Report 2016-141 Recommendation 32 Responses

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

Recommendation #32 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 a policy requiring it to provide its charter schools with timely feedback and recommendations regarding academic performance.

1-Year Agency Response

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

The Board shall monitor each charter school to determine whether it is achieving, both schoolwide and for all groups of students served by the school, the measurable student outcomes set forth in the charter. This determination shall be based on the measures specified in the approved charter and on the charter school's annual review and assessment of its progress toward the goals and actions identified in its local control and accountability plan (LCAP). See Attachment- (BP 0420.41 Pg 2 highlighted text and Exhibit A- LCAP DSPCS- Annual Update).

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 (Charter School Fiscal and Academic Oversight Procedures).

The results of the LCAP Annual Update will be incorporated into the Annual Oversight 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 require it to provide its charter schools with timely feedback and recommendations regarding academic performance.

6-Month Agency Response

District staff, in collaboration with Educational Services and the Superintendent, has developed the "Annual Oversight Checklist," aligned with FCMAT that is now being incorporated into the annual oversight visits and covers all areas of the charters including academics as it relates to the Charter's LCAP and petition goals, and the California School Dashboard. This tool includes narrative boxes for timely feedback and recommendations, which will be used periodically throughout the next school year during consultation visits and also this year, April 18, 2018 for the DSCHS annual oversight visit. The same document and feedback process will be used for the Academies of the Antelope Valley.Newly adopted Board policy (February 7, 2018) on Charter Oversight states the following:

The Board shall monitor each charter school to determine whether it is achieving, both schoolwide and for all groups of students served by the school, the measurable student outcomes set forth in the charter. This determination shall be based on the measures specified in the approve charter and on the charter school's annual review and assessment of its progress toward the goals and actions identified in its local control and accountability plan (LCAP).

Future MOU language with AVUHSD approved charters will include sections that address timely feedback and recommendations regarding academic performance. 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 6-Month Status: Pending

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

60-Day Agency Response

The AVUHSD will develop written procedures expressed in Board Policy-Admin Rules and Regulations that include a timeline for the internal use of supplementary tools and processes such as the "Annual Oversight Checklist," and district /charter consultation visits. These tools and processes will help guide the academic progress reviews addressing the goals and outcomes of all student groups. The "annual oversight checklist," can also be used throughout the year along with the LCAP update and revision process during regularly scheduled consultation visits to guide the development of district/charter collaboration that offers timely feedback and recommendations to charters regarding academic goals and performance, in order to ensure that charter schools work toward the academic goals established in their charters.

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.