BOARD OF EDUCATION
Linda McCain, President
Linda P. Bryant, Vice President
Julia C. Bernath • Gail Dean • Catherine Maddox
Katie Reeves • Linda Schultz
Kenneth Zeff, Interim Superintendent
FCS Charter Interim Compliance Report
KIPP South Fulton Academy Charter School
School Year 14/15
Justification:
The responsibilities of charter authorizers, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2065(b)(2) to control and
manage local charter schools includes the following:
 Enforce clear expectations for, and ensure achievement of, performance contained in
performance goals set forth in the charters;
 Review annual budgets for local charter schools;
 Ensure that the local charter schools is complying with the accountability provisions
of O.C.G.A. § 20-14-30 et seq. and federal accountability requirements; and
 Evaluate a local charter school’s performance in relation to the expectations and
goals set forth in the charter and take appropriate action based on this evaluation.
The purpose of this interim report is to address the underlined accountability provisions and
federal requirements. Academic, governance and financial reports for the school year will be
issued after state performance data and annual audits are published in the fall.
History:
Beginning in 2008, FCS and the charter schools in the system started construction of a checklist
of compliance activities dealing with the major federal accountability reporting requirements set
forth in the charter. The SY14/15 checklist (attached) does not represent all the compliance items
that might be required by federal and state governments of a charter since individual schools and
students will generate additional compliance requirements. However, this general listing can
serve a vehicle to foster communication and transparency between the charter and the system in
the area of general compliance.
The schedule of compliance deadlines is provided to the charters at the start of each school year.
An automated system allows the charters to upload their documentation by the due date of each
item and that item is transmitted to all impacted FCS departments.
In 2010, the District began the practice of observing each governing board annually. Minimum
criteria for legal operations, items reflecting appropriate decision making authority and basic
communication patterns reflecting a productive governing culture are documented. (Note:
Unlike the majority of governing boards, the KIPP South Fulton Academy (KSFA) board meets
quarterly. Due to conflicts with the spring meeting date, the KSFA board will be observed in the
fall.)
In 2011 a District wide Department survey was added to the data collection schedule to allow
FCS Departments to offer specific feedback to each charter. It mirrors a similar tool that charter
schools use to provide feedback to each Department.
Page 1 of 7
June 2015
Narrative:
Fulton County Schools (FCS) is issuing this compliance interim report as it relates to the federal
and state accountability provisions and health and safety requirements for the benefit of all our
charter governance boards and administrators.
 The school did not deliver all minimum compliance items on the checklist on time.
 The school did not meet department minimum standards as related to STAR testing,
Response to Intervention (RtI), Student Support Teams (SST), Student Discipline and
Records Management.
Mandated Action:
KSFA is out of compliance in that:
 STAR was not utilized three times a year as required
 Response to Intervention (RtI) and the SST processes were not followed and
trainings were not attended,
 Due Process best practices were not followed, and
 Student Records have not been updated.
These departments are not optional. We request the school investigate the issues preventing
KSFA staff from being in compliance with these departments and submit a plan to mitigate
those issues to the FCS Charter Department no later than August 5, 2015.
Suggested Actions:
 Interactions between the school and the authorizing District are inconsistent. In some
areas, the interactions are exemplary and service students quite well. In other areas the
relationship is not as productive. It might be useful to examine those areas in which
KSFA staff are interacting at high levels with the District and duplicate those best
practices throughout.
 At various times in the year, there was confusion as to where the dividing line between
the authority of the school level board and the authority of the regional board lay. Page
72 of the petition outlines the duties of the school level board. It might be helpful to
review that listing with staff and board members at both levels. The District has included
that listing in FCS Department orientation materials to ensure our Departments also
understand the expectations.
 If financial/personnel reporting from charter school staff to the governing board is taking
place, it is strongly advised that a secure, permissioned and password protected location
be established.
Commendations:
 As the school moved through a leadership change at the regional level, it stayed focused
and ran smoothly with little to no interruption in services. This is due to the high degree
of expertise in place at the school and the productive support operations in place at the
regional office.
 The school’s focus on at risk students can be seen in the exemplary Title I interactions
and high level of services for those students.
Documentation:
 Attached is the compliance checklist and the FCS Department Survey results.
6/30/2015 – page 2
We appreciate the hard work, professionalism and dedication of South Fulton Academy Charter
School. We continue to offer our support as you meet the compliance items required by the
charter and look forward to a successful new year of learning for the students of the school.
Laura Stowell, MPA, FCS Charter Coordinator
6201 Powers Ferry Road, NW
Sandy Springs, GA 30339
404.763.6807 (o) 678.500.5998 (c)
6/30/2015 – page 3
6/30/2015 – page 4
Learning &
Teaching
How often did
your
department
interact with
SFA in SY
14/15?
How would
you
characterize
the quality of
the services
SFA offers to
students in
your
particular
field?
How would
you
characterize
the ability
level of staff
members a
SFA to meet
the needs of
students in
your
particular
field?
How would
you
characterize
the SFA
staff’s
participation
in training
offered by
your
department?
Quarterly
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
Professional
Learning
Annually
I don't know
I don't know
Data Utilization
Annually
I don't know
I don't know
Accountability
Annually
I don't know
I don't know
Early
Childhood
Remedial
Annually
I don't know
I don't know
Budget
Services
Annually
I don't know
I don't know
Was SFA
compliant to
the minimum
mandatory
standards in
your
particular
field in SY
14/15?
If you
answered
“no”, what
mandatory
actions must
SFA take to
achieve
minimum
compliance
in your field
in SY 14/15?
What
suggestions for
improvement
can you offer
SFA to improve
their operations
in your field?
Are there any
best practices
in SFA’s
implementation
of your
program that
would be
useful to
replicate in
other schools?
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
No
Did not utilize
STAR as
required three
times a year
Attend training,
participate in
STAR, participate
in RtI and SST
Question
Skipped
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
Yes
Question
Skipped
Question Skipped
Question
Skipped
Yes
Question
Skipped
Question Skipped
Question
Skipped
Yes
Question
skipped
Question skipped
Question
skipped
Yes
Question
Skipped
Question Skipped
Question
Skipped
Yes
Question
Skipped
Question Skipped
Question
Skipped
The same
level as in
typical FCS
schools
We do not
offer training
The same
level as in
typical FCS
Schools
The same
level as in
typical FCS
Schools
6/30/2015 – page 5
The same
level as in
typical FCS
Schools
Yes
Question
skipped
Question skipped
Question
skipped
Monthly
I don't know
Matched to
students need
Title I
Monthly
Much higher
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
Much higher
than what
students need
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
Yes
Question
Skipped
Attend trainings
when offered
Question
skipped
Health &
Physical
Education
Quarterly
I don't know
I don't know
The same
level as in
typical FCS
Schools
Yes
Question
skipped
More
communication
with the HPE
department
Question
skipped
No
Comply with
all federal and
state
discipline due
process
requirements
(FCS BOE
overturned a
disciplinary
hearing
decision made
by KIPP - the
disciplinary
hearing was
not recorded)
Take advantage
of the opportunity
we extended to
meet with the
Director of
Student Discipline
and Board
attorneys and
review KIPP's
discipline
processes
I don't know
Assessment
Student
Discipline and
Prevention
Intervention
Quarterly
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
Much lower
than what
students need
Much lower
than the
average in
typical FCS
schools
6/30/2015 – page 6
Records
Management
Student Health
Services
Quarterly
Weekly
I don't know
The same level
as in typical
FCS Schools
I don't know
Matched to
students need
The same
level as in
typical FCS
Schools
The same
level as in
typical FCS
Schools
6/30/2015 – page 7
No
Yes
There are
multiple years
of student
records that
should be sent
to Records
Management
that still at the
school.
Question
skipped
To work on the
back log of
records daily until
all are sent to
Records
Management
Question
skipped
Continue to seek
Health Services
regarding all
health related
issues that require
our assistance
and expertise.
Question
skipped