SCHOOL SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY
AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA
Overview and Comparison
DeKalb County
Board of Education
July 1, 2013
What are we talking about and why?
Improving Student
Academic Results
• The Academic Bottom Line
Flexibility
• Freedom granted through Waivers of Georgia
Education Laws, Rules, Guidelines
Title 20
• Shorthand phrase meaning Georgia Education
Law and all related Rules and Guidelines
Flexibility Options
• Operational approaches that school systems and
schools can take in exchange for a performance
contract
The Big Four
• Waivers of state class size, expenditure control,
certification, and salary schedule requirements
2
What is the Origin of
Charter Schools?
4/13/2015
3
What are Charter Schools?
Charter schools are…
• Public schools of choice
• Publicly funded but organized and governed by a
charter school governing board
• Free from many of the regulations that govern
traditional public schools
• Based on partnerships with local communities
and businesses
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What is the basic flexibility bargain?
ACCOUNTABILITY
AUTONOMY
Higher Academic
Expectations
Flexibility to
Innovate
Students
outperform state
….
Waivers from state
laws, rules,
guidelines
More performance
measures
Freedom from
state controls
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Why charter schools?
Competition
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Innovation
Freedom from many
state and district
regulations inspires
creativity
Advocates see charter
schools as incubators of
innovation where best
practices will be
implemented
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
7
Choice
Provide choice to
parents and
students
Can serve as an
alternative to failing
schools
Can have a specific
focus or model that
provides a better fit
for some students
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
8
Competition
Provide market
competition to
traditional public
schools as an incentive
for change
Traditional public
schools must respond
to the challenge to
retain or win back
students
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
9
Four Overlapping Generations of Chartering
1 - PIONEERS
2 - ENTREPRENEURS
• Parents, teachers, administrators
• Do it our way
• Different is better
• Limited or no accountability
• For-profit companies
• Some focused more on student results
• Some focused more on the bottom line
• Limited or no accountability
3 - SOCIAL REFORMERS
• Non-profit organizations
• Focused only on student results
• Urban areas
• Models that work
• Increased academic accountability
4 - PROFESSIONALS
• Experienced school & organization people
with proven record of effectiveness
• Student achievement is the top priority
• High levels of academic, financial,
governance, and compliance accountability
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
10
Georgia Charter School History
Charter
system law
also passed,
followed by
first 4 charter
systems in
2008-09
1993 - First charter
law was passed
allowing conversion
charter schools only
1995 - First three
conversion schools
open (Addison ES in
Cobb is still a charter)
1998 – Charter law
allows start-up
schools (including
state chartered
special schools)
2008 - Charter law
establishing Georgia
Charter Schools
Commission (first
schools in 2009)
2001 – First two state
chartered special
schools were created
(CCAT and Odyssey
School)
2000 - First start-up
charter school
opened (Oglethorpe
Charter School in
Savannah-Chatham)
2011 - Georgia
Supreme Court ruled
the Commission law
unconstitutional
2012 – Constitutional
amendment passed
to allow new
Commission
2013 - State Charter
Schools Commission
appointed by SBOE
and begins work
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Who creates Georgia charter schools?
For locally-approved and system charter schools
Local Boards
of Education
State Board
of Education
For state charter schools
State Charter
Schools
Commission
State Board
of Education
(60-day review)
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia Charter Partners
for the State Board and the Commission
Charter Advisory
Committee
Charter System
Foundation
• An appointed committee that reviews charter
system petitions, provides recommendations to
the State Board on approvals, and provides
technical assistance to charter systems
• A non-profit charter system organization that
will serve as a conduit for sharing resources,
innovative ideas, and informing policymakers
about the efforts of charter systems
Georgia Charter
Schools Association
• A non-profit legislative/legal advocacy organization that supports charter schools with training,
certification, job fairs, technical assistance, policy
templates, data analysis, and annual conference
Office of College and
Career Transitions
• TCSG’s office dedicated to increasing both the
number of and the overall quality of college and
career academies
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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National charter partners
National Alliance
of Public Charter
Schools (NAPCS)
National
Association of
Charter School
Authorizers
(NACSA)
• A national non-profit committed to advancing the
charter movement
• Highlights: Public Charter School Performance
Dashboard, Charter Law Ranking Database, Annual
Conference (6,000 people)
• A national non-profit devoted exclusively to improving
public education by improving the policies and
practices of charter school authorizers
• Highlights: Authorizer Principals and Standards, The
Fund for Authorizing Excellence, Authorizer
Comparison, Annual Conference (500 people)
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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What Kinds of Charter Schools
Does Georgia Have?
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What are the different types of charter schools?
Different starting points,
but same end point
Conversion
Charter School
(LBOE, SBOE, school)
Locally-Approved
Charter School
(LBOE, SBOE, school)
Start-up
Charter School
Same starting point as a
conversion charter, but a
different end point
Charter System
School
(LBOE & SBOE contract)
State Charter School
(Commission and school
with SBOE review;
school is an LEA)
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DeKalb County Charter Schools
Type of Charter
School
1 Chamblee Charter High School
Conversion
2 Chesnut Elementary
Conversion
3 DeKalb Academy of Technology & the Environment (D.A.T.E.)
Start-Up
4 DeKalb Preparatory Academy
Start-Up
5 Destiny Acheivers Academy of Excellence
Start-Up
6 Gateway to College Academy School
Start-Up
7 International Community School
Start-Up
8 Kingsley Charter Elementary School
Conversion
9 Leadership Preparatory Academy
Start-Up
10 Peachtree Charter Middle School
Conversion
11 Smoke Rise Elementary
Conversion
12 The Museum School of Avondale Estates
Start-Up
13 DeKalb PATH Academy
Start-Up
Charter School Name
What is a start-up charter school?
Definition
• Charter held by non-profit, but can be Initiated by private individuals
and organizations, as well as state and local public entities
• Can be locally approved (LBOE with SBOE) or a state charter school
which is an LEA (Commission with SBOE review)
Facts & Features
• Did not exist prior to the petition
• Most common type of non-charter system charter school in
Georgia (80, including 15 state charter schools)
Relative
Advantages
• Opportunity to start a school with everything needed to be a
successful school
Federal/State
Compliance
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not
waived by the charter contract
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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What is a conversion charter school?
•
•
•
•
Definition
Facts & Features
Relative Advantages
Federal/State
Compliance
Charter held by the school’s governing board
Traditional public school that becomes a charter school
Broad flexibility waiver, higher levels of accountability
Must be locally approved (with SBOE approval required)
• 33 conversion charter schools in Georgia
• Possible strategy for turning around low-performing schools
• District remains the employer of record
• Student population, building, and operational systems
and structures are already in place
• Must comply with all Federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all State laws, rules and regulations not
waived by the Charter
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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What is a college and career academy?
Definition
Facts & Features
• A locally-approved, start-up charter school that
partners with a local district, area businesses, and a
technical college
• Most career academies originate from district
programs
• Career academy courses are a reflection of the
community’s needs and businesses
• 19 career academies with charters in Georgia
Relative
Advantages
• Local districts demonstrate their commitment to
preparing their students for either college or a career
Federal/State Compliance
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations
not waived by the contract
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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What is a STEM charter?
Definition
• A locally-approved charter school, or state charter
school that has a curriculum dedicated to Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) , including
STEAM schools (that add Arts to the mix)
Facts & Features
• While many charter schools have a STEM program,
Georgia does not yet have any STEM-certified charter
schools,
• Governor Deal has committed capital funds to assist
the creation of STEM charter schools
Relative
Advantages
• May qualify for additional federal and state grants to
plan and create a STEM charter
Federal/State Compliance
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations
not waived by the charter contract
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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What is a charter system school?
Definition
Facts & Features
• A school within a charter system that does not have a
separate charter
• However, under Georgia law, it is a charter school
• Must have the same level of flexibility and autonomy as a
start-up or conversion charter school
• Can choose to have themes or other innovative features
• Requires local school leadership and decision-making
• Most common type of charter school in Georgia (229)
Relative
Advantages
• School level governance requires school leaders , parents,
and community members to set the school’s culture and
identity
Federal/State Compliance
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations that
cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety)
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Georgia Charter Schools Growth
We have begun to address the low
numbers of high quality charter school
applications
4/13/2015
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Charter Growth Highlights
Charter growth is steady, but is still driven by
new charter systems
Fewer charter applications were in the
pipeline for 2012-13 (looks like 2006-07)
Charter approval rates seem steady
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Number of Charter Schools by Type
4/13/2015
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Charter Schools by Type
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Number of Applications vs. Approvals
History of Charter School Applications and
Approvals
Note: The 2010 number of applications and approvals is significantly higher because of Commission school transitions
80
75
70
60
61
50
40
39
30
30
20
10
15
19
40
39
35
27
26
22
19
21
15
18
4
7
8
2
0
2004-05
2005-06
Total Applications
2006-07
2007-08
Commission Apps
2008-09
0
2009-10
Total Approvals
2010-11
2011-12
Commission Approvals
4/13/2015
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2012-2013 Local and State Charter Actions
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Georgia’s Charter Landscape
• Not yet a critical mass of highquality charter schools
• Concentrated in Metro Atlanta
• We had 315 charter schools in
Georgia in 2012-13 – including 77
start-up charter schools, 31
conversion charter schools, and
207 charter system schools in 16
charter systems
• The 15 state-chartered special
schools have changed
authorizers from the SBOE to the
new State Charter Schools
Commission
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Number of Charter Schools by District
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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Number of Charter System Schools by District
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Charter School Scheduling
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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Charter School Flexibility
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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Charter School: Student Demographics
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Student Demographics: By Charter Type
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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Student Demographics: GA vs. Nation
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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A Comparative Perspective
National Landscape
2011-2012
Georgia Landscape
2011-2012
41 states plus DC
have charter schools
53 of Georgia’s 180 school districts
have start-up or conversion charter schools
5,679 charter schools nationwide (5.4%)
217 charter schools in Georgia (9.5%)
[4.8% excluding charter systems]
2.1 million students enrolled (4.2%)
130,492 students enrolled (7.7%)
[3.5% excluding charter systems]
Start-Ups: 92% of charters
Start-Ups: 37% of charters
[73% excluding charter systems]
Conversions: 8% of charters
Conversions: 14% of charters
[27% excluding charter systems]
Charter System Schools: GA only
Charter System Schools: 49% of charters
Georgia Charter Schools
Academic Performance
4/13/2015
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Charter Performance Highlights
Emphasis on high quality charter schools is paying off
Charter schools outperformed non-charter schools on the
Reading CRCT and the ELA and Math EOCTs for each of
the past five years
Non-charter schools outperformed charter schools on the
Math CRCT each of the past five years -- but charters
closed the gap to 0.2% in 2012
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Charter School and Charter System
2011 – 2012 Accountability
Reward Schools:
Performing
• 4 of 78 Reward Performing Schools were
Charters
Reward Schools:
Progress
• 8 of 156 Reward High Progress Schools
were Charters
Priority Schools
• Of the 78 Priority Schools, only 2 were
Charter
Focus Schools
• 6 of 156 Focus Schools were Charter
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
5-Year % Passing: CRCT Reading Performance
Charter vs. Non-Charter
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
% Passing: CRCT Reading Performance
By Charter Type
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
5-Year % Passing: CRCT Math Performance
Charter vs. Non-Charter
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
% Passing: CRCT Math Performance
By Charter Type
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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Academic Performance
5-Year EOCT Math Performance Trend
Charter vs. Non-Charter
80.0%
77.5%
75.0%
72.5%
70.0%
67.5%
65.0%
62.5%
60.0%
57.5%
55.0%
52.5%
50.0%
47.5%
45.0%
42.5%
40.0%
2008
2009
Charter
2010
2011
2012
Non-Charter
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
5-Year EOCT Math Performance Trend
by Charter Type
80.0%
77.5%
75.0%
72.5%
70.0%
67.5%
65.0%
62.5%
60.0%
57.5%
55.0%
52.5%
50.0%
47.5%
45.0%
42.5%
40.0%
2008
2009
Start-up
Conversion
2010
2011
System
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
2012
Non-Charter
4/13/2015
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Academic Performance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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Georgia’s High Quality Charter
School Requirements
4/13/2015
53
What Makes a Charter School
“High-Quality”?
Strong
Academic
Results
Well-Trained
and HighFunctioning
Governing
Board
Financial
Sustainability
Legal and
Regulatory
Compliance
HQCS* Academic Standards
High quality charter schools will:
• Meet the rigorous academic
performance goals included in their
charter contract, including growth goals
• Exceed state accountability standards
* High Quality Charter School
4/13/2015
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HQCS Academic Standards
• Petitioners are asked:
Must show the following links:
– What would having a
charter allow you to do
Flexibility/
differently to increase
Waivers
student achievement that
you could not do without
Innovations
a charter?
– Why do you need a
Student
charter to implement the
Performance
innovations you have
proposed?
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
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HQCS Financial Sustainability
Standards
Balanced budget
Financial reserves
Limited debts or
sustainable debt
service
Qualified CFO
Meeting state and
local board
financial reporting
deadlines
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HQCS Governance Standards
Governing board
composition reflects the
diversity of the
community
Meets regularly and
complies with Open
Records and Open
Meetings Laws
Governing board sticks
to governance and stays
out of management
Autonomous from local
district, CMOs, EMOs
and all other
organizations
Receives regular
updates on academic
operational, and
financial progress of the
school
Participates in regular
governing board training
each year
4/13/2015
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Governing Board Autonomy
Independence
from authorizer
(local, state)
and ESP
Reliance on
authorizer (local,
state) and EMO,
CMO
Indicators of Autonomy
• Must make personnel decisions (People)
• Must make decisions about what happens in the
school (Time)
• Must set school budget spending priorities
(Money)
• Can contract for services provided by the district
• Must recruit/select governing board members
without district or EMO/CMO assistance
• Must have independent audit firm and attorney
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
The school should
be as close to this
end as possible
4/13/2015
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Minimum 4G* Legal and
Regulatory Compliance
Minimum or no issues
associated with federal
Title programs or Special
Education
Complies with Charter
Schools Act, Rules,
charter contract,
Guidelines and
Guidance
Lottery and application
process are fair and
legal
Incorporated as a
Georgia non-profit
Participates in TRS
ESP does not employ
teachers
* Fourth Generation
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School District Flexibility and
Accountability in Georgia
4/13/2015
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Where do Charter Systems Fit In?
• By June 30, 2015* each local school system must choose to
operate as one of the following:
– Investing in Educational Excellence School System (IE2)
– Charter System
– Status Quo School System
• Other options include:
– Strategic School System
– System of Charter Schools
*Per OCGA §20-2-84.3
4/13/2015
62
What is an IE2 system?
Definition
• A local district that has a performance contract with
the SBOE (State Board of Education) that grants
flexibility from specific Title 20 provisions, SBOE rules,
and GaDOE (Georgia Department of Education)
guidelines
Facts & Features
• The contract is between the district, SBOE and GOSA
(Governor’s Office of Student Achievement)
• The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for
increased academic accountability
Relative Advantages/
Disadvantages
Federal/State Compliance
• Flexibility to innovate
• Financial savings possible from waivers
• Loss of governance over schools that fail to meet
targets
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations
not waived by the IE2 contract
63
What is a charter system?
Definition
• A local district that has an executed charter from the
SBOE that grants the district flexibility from almost all
of Title 20, SBOE rules, and GaDOE guidelines
Facts & Features
• The charter is a contract between district and SBOE
• The district gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for
increased academic accountability
• Emphasis on school-based leadership and decisionmaking
Relative Advantages/
Disadvantages
Federal/State Compliance
• Increased school-level autonomy and accountability
• Financial savings possible from waivers
• Additional per-pupil funding in QBE if appropriated
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations
that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety)
64
What is a strategic school system?
Definition
Facts & Features
Relative Advantages/
Disadvantages
Federal/State Compliance
• A local district that has a performance contract with
the SBOE that grants flexibility from specific Title 20
provisions, SBOE rules, and GaDOE guidelines
• The contract is between the district and the SBOE
• The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for
increased academic accountability
• Short application process
• Some financial savings possible – but waivers with the
biggest financial impact (the Big four() re not yet
allowed
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations
not waived by the performance contract
65
What is a system of charter schools?
Definition
Facts & Features
Relative Advantages/
Disadvantages
Federal/State Compliance
• A local district that has converted all its schools into
charter schools
• Individual charter contracts between each school, the
district and the SBOE
• Each school gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for
increased academic accountability
• Financial savings possible from waivers
• Federal Charter School Program planning and
implementation grants are still available (though running
out)
• Decision-making is school-based
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations
that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety)
66
What is a status quo system?
Definition
Facts & Features
Relative Advantages/
Disadvantages
Federal/State Compliance
• A local district that has formally rejected all flexibility
options
• No performance contract
• No district flexibility from Title 20, SBOE rules, or
GaDOE guidelines except in the case of a natural
disaster
• No change is required
• No financial savings from waivers
• Must comply with all federal laws and regulations
• Must comply with ALL state laws, rules and regulations
67
Decision Considerations
What does the school system’s CCRPI* data show now?
What are the CCRPI goals of the school system?
What are the gaps between CCRPI goals and CCRPI data?
What strategies can be used to close the gap?
Whichoperational
flexibility option
Which
systembest
bestmatches
matchesthe
thestrategies?
strategies?
*College & Career Readiness Performance Index
68
Decision Structure
Considerations
Are waivers
needed?
Yes
Centralize or
Decentralize?
Centralized or Decentralized
IE2
System
Strategic
School
System
Decentralized
Charter
System
System of
Charter
Schools
No Waivers
Status Quo
69
Flexibility and Title 20
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Charter
System
Status
Quo
>School System
seeks waivers –
must include at
least one of the
following: class
size; expenditure
control;
certification;
salary schedule
>Schools must
state how broad
flexibility permitted by the
Charter Schools
Act will be
utilized to
improve student
achievement
>School must
provide examples of how they
will utilize the
broad relief from
Title 20 permitted by the Charter Schools Act.
>School System
must state how
bundled Title 20
waiver requests
for flexibility
permitted by
state statute and
State Board rule
will be utilized.
>School System
cannot include
the following:
class size;
expenditure
control;
certification;
salary schedule.
>School System
must provide
examples of how
broad flexibility
permitted by the
Charter Schools
Act will be
utilized to
improve student
achievement
>Waivers
granted only in
the case of a
natural disaster
>Statewide
waivers expire
June 30, 2015
70
Waiver Limitations
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Cannot waive:
>Federal rules/
regulations
>State and local
rules/regulations
such as:
insurance;
physical health;
school safety;
assessment; QBE
funding; etc.
>Court orders,
civil rights
statutes
>Conflicts of
interest;
unlawful
conduct
Schools cannot
waive:
>Federal rules/
regulations
>State and local
rules/regulations
such as:
insurance;
physical health;
school safety;
assessment; QBE
funding; etc.
>Court orders,
civil rights
statutes
>Conflicts of
interest; unlawful conduct
Cannot waive:
>Big 4
Charter
System
Cannot waive:
>Federal rules/
>Federal rules/
regulations
regulations
>State and local
>State and local
rules/regulations
rules/regulations such as:
such as:
insurance;
insurance;
physical health;
physical health;
school safety;
school safety;
assessment; QBE
assessment; QBE
funding; etc.
funding; etc.
>Court orders,
>Court orders,
civil rights
civil rights
statutes
statutes
>Conflicts of
>Conflicts of
interest; unlawful interest;
unlawful
conduct
conduct
Status
Quo
No waivers
permitted
except if natural
disaster, but
cannot waive:
>Federal rules/
regulations
>State and local
rules/regulations
such as:
insurance; physical
health; school
safety;
assessment; QBE
funding; etc.
>Court orders, civil
rights statutes
>Conflicts of
interest; unlawful
conduct
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71
Unique Features
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
>Flexibility
proportionate to
student
performance
goals
>School System
Strategic Plan is
required
>School System
must conduct a
public hearing to
share Strategic
Plan
>Approved by
the Local School
Board at a public
meeting.
>Emphasis on
parent/
community
involvement,
including
maximum
school level
governance
>Approved by
the Local School
Board at a public
meeting
>Flexibility is
Charter
System
>Emphasis on
proportionate to parent/
increase in
community
student
involvement,
performance
including
goals
maximum
>School System school level
Strategic Plan is governance
required
>Approved by
>School System the Local School
must conduct a Board at a public
public hearing to meeting
share Strategic
Plan
>Approved by
the Local School
Board
Status
Quo
>School System
must conduct a
public hearing
to provide
notice of the
system’s intent
to select Status
Quo
>Local board of
education must
sign statement
that the school
system has
selected Status
Quo
72
Fiscal Impact
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Charter
System
>Possible
savings through
flexibility
>Regular QBE
funding with
more local
school system
expenditure
controls
>Possible
savings through
flexibility
>Regular QBE
funding with
local
expenditure
controls
>Potential
federal charter
school implementation
grants possible
for each school
>Possible
savings through
flexibility
>Regular QBE
funding
>Possible
savings through
flexibility
>Regular QBE
funding with
more local
school system
expenditure
controls
>Possible $100
(pre-austerity
cut) per student
Status Quo
>No savings
through
flexibility
73
Governance
IE2
System
>School System
may maximize
school-level
governance by
granting local
schools
authority to
determine how
to reach goals
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
>School System
must provide
each school with
substantial
autonomy and
maximum
school-level
governance and
decision making
over budgets,
programs,
personnel and
innovation
>School System
may maximize
school level
governance by
granting local
schools
authority to
determine how
to reach goals,
manage
personnel, and
develop
innovative
strategies
Charter
System
Status
Quo
>School System >No change in
must provide
school-level
each school with governance
substantial
autonomy and
maximum
school-level
governance and
decision making
over budgets,
programs,
personnel
and/or
innovation
74
4 Responsibilities of a School Board
Strategic Plan
Budget
• Adopt a five-year strategic plan
• Adopt a budget to fund the strategic plan
Superintendent
• Hire a leader to implement the strategic plan
within budget
Accountability
• Hold the leader accountable for implementing
the strategic plan within budget
75
Sharing the Superintendent’s Authority
• Beyond the 4 responsibilities of a school
board, everything else is the Superintendent’s
responsibility
• Therefore, it is the Superintendent’s authority
that is shared with schools in a charter system
or a system of charter schools
• The authority of a local Board of Education is
not diminished unless it has inappropriately
taken the Superintendent’s authority
76
High Quality Charter System
School Governance Standards
Governing council
composition reflects the
diversity of the
community
Meets regularly and
complies with Open
Records and Open
Meetings Laws
Governing council sticks
to governance and stays
out of management
Substantially
autonomous from local
district
Receives regular
updates on academic
operational, and
financial progress of the
school
Participates in regular
governing council
training each year
77
Charter System
School Governing Team Autonomy
Reliance on
authorizer (local,
state)
Independence
from authorizer
(local, state)
Indicators of Autonomy
• Ability to make personnel decisions (People)
• Ability to make decisions about what happens in
the school (Time)
• Ability to set school budget spending priorities
(Money)
• Governing council members selected/recruited
without district assistance
• Can contract for services provided by the district
The school should
be as close to this
end as possible
78
Performance Evaluation
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Charter
System
Status
Quo
>Student
performance
goals must meet
or exceed state
averages and
exceed previous
system
performance
>Student
performance
must meet all
federal and state
accountability
measures
>Student
performance
goals must meet
or exceed state
averages and
exceed previous
system
performance
>Student
performance
must meet all
federal and state
accountability
measures
>Student
performance
goals must
exceed previous
system
performance
and must show
annual
improvement
>Student
performance
must meet all
federal and state
accountability
measures
>Student
performance
goals must meet
or exceed state
averages and
exceed previous
system
performance
>Student
performance
must meet all
federal and state
accountability
measures
>Student
performance
must meet all
federal and state
accountability
measures
79
Consequences
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Charter
System
>Loss of
governance of
non-performing
schools:
(1) conversion to
charter school;
(2) operation by
another school
system; or
(3) operation by
private or nonprofit entity
>Charter status
revoked for nonperforming
schools; those
schools lose all
flexibility
>Possible fiscal
impact due to
loss of flexibility
>Flexibility
status revoked
and school
system reverts
to Status Quo
>Possible fiscal
impact when
converting from
Strategic School
System to Status
Quo due to loss
of flexibility
>Charter status
revoked and
school system
reverts to Status
Quo
>Possible fiscal
impact when
converting from
Charter System
to Status Quo
due to loss of
flexibility
Status
Quo
N/A
80
Contractual Partners
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Charter
System
>Local School
System Board of
Education and
State Board of
Education*
>Charter School
Governing
Board, Local
School System
Board of
Education, and
State Board of
Education
>Local School
System Board of
Education and
State Board of
Education
>Local School
System Board of
Education and
State Board of
Education
Status
Quo
N/A
*Required by statute that the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
participate in the IE2 process.
81
Length of Contract
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
Charter
System
>Initial term of
contract is for 5
years
>Contract may
be renewed if
contract
performance
goals are met for
at least three
consecutive
years
>Initial term of
individual school
contract is for 5
years
>Contract status
is reviewed
annually, based
on student
performance
>Subsequent
contract term
may range from
5 to 10 years if
the charter
contract goals
are met
>Single contract
term of 2 to 5
years
>>Contract
status is
reviewed
annually, based
on student
performance
>Follow-up
contract must be
IE2, Charter
System, System
of Charter
Schools, or
Status Quo
>Initial term of
contract is for 5
years
>Contract status
is reviewed
annually, based
on student
performance
>Subsequent
contract term
may range from
5 to 10 years if
the charter
contract goals
are met
Status
Quo
N/A
82
Charter System Application
Six
Questions
• What will you be able to do with a charter that you
can’t do without a charter?
• What are your school system’s student performance
objectives for the proposed charter term?
• What specific actions will your school system take
to achieve your student performance objectives
during the proposed charter term?
• Which of the specific actions in your academic plan
require a waiver of state law, rule, or guidelines?
• What is the system’s plan to maximize school level
governance?
• If funds are appropriated for the QBE weight for
charter systems, for what purposes would you use
the additional funds you would earn as a charter
system?
83
Strategic School System Application
Three
Questions
• What waivers of Title 20 and the related Rules and
Guidelines are you requesting and for what time
frame?
• What specific part of your school district’s Strategic
Plan will these waivers help you to implement?
• Which of your school system’s student achievement
performance goals will be accomplished if you are
granted these waivers?
84
Petition Process
IE2
System
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
>Approved by local
board
>Petition sent to
GaDOE
>Petition vetted by
GaDOE staff
>Petition sent to
GaDOE Cabinet
>Petition sent to
State Board of
Education (SBOE)
>Contract signed
by all parties
>Time from receipt
of petition to SBOE
approval and
contract = 8 to 24
months
>Approved by local
board
>Petition sent to
GaDOE
>Petition vetted by
GaDOE staff
>Petition sent to
GaDOE Cabinet
>Petition sent to
State Board of
Education (SBOE)
>Contract signed
by all parties
>Time from receipt
of petition to SBOE
approval and
contract = 3 to 6
months
>Approved by local
board
>Petition sent to
GaDOE
>Petition vetted by
GaDOE staff
>Petition sent to
GaDOE Cabinet
>Petition sent to
State Board of
Education (SBOE)
>Contract signed
by all parties
>Time from receipt
of petition to SBOE
approval and
contract = 3 to 6
months
Charter
System
Status
Quo
>Approved by local N/A
board
>Petition sent to
GaDOE
>Petition vetted by
GaDOE staff
>Petition sent to
GaDOE Cabinet
>Petition sent to
State Board of
Education (SBOE)
>Contract signed
by all parties
>Time from receipt
of petition to SBOE
approval and
contract = 3 to 6
months
85
Legal References
IE2
System
O.C.G.A.
§20-2-80
§20-2-81
§20-2-82
§20-2-83
§20-2-84.1
§20-2-84.2
§20-2-84.3
System of
Charter Schools
Strategic School
System
O.C.G.A.
§20-2-2063
§20-2-2063.1
§20-2-2063.2
§20-2-2064.1
§20-2-2065
§20-2-2066
§20-2-2067
§20-2-2067.1
§20-2-2068
§20-2-2068.1
§20-2-2068.2
§20-2-2069
§20-2-2070
§20-2-2071
O.C.G.A.
§20-2-2063.2
Charter
System
O.C.G.A.
§20-2-2063.2
Status
Quo
O.C.G.A.
§20-2-80
86
Charter School Authorizing
in Georgia
4/13/2015
87
AUTHORIZER RESPONSIBILITIES
State Board of Education,
State Charter Schools Commission,
and
Local Boards of Education
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
88
What is an Authorizer?
Authorizers create, maintain and
close charter schools.
An authorizer enters into two- or
three-party contracts with a nonprofit charter petitioning group.
4/13/2015
89
What Are An Authorizer’s
Responsibilities?
An authorizer is an entity that has the authority to create charter schools
Maintain high standards
for schools
• Set high standards for
approving charter schools
• Close or non-renew
schools that fail to meet
standards and targets set
forth in law and by
contract
• Cultivate quality charter
schools that meet
identified educational
needs
Uphold school autonomy
• Responsible for holding
schools accountable for
their overall performance
• Minimize administrative
and compliance burdens
on schools
• Focuses on holding
charter schools
accountable for outcomes
not processes
Protect student and public
interests
• Make the well-being and
interests of students the
fundamental value
informing authorizer
actions and decisions
• Ensure that schools fulfill
fundamental public
education obligations to
all students including
nonselective,
nondiscriminatory access
to services and the school
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
90
How Does The SBOE/GaDOE Fulfill Their
Obligations as an Authorizer?
Review and act on charter
school applications
(petitions)
Technical assistance to local
school systems that authorize
charter schools
Technical assistance to new
and renewal charter
applicants
Develop and implement a
strategic plan and policy for
the state’s charter schools
program
Management of federal and
state charter school grants
Annual report to the General
Assembly
4/13/2015
91
How Does The Commission Fulfill Its
Obligations as an Authorizer?
Review and act on charter
school applications
(petitions)
Technical assistance to
Commission-authorized state
charter schools
Technical assistance to new
and renewal charter
applicants
Develop and implement a
strategic plan and policy for
meeting the state’s need for
high quality charter schools
Ensure charter compliance
Annual report to the
State Board of Education
4/13/2015
92
Charter School Approval Process
LBOE
Start-up
petition
GaDOE
Y
Approval
Review and make
recommendation
to SBOE
SBOE
Y
Approval
N
N
SCSS
petition
Review and make
recommendation
to SBOE
End
Y
Approval
N
Review and make
recommendation
to SBOE
End
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
New statechartered
special school
Y
Approval
N
Conversion
petition
New locallyapproved startup charter
school
End
Y
Approval
N
New conversion
charter school
End
4/13/2015
93
Commission School Approval Process
Start-up
petition for
defined
attendance
zone
LBOE where school
will be located
Commission
SBOE
Y
Approval
(See previous
page)
N
Commission
petition for
defined
attendance
zone
Commission
petition for
statewide
attendance
zone
Y
Approval
N
N
Overrule
End
Y
New
Commission
school
End
Petition to district
in which school
will be located for
information only
(not required for
virtual schools)
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
94
Charter System Approval Process
LBOE
Charter
system
petition
Y
Approval
N
GaDOE
SBOE
Review and make
recommendation
to SBOE
Approval
Y
N
End
New charter
system
End
Charter Advisory
Committee
review and
recommendation
to SBOE
95
What is the SBOE/GaDOE Charter
Petition Review Process?
Deadlines
Aug 1 for start-ups
Nov 1 for conversions and renewals,
and charter systems
Petition reviewed
• Legal review to
ensure eligibility
• Substantive
review
GaDOE panel
interview with
applicant
GaDOE makes
approval/denial
recommendations
to SBOE
SBOE views
Item for
Information
Applicant
responds to
letter
SBOE
approves
Action Item
Letter to applicant
Execution
of the
Contract
• Core focus
• Compliance
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
96
CHARTER SCHOOL
PETITIONS
CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOLS
Conversion
Start-Up
Chesnut E S
Kingsley E S
Smoke Rise E S
Peachtree M S
Chamblee H S
DeKalb Academy of the Technology and the Environment
DeKalb Path Academy
DeKalb Preparatory Academy
Destiny Academy of Excellence
Gateway to College
International Community School
Leadership Preparatory Academy
The Museum School
2013 – 2014 Letters of Intent to Submit
2014-2015 Charter Petitions
13
• Start-up Letters of Intent
2014 Start-Up Charter School Petitions
Under Review
• Education Task Force Guru (Grades K – 8)
• Leadership Preparatory Academy of Technology
and Engineering (Grades 9 – 12)
• Tapestry Public Charter School (Grades 6 – 12)
2013 – 2014 Letter of Intent to Submit
the 2014-2015 Cluster Charter Petition
Conversion
High
School
Cluster
• Druid Hills HS
• Druid Hills MS
• Avondale ES
• Briar Vista ES
• Fernbank ES
• Laurel Ridge ES
• McLendon ES
2013 – 2014 Letters of Intent to Submit
2014-2015 Charter Renewal Petitions
Conversion
Charter
Renewals
•Chesnut Charter
Elementary School (Prek-5)
•Smoke Rise Charter
Elementary School (Prek-5)
•Chamblee Charter High
School(9-12)
2013 – 2014 Letters of Intent to Submit
2014-2015 Charter Renewal Petitions
Start-Up
Charter
Renewals
•International
Community
Charter School
(K – 5)
When are petitions due to the DeKalb County
School District Charter School Office?
Start-ups: May 16 – 17, 2013
Conversions: August 15 – 16, 2013
Renewals: August 15 – 16, 2013
High School Cluster: August 15 – 16, 2013
When are petitions due to the State Department
of Education Charter School Office?
Start-ups: August 1, 2013
State-chartered special schools: August 1, 2013
Conversions: November 1, 2013
Renewals: November 1, 2013
Charter Systems: November 1, 2013
Duration of Charter Term
The petition must be consistent with
state law and DCSD policy that the
both initial charters will be issued
a five-year period and that renewal
charters will be issued for 5-10 years,
based on whether or not performance
goals have been met as specified in
charter.
CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOLS ONLY
1.
All charter renewal petitions submitted by a charter petitioner to the
local Board must meet all state and DCSD petition requirements.
2.
A conversion charter petition shall include a statement detailing the
autonomy that the conversion school shall have from the local school
system.
3.
This statement shall include, among other things, a description of how
financial resources will be managed; how human resources will be
managed and personnel evaluated; the extent to which parents,
community members, and other stakeholders will participate in the
governance of the school; and any other innovative practices the school
intends to implement.
4.
The petition shall describe all policies, procedures and practices the
school intends to implement. The petition shall describe all policies,
procedures, and practices that will materially distinguish the conversion
school from the school’s pre-conversion model.
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOLS ONLY
5.
Include a statement that the petitioner has held the appropriate votes,
by secret ballot, required pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064 (a) (1) and
(2), and shall describe the procedures and outcomes of those votes.
6.
For the purposes of the vote required pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064
(a) (1), each faculty or instructional staff member shall have a
single vote.
7.
8.
For purposes of the vote required pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064 (a)
(2), a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) shall collectively have one vote
for each student enrolled in the school.
9.
A conversion charter school petition must be agreed to by a majority of
the faculty and instructional staff members and a majority of parent or
guardians of students enrolled in the petitioning local school before the
petition is presented to the local board for approval.
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
CHARTER SCHOOL PETITIONS TO
LOCAL BOARDS
 A local board now has 90 days from the date of submission to
consider an applicant’s petition before it is deemed denied under
the law – unless the applicant grants an extension beyond 90 days.
 If a local board denies a petition, the petitioner shall not be
precluded from submitting a revised petition to the local board that
addresses the deficiencies cited in the denial.
 If a local board approves a petition, the local board must within
thirty (30) days deliver the approved petition to the Georgia
Department of Education for review by the SBOE.
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What Steps does GaDOE Take to Ensure Only HighQuality Charter Schools are Recommended for
Approval?
Provide new school development trainings and petition writing workshops
Complete a comprehensive review of school’s submitted petition for legal compliance
Analyze academic performance for the duration of the charter school’s term (or projected
performance)
Interview the charter school’s governing team
Provide an opportunity for an applicant to submit supplemental information to provide
clarity
Make recommendations to the SBOE based on a charter school’s alignment to the High
Quality Charter School standards
4/13/2015
110
What Should New and Renewal Charter
School Applicants Do to Ensure They Are
High-Quality Applicants?
Attend in-person and webinar petitionwriting trainings
Work collaboratively with their local district
or the Commission
Participate in high-quality governing board
training
4/13/2015
111
What Steps Should Renewal Applicants
Take to Ensure They Are High-Quality
Charter Schools?
Complete an evaluation of the school’s current academic progress,
financial sustainability, governing board and legal compliance
Determine if there are any gaps between their status and the highquality charter school standard
Create and implement a strategic plan to close any gaps
Focus on continuous improvement
4/13/2015
112
When Does GaDOE Recommend An Existing Charter
School for Denial?
School has not fulfilled
terms of charter
contract
School has not made
sufficient academic
progress
School has not made
sound financial
decisions or has
accumulated a large
amount of debt
School’s governing
board has not received
adequate training
School has not made a
sincere effort to address
identified petition or
operating deficiencies
4/13/2015
113
When Should an Authorizer Close
a Charter School?
Academic
Performance
Financial
Management
Governance
Legal and Regulatory
Compliance Issues
• Failure to meet state standards
• Failure to meet charter goals and standards
• Failure to comply with financial reporting requirements and
deadlines
• History of delinquent payments (lease, loans, equipment, TRS,
SHBP)
• History of operating deficits, unsustainable debt, and financial
instability
• Governing board instability and poor recruitment
• Governing board makes poor decisions that have not been in the
best interest of the charter school’s students
• Governing board lacks the will or capacity to change and improve
• Failure to comply with material elements of a school’s charter,
state or federal laws
• Compliance issues that jeopardize student safety or access to
special education services
*These guidelines are based on NACSA’s Red Flags for identifying “bad” schools.
4/13/2015
114
Why Should Authorizers Close
Schools?
Safeguard Students and Parents
• Authorizers are responsible for ensuring that their schools provide a safe learning
environment that prepare students for college and careers
Protect the public interest from poor governance or financial
mismanagement
• Charter schools are PUBLIC entities that receive PUBLIC funds. They must be held to
high standards to good stewardship of public funds and trust
Maintain high standards and integrity
• Charter schools are part of a larger reform movement. Low-quality charter schools hurt
the larger reform movement and jeopardize future success for all charter schools and
students
4/13/2015
115
Accountability Project
Assess academic, financial, organizational, governance,
and compliance performance of all charter schools
Notification sent out if charter school is not meeting
the standard
Remediation period if issue is not jeopardizing
students
Close schools failing to remediate or who are
jeopardizing students
Use information gleaned from this project to
improve authorizing
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
116
Charter School Grant Opportunities
State
Facilities
• More applicants/less
funding
Planning
• Rural areas
• Districts without
charter schools
Federal
Planning - For recently
approved schools
Implementation –
For approved charters (including
those that are substantially
expanding)
Dissemination - To spread best
practices
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
4/13/2015
117
Where is Georgia chartering headed?
340 approved charter
schools by the start of 20132014
Increased communication
and collaboration with local
district authorizers
Expanded partnerships with
CAC, TCSG, AdvancED/SACS,
GCSA, GSSA, GSBA
Expanded
new charter training and
partnerships within GaDOE
and with school districts and
the Commission
New comprehensive Charter
Schools Rules, Guidelines,
and applications
New Commission schools
plus Commission
partnerships to create new
high quality charter schools
throughout Georgia
(Fall 2013)
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
118
What’s Best for Charter School
Students?
4/13/2015
119
For More Information
http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Charter-Schools/
Louis Erste
Director, Charter Schools Division
lerste@doe.k12.ga.us
404-651-8734
Howard Hendley, Ed.D.
Director, Policy Division
hhendley@doe.k12.ga.us
404-657-2965
Morgan Felts
Program Manager and
Senior Attorney
Charter Schools Division
mfelts@doe.k12.ga.us
404-656-0027
Allan Meyer
Assistant Director
Policy Division
ameyer@doe.k12.ga.us
404-657-1065
Garry McGiboney, Ph.D.
Associate Superintendent
gmcgiboney@doe.k12.ga.us
404-656-0619
120