Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. BESE authorizes the operation of charter
schools to provide schools with increased educational and operational autonomy
in exchange for accountability for performance.
B. The performance of type 2, type 4, and
type 5 charter schools will be reviewed and/or evaluated annually in the
following categories:
1. academic
performance;
2. financial
performance; and
3. organizational
performance.
C. BESE
shall approve a charter school performance compact that will articulate the
specific criteria the Department of Education will use to annually evaluate the
academic, financial, and organizational performance of BESE-authorized charter
schools. As necessary, the Department of Education may revise the charter
school performance compact, subject to BESE approval of all material changes.
All criteria used in the charter school performance compact shall correspond to
one of the categories listed above.
D. In measuring the organizational and
financial performance of schools as part of the charter school performance
compact, charter schools will be given one of the following ratings:
1. meets all expectations;
2. meets most expectations;
3. does not meet expectations.
E. The charter school performance
compact may include other supporting evidence to be included in evaluating
school performance.
F. BESE shall
receive a report on the review of type 2, type 4, and type 5 charter schools
not later than January of each year.
1. Each
charter school will be subject to regular site visits, monitoring, and
contract, school policies, and data review on a schedule established by the
Department of Education.
2. For a
charter school with a renewal term of six or more years, the department will
conduct an in-depth review and evaluation of the charter school, equivalent to
a renewal review, at least once every five years to measure the charter schools
performance as measured by the charter school performance compact. The
department shall present such review and evaluation to BESE at a regular
meeting and provide an opportunity for BESE to take appropriate action or
impose meaningful consequences, if necessary, as provided for in this
bulletin.
G. Academic
Performance
1. Academic performance is the
primary measure of school quality. BESE shall use the state's assessment and
accountability programs as objective and verifiable measures of student
achievement and school performance. Student performance is the primary
indicator of school quality; therefore, BESE will heavily factor contract
extensions and renewal decisions on a school's achievement of the student
performance standards.
2. Charter
schools are required to administer all state assessments and are subject to the
Louisiana School and District Accountability System as required by Bulletin
111.
3. Pre-Assessment Index
a. In the fall of each charter school's
second year of operation, the Department of Education shall provide each
charter school with a pre-assessment index, as available.
b. The pre-assessment index will consist of
the test results of the students enrolled in the charter school from the
immediately preceding spring state testing prior to the creation of the new
charter school, where available.
4. The charter school performance compact
shall articulate the specific criteria the Department of Education will use to
evaluate academic performance.
H. Financial Performance
1. Charter schools are required to engage in
financial practices, financial reporting, and financial audits as set forth in
charter school law, this bulletin, and the charter. The requirements imposed by
law, regulation, and contract ensure the proper use of public funds and the
successful fiscal operation of the charter school.
2. Charter schools will be evaluated annually
on the timely submission of budgets, audits, annual financial reports, and all
other financial reporting and compliance with applicable financial budgeting;
accounting; and auditing laws, regulations, and procedures.
3. Financial performance shall be assessed
annually using the financial risk assessment framework approved and adopted by
BESE. The financial risk assessment shall:
a.
monitor external conditions encountered by charter operators that, if not
addressed, could render the school financially vulnerable; and
b. identify internal factors that could lead
to weaknesses or challenges in the financial operations of an
operator.
4. The
financial risk assessment shall be a factor in determining the financial
performance of a charter school.
5.
The financial risk assessment shall result in one of the following actions:
a. no action. The school's fiscal health is
determined to be satisfactory and does not require continued departmental
monitoring; or
b. monitoring. The
department will monitor specific aspects of the financial risk assessment, in
order to assure continued progress in areas that have been problematic in the
past; or
c. dialogue. The
department will conduct a detailed review of the school's finances and
financial practices; follow-up may include, but not be limited to, discussions
between department staff and school leadership regarding issues of major
concern, a formal site visit, or recommended action by BESE in order to address
deficiencies.
6. Charter
schools in their first year of operation shall be provided a financial
practices self-assessment in order to determine the extent to which the school
is positioned for strong financial performance.
7. The charter school performance compact
shall articulate any other specific criteria the Department of Education will
use to evaluate financial performance.
I. Organizational Performance
1. BESE shall evaluate a charter school's
organizational performance based on the Department of Education's oversight and
monitoring of the charter school's compliance with and performance of
statutory, regulatory, reporting, and contractual obligations, including
R.S.
17:3972, which provides that the best
interests of economically-disadvantaged pupils shall be the overriding
consideration in implementing the provisions of charter law.
2. BESE's organizational performance
evaluation of each charter school shall be based on, but not limited to data
and information in the following areas:
a.
special education and ELL program;
b. student enrollment;
c. student discipline;
d. health and safety
e. governance; and
f. facilities.
3. The charter school performance compact
shall articulate the specific criteria the Department of Education will use to
evaluate organizational performance.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:6(A)(10),
17:3981,
and
17:3991.
