of experts to identify and implement effective programs and practices that are designed to improve performance in any areas of weakness identified by the charter school. Another service provider, including, but not limited to, a school district, county office of education, or charter school, may be solicited to act as a partner to the charter school in need of technical assistance.
3. Obtaining from the charter school timely documentation demonstrating that it has completed the activities described in items #1 and 2 or substantially similar activities, or has selected another service provider to work with the charter school to complete the activities described in items #1 and 2 or substantially similar activities, and ongoing communication with the Board to assess the charter school's progress in improving student outcomes.
In addition, if, in three out of four consecutive school years, a charter school fails to improve outcomes for three or more numerically significant student subgroups, or for all of the student subgroups if the school has fewer than three subgroups, in regard to one or more state or school priorities identified in the charter, the district: (Education Code 47607.3)
1. Shall provide technical assistance to the charter school based on the California School Dashboard
2. May request that the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), with SBE approval, assign the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to provide advice and assistance to the charter school pursuant to Education Code 52074
In accordance with law, the Board may deny a charter school's renewal petition or may revoke a charter based on the charter school's poor performance, especially with regard to inadequate academic achievement of all numerically significant subgroups of students served by the charter school.
(cf. 0420.42 - Charter School Renewal)
(cf. 0420.43 - Charter School Revocation)
Complaints
Each charter school shall establish and maintain policies and procedures to enable any person to file a complaint, in accordance with the uniform complaint procedures as specified in 5 CCR 4600-4670, alleging the school's noncompliance with Education Code 47606.5 or 47607.3. (Education Code 52075)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
A complainant who is not satisfied with the decision may appeal the decision to the SPI. (Education Code 52075)
If the charter school finds merit in the complaint or the SPI finds merit in an appeal, a remedy shall be provided to all affected students and parents/guardians. (Education Code 52075)
School Closure
In the event that the Board revokes or denies renewal of a charter or the charter school ceases operation for any reason, the Superintendent/Principal or designee shall, when applicable in accordance with the charter and/or a memorandum of understanding, provide assistance to facilitate the transfer of the charter school's former students and to finalize financial reporting and close-out.
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall provide notification to the California Department of Education, within 10 calendar days of the Board's action, if renewal of the charter is denied, the charter is revoked, or the charter school will cease operation for any reason.
Such notification shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the circumstances of the closure, the effective date of the closure, and the location of student and personnel records. (Education Code 47604.32; 5 CCR 11962.1)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
215 Suicide prevention policy
215.5 Student identification cards, inclusion of safety hotlines
220 Nondiscrimination
221.61 Posting of Title IX information on web site
221.9 Sex equity in competitive athletics
222 Lactation accommodations for students
222.5 Pregnant and parenting students, notification of rights
231.5-231.6 Sexual harassment policy
234.4 Mandated policy on bullying prevention
234.6 Bullying and harassment prevention information
234.7 Student protections relating to immigration and citizenship status
17070.10-17079.30 Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act
17280-17317 Field Act
17365-17374 Field Act, fitness for occupancy
32282 Comprehensive safety plan
32283.5 Online training on bullying prevention
33479-33479.9 The Eric Parades Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act
35179.4-35179.6 Interscholastic athletic programs, safety
35183.1 Graduation ceremonies; tribal regalia or recognized object of religious/cultural significance
35330 Field trips and excursions; student fees
38080-38086 School meals
39831.3 Transportation safety plan
39843 Disciplinary action against bus driver; report to Department of Motor Vehicles
41024 Report of expenditure of state facility funds
42100 Annual statement of receipts and expenditures
44030.5 Reporting change in employment status due to alleged misconduct
44237 Criminal record summary
44691 Information on detection of child abuse
44830.1 Certificated employees, conviction of a violent or serious felony
45122.1 Classified employees, conviction of a violent or serious felony
45125.1 Fingerprinting; employees of contracting entity
46015 Accommodations for pregnant and parenting students; parental leave
47600-47616.7 Charter Schools Act of 1992
47634.2 Nonclassroom-based instruction
47640-47647 Special education funding for charter schools
47651 Apportionment of funds, charter schools
48000 Minimum age of admission for kindergarten; transitional kindergarten
48010-48011 Minimum age of admission (first grade)
48206.3-48208 Students with temporary disabilities; individual instruction
48850-48859 Educational placement of foster youth and homeless students
48901.1 Suspension and expulsion, willful defiance
48907 Students' exercise of free expression; rules and regulations
48913.5 Suspended students, homework assignments
48950 Student speech and other communication
48985 Parental notification,
49005-49006.4 Seclusion and restraint
49011 Student fees
49014 Public School Fair Debt Collection Act
49061 Student records
49062.5 Student records, name or gender changes
49070 Challenging student records
49073.2 Privacy of student and parent/guardian personal information
49076.7 Student records; data privacy; Social Security numbers
49110 Authority to issue work permits
49381 Human trafficking prevention
49414 Epinephrine auto-injectors
49414.3 Administration of opioid antagonist
49428 Notification of mental health services
49430-49434 The Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001, especially:
49431.9 Advertisement of non-nutritious foods
49475 Health and safety, concussions and head injuries
49557.5 Child Hunger Prevention and Fair Treatment Act of 2017
49564 Meals for needy students
51224.7 Mathematics placement policy
51225.1-51225.2 Exemption from local graduation requirements; acceptance of coursework
51225.6 Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
51513 Diploma of graduation, without passage of high school exit examination
51745-51749.6 Independent study
51930-51939 California Healthy Youth Act
52052 Accountability; numerically significant student subgroups
52060-52077 Local control and accountability plans
52075 Uniform complaint procedures
56026 Special education
56040.3 Availability of assistive technology devices
56145-56146 Special education services in charter schools
56365-56366.12 Nonpublic, nonsectarian schools
60600-60649 Assessment of academic achievement
64000 Categorical programs included in consolidated application
64001 School plan for student achievement, consolidated application programs
65000-65001 School site councils
69432.9-69432.92 Cal Grant program; notification of grade point average and high school graduation
CORPORATIONS CODE
5110-6910 Nonprofit public benefit corporations
GOVERNMENT CODE
1090-1099 Prohibitions applicable to specified officers
3540-3549.3 Educational Employment Relations Act
6250-6270 California Public Records Act
54950-54963 Ralph M. Brown Act
81000-91014 Political Reform Act of 1974
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
104420 Tobacco Use Prevention Education grant program
104559 Tobacco-free schools
LABOR CODE
1198.5 Personnel records related to performance and grievance
PENAL CODE
667.5 Definition of violent felony
1192.7 Definition of serious felony
VEHICLE CODE
28160 Child safety alert system
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
Article 9, Section 5 Common school system
Article 16, Section 8.5 Public finance; school accountability report card
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
4600-4670 Uniform complaint procedures
11700.1-11705 Independent study
11960-11969 Charter schools
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24
101 et seq. California Building Standards Code
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1681-1688 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; discrimination based on sex
6311 State plan
7221-7221j Charter schools
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
11431-11435 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
200.1-200.78 Accountability
COURT DECISIONS
Ridgecrest Charter School v. Sierra Sands Unified School District, (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 986
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS
Opinion No. 11-201 (2018)
89 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 166 (2006)
80 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 52 (1997)
78 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 297 (1995)
CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS DECISIONS
Student v. Horizon Instructional Systems Charter School, (2012) OAH Case No. 2011060763
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Uncharted Waters: Recommendations for Prioritizing Student Achievement and Effective Governance in California's Charter Schools, September 2018
Charter Schools in Focus, Issue 2: Ensuring Effective Oversight, Governance Brief, October 2017
Charter Schools: A Guide for Governance Teams, rev. 2016
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
California School Accounting Manual
Sample Copy of a Memorandum of Understanding
Pupil Fees, Deposits, and Other Charges, Fiscal Management Advisory 17-01, July 28, 2017
Special Education and Charter Schools: Questions and Answers, September 10, 2002
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GUIDANCE
Charter Schools Program: Title V, Part B of the ESEA, January 2014
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Charter Schools Association: http://www.calcharters.org
California Department of Education, Charter Schools: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cs
National Association of Charter School Authorizers: http://www.qualitycharters.org
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Policy WEST SIDE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: June 18, 2020 Healdsburg, California