Transcript IE2, Charter, and Status Quo School Systems Flexibility

2
IE ,
CHARTER, AND
STATUS QUO
SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Flexibility Options Comparison
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
Ken Thompson
Chief Financial Officer
Legislative Requirement
By June 30, 2015, each district is required to select one of
the following options as its operational system:
 Status Quo
 IE2 (Investing in Educational Excellence)
 Charter System
The intent is to allow flexibility from state regulations in
exchange for greater accountability for improving
student achievement as outlined in a performance
contract with the State Board of Education.
Review of Options
 Performance (Accountability)
 Waivers (Flexibility)
 Fiscal Impact
 School Governance
 Consequences
Status Quo
 Waivers – No waivers from state
requirements.
 Fiscal Impact - Because current waiver
allowing classes to exceed state
maximum sizes expires June 30, 2015,
CCPS would have to add over 500
teachers at a cost of $38 million and
acquire additional spaces for
classrooms.
IE2 System
 Performance – Student performance must meet
CCRPI and “second look” contract goals.
Accountability is measured at the school level.
 Waivers – School system must specify which
waivers from state requirements it is seeking in
order to implement innovations.
 Fiscal Impact – Possible savings through waivers
and less restrictions on how state funds are spent
(waiver of expenditure controls).
IE2 System
 School Governance – No change required.
School councils could continue to operate as
they do currently.
 Consequences – Loss of governance of nonperforming schools
Conversion to Charter School
Operation by another school system
Operation by a private or non-profit entity
Operation under a Remedial Action Plan
Charter System
 Performance – Student performance must
meet contract goals and exceed state
averages and previous system performance.
Accountability is measured at the district
level.
 Waivers – School system is automatically
waived from almost all current and future
state requirements. The contract must
provide examples of how flexibility will be
utilized to improve student achievement.
Charter System
 Fiscal Impact – Possible savings through
waivers and less restrictions on how state
funds are spent (waiver of expenditure
controls). Possible $80-90 per pupil in
supplemental funding through QBE, if
appropriated. Supplemental funding
must be spent on training of School
Governance Teams (SGT) or spent on
innovations as determined by the SGT.
Charter System
 Governance – School system must implement
school level governance and grant authority to
make decisions regarding personnel, finances
and resources, curriculum and instruction,
school improvement goals, and school
operations. School Governance Teams must
include parents, members of the community
including business and industry, and teachers.
The majority cannot be school system
employees. They must receive annual training
comparable to that of the School Board.
Charter System
 Consequences – Charter system status
revoked and school system reverts to
status quo. Possible fiscal impact due to
loss of flexibility.
Waiver Limitations
 Regardless of the model adopted,
federal guidelines and state rules
concerning health and safety cannot be
waived.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DISTRICT FLEXIBILITY MODEL OPTIONS
Q. What is the difference between a charter school and schools in a
charter system?
A. Locally approved charter schools and state charter schools have
independent contracts with the State Board of Education. Charter
systems are school districts that have a contract with the State Board of
Education. Schools within a charter system do not become charter
schools. Charter schools operating in the county can remain as charter
schools.
Q. If the decision was made to become “status quo”, why would that
not result in smaller class sizes?
A. To meet the maximum class sizes required by the state would cost the
district about $38 million per year to acquire over 500 teachers and
mandate additional class space. The district would not be able to
afford or sustain this cost.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. When does the district begin to operate under the selected flexibility
model?
A. Status quo would become effective July 1, 2015. For either the IE2 or
Charter System options, they would most likely become effective with
the 2016-17 school year. The 2015-16 school year would be the base
year under either model for measuring progress.
Q. What is Title 20?
A. Title 20 refers to that part of Georgia law that pertains to education.
Timeline
• Establishment of Flexibility Decision Steering
Committee to include representation from
each of the following groups: Teachers,
Principals, District Staff, Parents, Community
Members.
• Community Informational Meetings to explain
flexibility options to the public.
 Projected Completion: February 2015
• Superintendent’s flexibility option
recommendation submitted to the Board.
 Projected Completion: March 2015
Timeline
• Board approval of flexibility option.
 Projected Completion: April 2015
• Submission of Letter of Intent.
 Projected Completion: April 2015
• Public Hearing(s) on draft contract.
 Projected Completion: September 2015
• Application for contract for selected option
submitted to GaDOE.
 Projected Completion: October 2015