Charter School
Information Session:
Accountability and Evaluation
Cobb County School District
September 24, 2014
Accountability and Evaluation
Section of the Petition Review
Requires the petitioner to strongly consider
several aspects of the proposed charter:
Why does the charter exist and what are the
proposed performance goals and objectives? Is
there alignment?
How will the stakeholders and public know the
charter school is working?
How will the charter school navigate the jungle
of assessment, evaluation, and reporting?
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Topics for Today
• What will the charter school be accountable for
regarding student achievement and school
performance?
• How will the waivers requested in the petition
support accountability?
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For What is the Charter School
Accountable?
• Each element of the Georgia Accountability System
– Waiver is now approved so the accountability system has changed
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Participation in all state assessments
Participation in all student and/or stakeholder surveys
Obtaining and retaining accreditation
Reporting routinely (mid-year and end of year) to the district on
each objective outlined in the charter school plan
Reporting the performance of students in groups (program and
ethnic) annually to the Board of Education and stakeholders
Ensuring accurate data reporting to the state
Sound fiscal management of resources
Working with district staff to ensure a rigorous evaluation plan
for public review
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Initial Action Steps for Petitioners
• Develop an understanding of the testing,
assessment, and evaluation requirements for
students, staff, and the school
• Develop an understanding of the difference
between student and school performance goals,
objectives, and targets
• Investigate the reporting mechanisms employed
by the district for student performance and school
performance
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Waiver Requests
Charter schools apply for a waiver from specific state/local rules,
regulations, policies, procedures or provisions of Title 20 (OCGA)
that might delay or detract from achieving the charter’s mission.
The charter petition must clearly explain WHAT performance will be
improved and HOW it will be improved through the waiver.
Action Steps for Petitioners
1) Educate the charter petition committee on which things can be
waived and which things cannot be waived.
2) Make a list of the items the petitioners should consider waiving .
3) Determine why certain things would not help accomplish the charter
mission and how alternatives to those things will be provided.
4) Develop a narrative explaining the rationale for waiving the
requirements and explain how the school will provide assurance of a
high quality education for students.
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Accountability and Assessment
Accountability is the public presentation
and communication of evidence about
performance in relation to established goals
and objectives
Assessment is an analytical tool for
evaluating
performance
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Difference Between Goals and
Objectives
GOALS
• Broad-based
statements of intent
with no relationship to
time
• Often intangible and
abstract
• Generally hard to
measure directly
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OBJECTIVES
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time bound
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More about Performance Goals
The goal is like a target
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Let’s Look at an Example
Goal 1: Prepare students for success
in science or math careers
***Notice that there is no relationship to time, it does not explain
success nor does it address how the charter school will
accomplish this but does provide a clear alignment to why the
school exists
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More about Performance Objectives
The objectives are the arrows that help the school
reach the target and demonstrate progress
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Deconstructing an Objective
OBJECTIVE: 80% of fifth grade students will
demonstrate mastery of science standards by
scoring exemplary on the NAEP rubric for a
science fair project
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Audience = Students in fifth grade classes
Behavior = will demonstrate mastery of science standards
Condition = when projects for the science fair are evaluted
Degree = 80% will reach the exemplary level on a NAEP
rubric
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Finally…..Accreditation
Charter schools are responsible for applying,
obtaining, and maintaining accreditation
from SACS/CASI.
This is required of all schools in the district
and a statement of work and a timeline for
accreditation must be included in the
charter petition.
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Resources to Aid Petitioners
• System Testing Calendar for 2014-15 is available on the
CCSD website under Calendars
• State Assessment Handbook is available at
http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-andAssessment/Assessment/Pages/default.aspx
• College and Career Readiness Performance Index is
available at
http://www.gadoe.org/CCRPI/Pages/default.aspx
• Approved Georgia Waiver for ESEA is available at
http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-andPolicy/communications/Pages/NCLB-Waiver.aspx
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Questions about Accountability
for Charter Schools
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