Report 2016-141 Recommendation 33 Responses

Report 2016-141: Charter Schools: Some School Districts Improperly Authorized and Inadequately Monitored Out‑of‑District Charter Schools (Release Date: October 2017)

Recommendation #33 To: Antelope Valley Union High School District

To ensure that charter schools work toward the academic goals established in their charters, Antelope Valley Union should adopt an academic oversight policy that includes steps for working with charter schools with poor performance results.

1-Year Agency Response

The AVUHSD staff in collaboration with Educational Services and the Superintendent, adopted Board Policy 0420.41 (Charter Oversight) on February 7, 2018. BP 0420.41 states the following:

If, in three out of four consecutive school years, a charter school fails to improve outcomes for three or more student subgroups identified in Education Code 52052, or for all of the student subgroups if the school has fewer than three, 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 using an evaluation rubric adopted by the SBE pursuant to Education Code 52064.5

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

See Attachment- (BP 0420.41 Pg 3 Technical Assistance/Intervention).

Additionally, AVUHSD, now requires its Charter Schools to submit their LCAP Annual Update to Board for academic review in the Spring of each year. See attachment (Exhibit A- LCAP Desert Sands and Charter School Fiscal and Academic Oversight Procedures).

The results of the LCAP Annual Update will be incorporated into the Annual Oversight and consultation process to provide charter schools with timely feedback and written recommendations regarding academic performance as per AVUHSD Charter School Academic Oversight Procedures.

Current MOU language with AVUHSD approved charters include oversight sections that address academic monitoring and timely response to the Charter School's academic outcomes in relation to their LCAP AMO's. See attachment- (DSPCS MOU) Pg 4, section B Oversight, subsections 1,4,7.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Antelope Valley Union provided a copy of its oversight procedures that include steps for working with charter schools with poor academic performance.

6-Month Agency Response

Future MOU language with AVUHSD approved charters will correspond with Charter School Board policy and include language that includes steps for working with charter schools with poor academic performance results, throughout the year. Newly adopted Board policy (February 7, 2018) on Charter Oversight states the following:

If, in three out of the four consecutive school years, a charter school fails to improve outcomes for three or more student subgroups identified in Education Code 52052, or for all of the student subgroups if the school has fewer than three, 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 using an evaluation rubric adopted by the SBE pursuant to Education Code 52064.5

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

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Per Antelope Valley Union's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

60-Day Agency Response

The AVUHSD is currently reviewing its Charter Board Policy to include academic oversight written procedures that utilize quarterly district/charter school consultation practices to address academic goals, outcomes and performance indicators for charter schools. The performance tools (Dashboard) and academic review checklists(see attachment Annual Review Checklist)used in district/charter consultation visits will help to ensure that AVUHSD provides the necessary guidance to support charter schools in working toward their academic goals and will also help foster district collaboration processes with charters on creating next steps and recommendations when their performance results are less than anticipated. For any follow-up questions, contact Julianne Vela- Director of Categorical and Special Programs- jvela@avhsd.org -(661) 952-2249.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Per Antelope Valley Union's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

All Recommendations in 2016-141

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.