WASHINGTON STATE CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION�CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD AND AUTHORIZER �ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Jessica de Barros, Executive Director�

2023-24 School Year�

AGENDA

1. WHAT IS A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL?

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• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?

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• WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR AUTHORIZER?

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• HOW DO WE ENSURE A SCHOOL IS HIGH-PERFORMING?

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• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?

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AGENDA

1. WHAT IS A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL?

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• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?

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• WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR AUTHORIZER?

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• HOW DO WE ENSURE A SCHOOL IS HIGH-PERFORMING?

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• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?

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The Charter Bargain

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School

Autonomy

School

Accountability

Improved Student Outcomes

�How are Charter Public Schools Different from Traditional Public Schools?

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• Charter Public Schools provide education choices for families seeking resources that best empower their children to learn and thrive.

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• Charter Public Schools are public schools. Like all public schools, they are open to all students, tuition-free, publicly-funded, staffed by certified teachers and held accountable to state and national standards.

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• Charter Public Schools have additional requirements beyond those of traditional public schools in that they are held accountable for showing improved student achievement according to the terms of a contract.

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�How are Charter Public Schools Different from Traditional Public Schools?

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How Were Schools Authorized?

APPLICATION STAGES

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Application Release

Notice of Intent (NOI)

Application Submission

Evaluation Team Review

Capacity Interview

Public Forum

Evaluator Recommendation

Final Recommendation Report

Commission Resolution Meeting

Performance Management Cycle

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Application

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Pre-Opening Conditions

Charter Public Schools System of Oversight

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• The authorizing entity that ensures charter public schools are complying with the charter contract and applicable rules and laws.
• Evaluates and reports on charter public school performance.

• Non-profit entity that is party to the charter contract.
• Responsible for the governance of the school.
• First level of charter school oversight.

• Independent state agency charged with ensuring that public entities are in compliance with applicable rules and laws.
• Ensures public funds are being spent appropriately.

• Oversees all public K-12 schools in Washington State.
• Fiscal agent of charter public schools.
• Ensures that schools are providing a program of basic education.

Charter Public Schools System of Oversight

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AGENDA

1. WHAT IS A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL?

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• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?

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• WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR AUTHORIZER?

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• HOW DO WE ENSURE A SCHOOL IS HIGH-PERFORMING?

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• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?

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Monitoring & Oversight

• Policies and Procedures
• Monthly OPMA-Compliant Board Meetings
• Approval of Expenditures
• School Leader Evaluation and Supervision
• Arbitrator of Complaints
• Approve Curriculum
• Approves and Monitors School’s Budget
• Monitors Contracts

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Charter Public Schools System of Oversight:

Charter Public School Board

Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Know and Support Your School’s Mission & Contract

• Your school’s mission is the heart of the charter contract.

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• The charter contract is a legal agreement between the board and its authorizer. It includes:
• Your mission
• The educational program terms that you proposed in your application,
• Requirements of public schools in Washington, and
• Requirements of Commission-authorized schools

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Performance Management Cycle

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What is a Charter Contract?

• A contract is a voluntary agreement between the School’s Board and the Charter Commissioners that is enforceable by law as a binding legal agreement.

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• A contract is essentially a set of promises with each party of the contract promising to do something for the other in exchange for a benefit.

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• The Board is a party to the contract.

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• All contracts are posted on the Commission's website.

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Develop, Adopt & Maintain Policy

• Policies need to be developed and adopted for important areas like board governance, staff employment, student discipline, educational programming, financial operations and support services.

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• It is important that you communicate with school leadership as they implement these policies to determine which policies are being successfully implemented and which may need to be adjusted.

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• Make sure your board knows what policies are required by the charter contract and whether or not the school needs to notify the Commission if certain policies change.

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Create Conditions for Staff Success

• Your board of directors is responsible for evaluating the school leader’s performance.

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• School leadership should know how they’re doing, what’s working, and what they need to adjust.

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Manage Fiscal Resources Effectively

• Charter school boards are responsible for the financial management of their school.

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• An important financial responsibility of the board is reviewing and approving the school’s annual budget.

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• On an annual basis, charter school boards are required to contract with an independent third-party financial auditor to conduct a financial audit.

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Monitor School Progress

• Monitor the school’s academic progress every month using a dashboard of academic and other data.

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• Create structures to provide financial oversight, approve financials monthly

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• Ensure adherence to the Commission’s Compliance Calendar and other contractual obligations.

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• Ensure the school promptly responds to inquiries & requirements from the Commission, which are designed to support the school.

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Communicate Effectively

• One of the important responsibilities of your board is to clearly communicate your vision, goals and direction to students, staff, parents and the community

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• Communication may take many forms including board meeting announcements, social media postings and annual reports.

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• You should be accessible to the school community. Invite public comment at your board meetings, and make sure your email addresses are prominently posted on the school’s website.

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Communicate Effectively

• There are certain situations in which your board must notify the Commission.
• Listed in Contract Section 5.21, Notification to Commission.

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• Examples include:
• Known variance from contract
• Non-compliance
• Closure of the school
• Criminal allegations or arrest
• Misappropriation of school funds
• Known default on an obligation
• Change in corporate status as a 501(c)(3) corporation

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• When in doubt, reach out!

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New Board Requirements: HB 1744

• Each charter school board shall ensure that its members and administrative staff receive annual training to support the effective operation and oversight of the charter school, in 3 areas:

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• Compliance with requirements governing the employment of properly credentialed instructional staff;

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• Compliance with the requirements of chapters 42.30 (OPMA) and 42.56 (PRA) of the Revised Code of Washington; and,

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• The permitted use of public funds

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New Board Requirements: HB 1744

• Charter schools must report the employment of all noncertificated instructional staff hired during the current and preceding school year.

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• Each charter school shall prominently post and maintain on its website information about the school's process and instructions for submitting complaints about the operation and administration of the charter school by its enrolled students and their parents.

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• This information must include a designated point of contact at the charter school and a link to the complaint system of the Commission.

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Complaints

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Responsibilities of the Charter School Board: �Continuous Development

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• Establish structures for regular board member training.
• Recruit and develop a “bench” of Board members
• Plan for succession
• Train new Board members

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• Additional board best practices can be found here

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AGENDA

1. WHAT IS A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL?

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• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?

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• WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR AUTHORIZER?

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• HOW DO WE ENSURE A SCHOOL IS HIGH-PERFORMING?

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• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?

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11 Commissioners appointed to staggered, four-year terms, for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

• 3 appointed by the Governor
• 3 appointed by the Senate
• 3 appointed by the House of Representatives
• 1 Superintendent of Public Instruction designee
• 1 State Board of Education designee

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Q: Who is a candidate to be a Commissioner?

Members appointed to the commission shall collectively possess strong experience and expertise in public and nonprofit governance; management and finance; public school leadership, assessment, curriculum, and instruction; and public education law. All appointed members shall have demonstrated an understanding of and commitment to charter schooling as a strategy for strengthening public education.

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Structure of the Commission

Performance Management Cycle

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Application

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Pre-Opening Conditions

Monitoring & Oversight

• Charter Contract
• Pre-Opening Conditions
• The Academic Performance Framework
• The Organizational Performance Framework
• Financial Performance Framework
• Site Visits
• Quality School Reviews
• Board Observations
• Annual Compliance Calendar

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Charter Public Schools System of Oversight:

Charter School Commission

AGENDA

1. WHAT IS A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL?

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• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?

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• WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR AUTHORIZER?

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• HOW DO WE ENSURE A SCHOOL IS HIGH-PERFORMING?

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• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?

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The Performance Framework

• The Performance Framework supports charter public schools in upholding a well-organized, student-centered, academically rigorous, fiscally sound school.

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• The Performance Framework is the most important tool that the Commission and schools use to provide guidelines for planning, implementation, evaluation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

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• The Commission publishes reports on each school’s performance annually. These are shared with the Commission, State Board of Education, and Legislature and posted on the Commission’s website.

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• The Board should review and discuss the school’s Performance Reports when they are released annually.

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Responsibilities of the Authorizer: �Academic Performance Framework

• The APF allows the Commission to evaluate your school’s academic performance and answer the question “Is your school’s academic program a success?” Standards include:

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• State and Federal Accountability (Washington School Improvement Framework)
• Geographic Comparisons (Assigned School Comparisons)
• School Specific Goals

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• Academic Performance Framework

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Responsibilities of the Authorizer: �Financial Performance Framework

• The FPF provides the Commission with data to assess the financial health and viability of your school. The FPF summarizes your school’s current financial health while taking into account your school’s financial trends over a period of three years.

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• The FPF measures are designed to be complementary.

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• Financial Performance Framework

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Responsibilities of the Authorizer: �Organizational Performance Framework

• The OPF monitors your school on compliance-related standards that you must meet. Indicators & measures include:
• The Educational Program
• Financial Management and Oversight
• Governance and Reporting
• Students, Parents and Employees
• School Environment
• School Specific Goals (Non-Academic)

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• Organizational Performance Framework

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Performance Management Cycle

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Application

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Pre-Opening Conditions

Performance Challenges

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Letter of Inquiry is sent to school.

Commission may request access to facilities, data, information and staff within a specified timeframe, generally 10-days.

Inquiry results in confirmation of charter school performance and compliance is unsatisfactory

Inquiry results in confirmation of charter school performance and compliance is satisfactory

Charter School Continues Operations

Commission issues Notice of Perceived Problem

School’s Response Adequately Addresses Concerns

School’s Response Adequately Addresses Concerns

School’s Response Adequately Addresses Concerns

Commission Monitors School’s Corrective Action

Commission issues Corrective Action

Non-Renewal or Revocation

The Commission has the authority to revoke or refuse to renew your contract. Grounds for revocation of a charter school contract include:

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• Not complying with the terms and conditions of Washington’s charter school law or other state and federal laws
• Not complying with the terms of the charter contract
• Failure to make sufficient progress towards the performance goals stated in the contract
• Falling in the bottom quartile of Washington schools (unless the school demonstrates it has encountered exceptional circumstances)
• Poor fiscal management of the school.

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AGENDA

1. WHAT IS A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL?

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• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?

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• WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR AUTHORIZER?

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• HOW DO WE ENSURE A SCHOOL IS HIGH-PERFORMING?

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• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?

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Performance Management Cycle

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Renewal Overview

• At the end of your charter school’s contract term, your board may seek to renew the contract for an additional term. 

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• In the year before the contract expires, the Commission is responsible for providing the board with contract renewal information and resources. 

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• After receiving the performance report, you have thirty days to respond to the Commission’s findings and address any areas that need improvement. 

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• The Commission is required to issue a public report which details its renewal decision, including the length of the new contract if your contract is being renewed.

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Renewal In More Detail

Overview of Renewal Process

• Performance Report & Determination of Eligibility for Renewal
• Public Comment (3-4 months)
• Notice of Intent to Apply for Renewal or Cease Operations
• Renewal Inspection
• Authorizer Renewal Recommendation Report
• Authorizer Resolution to Renew (if approved)
• Renewal Contract Ratification

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Additional Resources

Contract & Performance Monitoring Resources

• Charter Contracts
• Performance Framework Reports 
• Commission Compliance Calendar
• State Auditor’s Office Accountability Audit Reports

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Board Governance Resources

• Board on Track, Board’s Role in Academic Oversight & Charter School CEO Evaluation
• National Charter Schools Institute, Washington Charter School Board Member Guide
• Washington State School Directors’ Association, Washington School Boards Standards
• WA Charters, Board Training and Resources

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Contact Information

MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 40996

Olympia, WA 98504-0996

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PHYSICAL ADDRESS

1068 Washington Street SE

Olympia, WA 98501

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PHONE

(360) 725-5511

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EMAIL

charterschoolinfo@k12.wa.us

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WEBSITE

https://charterschool.wa.gov

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Commissioner Bio Page

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