Charter School Law and Policies

March 2015

Things that Will “Take a Bite” out of your Program

• Exceptional Children programmatic issues – from THE FIRST DAY

• Failure to have appropriate policies OR failing to follow them

• Ignoring issues because they “will just go away”

• Test security or implementation

• Enrollment/lottery

Highlights of Accountability: Charter School Law

115C-218

State Board policies TCS-U series▪ 003 – 30 day admission

cycle▪ 004 – liability insurance▪ 006 – $$ impact of not

starting year meeting certification requirements

▪ 014 – amendment process

Charter Agreement Must have conflict of

interest and nepotism policies**

Cannot hire teacher with revoked license

Notification of default Fees that LEA charges SBE may do

announced or unannounced visits

New State Board Policies TCS-U-017 (Bid

Process) On a case-by-case

basis Statute says who can

assume a charter:▪ Comparable to LEA in

academics▪ Clean financials▪ Compliant with law,

policies, and bylaws

1. Revision of Renewal policy

2. Recodification3. Governance

policy???

Performance Framework

SBE Strategic Plan directs OCS to create

2014-15 is the baseline year for data

Held regional meetings and presented to CSAB

Will present 3 year trend

1.Academic

2.Operational

3.Finance

Senate 793

• Teacher, employed by the charter school, may be a board member but that person must be NONVOTING• Balance this with the Charter Agreement….

• No employee of charter school is immediate family of board member

• No employee shall be a voting member of the board• No board member is employee of for-profit company serving the

school• Renewal is 10 years unless one of the following:

• Not financially sound audits for 3 years• Not comparable with LEA academics last three years• Current compliance issues

What does the future hold???

Senate 793

• Expand one grade lower without SBE approval if….***• Academics are comparable to LEA in

previous year• Financial audits are sound previous year• School in compliance• Operation for less than 3 years

• Board member preference is no longer reserved for the first year only• Cannot exceed 15% (for board and staff

children) of total

Senate 793

• If single gender mission, the charter may limit admission on gender

• Statutory – Public Records Act and NC Open Meetings Law• CFO memo and yearly submission• Follow Retention and Disposition Schedule for LEAs

put forward by Department of Cultural Resources• Funding of charters

• LEAs must provide additional info in local current expense fund

• One year to pay settlement• Permanent plates if you run buses to pick up children

Senate 744 BUDGET bill

• Annual distribution of school/cyber bullying policies• Charters are encouraged to have…if you do, then

shall provide policy to staff, students, and parents in student/employee handbooks

• You must be thinking about this RIGHT NOW!!

• Property insurance system by SBE – stay tuned….

Senate 744 BUDGET bill

• AP/IB pay testing fees for students (if funds are available)

• Epi-pens and auto-injectors….effective 11/1/2014

• Funds for charter school closure -- $50,000• Groups that submit initial charters or

their renewal AFTER bill is law

Senate 370Student Right to Engage in Religious Activity

CONSULT WITH YOUR ATTORNEY FOR ADDITIONAL INTERPRETATION

• Students may voluntarily pray, express religious viewpoints at school (and in assignments), organize prayer groups, and possess or distribute literature

• Personnel cannot be prohibited from adopting a “religious posture” during the student-initiated activity

• Student prohibited from the above IF the school needs to do so for purposes of maintaining order, discipline, or the rights of other students

Common Core

• DO NOT FORGET: charter schools have curriculum flexibility

• A curriculum review board is formed to look at the standards• May keep some components of the common core

• Common Core and Essential Standards remain in place for now

• State Board of Education must approve any new curriculum