Oregon Public Charter Schools Oregon Department of Education August 2007

Presentation will include: Brief overview of Oregon Charter Schools State Board Sponsored Charter Schools When online instruction and charter schools collide Definition of issues and policy discussion

Charter Schools - National Overview 41 States with charter school laws State charter school laws vary widely Federal support Large Federal Charter School Grant Program Increasing degree of accountability and regulatory oversight

Statewide Charter School Context 80 schools in operation Approximately 10,000 students Variety of special focus and grade configurations Two SBE sponsored charter schools

Charter Schools – Intent of Law To take “responsible risks to create new, innovative and flexible ways of educating children within the public school system.” “To serve as models and catalysts for the improvement of other public schools.”

Charter Schools – Intent of Law Increase student learning and achievement; Increase choices of learning opportunities for students; Better meet individual student academic needs and interests; Build stronger working relationships among educators, parents and other community members; Encourage the use of different and innovative learning methods; Provide opportunities in small learning environments for flexibility and innovation, which may be applied, if proven effective, to other public schools; Create new professional opportunities for teachers; Establish additional forms of accountability for schools; and Create innovative measurement tools.

Public charter schools/traditional public schools Similar Open to all students Non-selective Certain laws must be followed (Civil rights, IDEA, due process, open meetings, etc.) Per pupil funding formula Different Created by application/proposal Schools of choice (staff and students) Operates pursuant to performance agreement (charter) Evaluated on outcomes written in charter

Accountability External AYP School Report Card Annual Reports and Audits Charter School Evaluation Annual Grant Performance Report Internal Schools of choice-Must deliver product and be true to mission statement Charter School Board of Directors and broader community

Charter Schools ODE Perspective Charter School Law is working Districts, working with community members, are using charter schools as one strategy for providing school choice Tension between highly flexible and autonomous charter school law and more rigid NCLB Value of rigorous evaluation process

Issues and Challenges Roles and responsibilities of sponsors (within the context of diminishing resources) Definition of “value” in relationship to “adverse impact” Readiness of charter school operators Facilities and Funding State Board Sponsorship

SBE Sponsorship Necessary to qualify for Public Charter School Grant Allows for quality educational opportunities to exist Perceived challenge to local district’s decision to deny The optimal relationship is for a charter school to be sponsored by district in which they are located SBE/ODE is not set up to perform role of charter school sponsor State School Funding Accountability Staffing

State Board Sponsorship Appeal Process Procedural or Substantive review? Set criteria, based on ORS and 055 Substantive review of application Same application as reviewed by local district Recommendation to Superintendent to sponsor or deny Recommendation by Superintendent to SBE-First Read Action Taken at next SBE meeting Policy/procedural question Continue with substantive review? At what point, if any, should the applicants and the local school district address the SBE?

Online Instruction Different types (district/ESD/Oregon Virtual School District) Based on fee per course All teachers licensed and highly qualified Resident district must approve Online Charter Schools Must provide comprehensive educational program Based on % of ADMw All teachers licensed or registered and highly qualified If there is space available, any student in the state may attend Fifty percent in-district requirement Virtual Instruction in Oregon

Virtual Charter Schools The National Context Policies from other states Lessons learned in this fast- changing frontier

Virtual Charter Schools in Oregon- The Current Status Oregon Connections Academy (Scio School District) serves approximately 1500 students residing through out the state. ORCA is operating outside of the requirement that at least 50% of charter school enrollment reside in the sponsoring district (until 2010). Several other virtual education providers are interested in contracting with public charter schools in Oregon. State Board may waive this requirement.

Broad Policy Considerations for Oregon What role does the State Board play in the approval and oversight of virtual charter school? Case-by-case waivers Statewide charter=state approval and sponsorship

Board Policy Considerations Should online schools be funded at the same level as bricks-and-mortar school? To what degree should there be financial ‘transparency’ and accountability between the charter school and the for-profit that is providing the educational services?

Board Policy Considerations Should sending districts have any control over whether its students can leave the district to attend a virtual charter school ? Is there adequate transparency if an online charter school board contracts with a private entity, one that is not subject to public record laws?