Transcript Policy Changes and Trends (PPT by CDE)

Policy Changes & Trends
2014 Charter School Policy & Facility Summit
CDE Schools of Choice Office
Presenters:
Gina Schlieman, Charter School Program & Grant Manager, [email protected]
Kelly Rosensweet, Charter School Support Coordinator, [email protected]
August 21, 2014
CCSP: Weighted Lotteries
 Why weighted lotteries?
 Emphasize that charters can and want to serve all kids.
 Address underserved populations within the district/state
 Address underserved populations within your community
 Address underrepresented populations within your charter school
 Help Charter Schools improve reputation as being fully representative
of local communities.
 To Show we support this federal priority
CCSP: Weighted Lotteries
 Federal CSP program announced January 2014 in its revised
nonregulatory guidance that it would allow SEA CSP grant
recipients to apply for a statewide waiver to allow weighted
lotteries for “Educationally Disadvantaged” students.
 CDE’s Schools of Choice Office applied, and had its Weighted
Lottery approval policy approved May 2014.
 Two 2013/14 CCSP grant recipients applied and were granted
use of a weighted lottery.
 New 2014 applicants also have the opportunity to apply
Weighted Lotteries, pending their draft policy meets CDE policy
guidelines.
CCSP: Weighted Lotteries
 How to apply
 A general summary is provided in the 2014-15 CCSP Grant RFP on
pp.10-12, with a full detailed policy document available upon
request.
 What is meant by “Educationally Disadvantaged”
 Economically Disadvantaged/FRL eligible
 students with disabilities/IEP
 English Language Learners
 Migrant students
 Homeless Students (McKinney-Vento)
 Foster Care students
CCSP: Weighted Lotteries
 How to apply (cont.)
 Weights can be used to pursue a student body with more similar
characteristics to the local district/region.
 Proposed weight must include a rationale/justification for the
amount of weight given.
 Proposed policies must be pre-approved by the CDE Schools of
Choice Office.
 Schools can apply for approval through the initial CCSP Grant
application, or can submit a proposal for approval at any point during
their 3-year CCSP grant.
State Waivers
 Lists of Automatic & Non-Automatic waivers to state
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statutes are changing per recent legislation.
Until State Board of Education takes a decision, the existing
waiver request process will remain in place.
New Automatic Waiver list, once approved, will have these
waivers automatic and implicit with the signature of any
charter contract. No replacement plan will be needed.
Non-automatic waivers will still require a replacement plan
and need to be approved by the State Board of Education.
Complete our Automatic Waiver List Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MVGSZM8
State Waivers
Common Questions:
 My school is about to receive a new or renewal charter contract;
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how will I know which set of automatic waivers (old or new)
apply to me? – Check the CDE charter waiver website
(http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/waivers) on the date your
contract is signed and follow the instructions listed.
Can I Waive the READ Act? – No. Charters that have language
delegating local assessment selection to their charter board may
select from the list of assessments approved by the State Board
of Education. Otherwise they have to use their authorizer’s
chosen READ Act assessment.
May Charter Schools waive Educator Effectiveness evaluation
requirements?
Future of Colorado CSP
 Colorado’s current federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) SEA
grant (2010-2015) ends at the end of 2014/15.
 CDE must reapply Winter 2015 for another CSP State Block
Grant.
 The 2015 Competition will be tough. No competition has been
held since 2011, so 35-40 states have now stacked up to
compete for these funds.
 Unannounced Federal Priorities make it difficult for us to know
what chance we have of securing a SEA grant in 2015.
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Future of Colorado CSP
 We are gathering intelligence on potential federal priorities to
begin some pre-work toward how we would demonstrate
those in a future CSP grant.
 If CDE is successful in securing a 2015 grant…
 We may not know until June 2015
 It is almost certain the priorities and program of Colorado’s Charter
Schools Program will change to align to emerging federal/state
priorities
 The Fall start-up application cycle for new, replicating, and
expanding school projects should maintain similar timing.
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Future of Colorado CSP
 What if CDE is not funded in 2015
 We expect to obligate all remaining funds from our 2010-2015
grant during 2014-15, and so likely would not have a Colorado CSP
competition in 2015/16. Instead, we would seek to provide
whatever supports we can for charter schools to apply directly to
the federal CSP program in July 2015 and July 2016.
 CDE’s School of Choice office has reserved/obligated funds to finish
out the 3-year grant for existing and 2014/15 grantees. So Current
Grantees would be unaffected and our current office supports and
TA program would be maintained through 2015/16
 We would seek to address the shortcomings highlighted in our
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2015 application, and plan to reapply in 2016.
 Accountability in use of federal CSP
Existing &
Emerging
Federal
Charter
School
Priorities
funds by SEA’s
 Strengthening public accountability and
standards for authorizing
 Support to serve and improve
educational outcomes for
“educationally disadvantaged” students
 English Language Learners (identify within
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30 days of new school year or two weeks
for late entrants)
Use of weighted lotteries
Consider discipline/school culture study
implications
Serving and retaining disadvantaged
students
 Dissemination
New Federal OMNI Circular
 2 CFR Chapter I, Chapter II, Part 200, et al. Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and
Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
 Referred to as OMNI Circular or Super Circular
 All of the administrative rules and cost principles will
be found in one document for all federal programs
 Goes into effect for all awards made after December
26, 2014
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New Federal OMNI Circular
 Note for nonfederal entities who have multi-year
awards
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July 1, 2014, Year 2 or Year 3 of a 3-year grant is awarded. These
funds must follow old guidance through June 30, 2015.
November 25, 2014, Year 1 of a 3-year grant is awarded. These
funds must follow old guidance through June 30, 2015.
December 30, 2014, Year 1 of a 3-year grant is awarded. These
funds must follow new guidance through June 30, 2015.
July 1, 2015, Year 3 of a 3-year grant is awarded. These funds
must follow new guidance through June 30, 2016.
2014 Legislative Updates
 CPR & AED Training Grant
 Fund training for high school students and staff
 Due October 3, 2014
 http://www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/schoolcprandaedtr
aininggrantprogram
 Free & Reduced School Lunch Programs
 $0.40 reduced-price meal co-pay eliminated for all students Pre-K
to 5th grade.
 Contact: Jan Bodnar, 303-866-6306
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2014 Legislative Updates
 Gifted Education requirements
 Clarifications made around what schools must do and grant funds
available.
 New rules to be updated and expanded by State Board of Education
in Spring 2015
 Contact: Jacqueline Medina, 303-866-6652
 Online Education participation documentation
 Emergency Rules have been approved and posted
 Still accepting public comment until Nov. 10, email to
[email protected].
 See website http://www.cde.state.co.us/onlinelearning
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2014 Legislative Updates
 Academic Growth Awards
 To recognize public high schools that achieve high levels of
academic growth with award/trophy.
 Awards by school size/CHSAA classification
 Selected schools notified November 2014, with awards recognized
December 2014
 Contact: Lynn Bamberry, 303-866-6813
 Turnaround Leaders Development Program
 RFP being developed for $2 million program
 More Info: contact Peter Sherman, 303-866-6758, or visit:
http://www.cde.state.co.us/accountability/turnaroundleadership
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2014 Legislative Updates
 School Closure Plans
 HB14-1381 requires schools being closed for low academic
performance to create a school closure plan that must address
communications, timeline, and plans for re-assigning students to
other schools.
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Q&A
Closing