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Charter School Board Governance Training. January 23.2015 ACESFlorida Department of Education Charter School Board Governance Training Facilitated by CMA Enterprise Incorporated For Charter Schools USA The Program framework herein has been approved by the Florida Department of Education –Schools of Choice Division CMA Enterprise Incorporated ©2014 All rights reserved SESSION OVERVIEW •Introductions, Housekeeping and Session Overview •Why Training is Required •ACES Overview •ACES SIP •Charter Schools USA Overview •Organization Structure –Case Study •Governance in the Sunshine •Governing board meetings •Conflict of Interest •Lottery –Case Study •Code of Ethics •Fiscal Responsibility GOVERNANCE TRAINING Section 1002.33(9)(j)4., F.S., requires the governing board of a charter school to participate in governance training approved by the Department of Education which must include government in the sunshine, conflicts of interest, ethics, and financial responsibility. SESSION OBJECTIVES •Understand governance in the Sunshine as it relates to Charter School Governance. •Clarify ethical requirements for charter school oversight. •Understanding the role of the Governing Board. •Effectively managing conflicts of interest. •Understanding the School’s budget and fiscal polices. AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL OVERVIEW Aventura City of Excellence Charter School opened in August 2003 and houses 1008 students in grades K-8. It is operated by the city in conjunction with Charter Schools USA and headed by Julie Alm, principal. The Charter School is located on NE 188th Street and is adjacent to the City of Aventura's Community Recreation Center. Aventura residents have preference in registering their child for the school. Strict proof of residency is required at the time of formal registration. CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT HISTORY •Original contract with MDCSB April 2001,K-5 600 students •1st Amendment, July 2004, increase to K-8 900 students •2nd Amendment, June 2008,increase capacity to 972 & added 10 new classrooms •3rd Amendment, July 2012, increase capacity up to 1032 students over a five year period CONSTRUCTION COST •K-5 $5,525,000 •Middle School 4,100,000 •Ten Additional Classrooms 2,100,000 $11,725,000 SCHOOL’S VISION Shared Vision: To join with the community to become the premier charter school in the nation where academic excellence coexists with the promotion of social responsibility grounded in an atmosphere of human dignity. OVERVIEW •“A” rated school for the past 11 years •In 2014 ACES had the 2nd highest student achievement of all K –8 schools in the state •Highly qualified teachers •Award winning character education program •High level of parental support •Low class sizes •Excellent facility and resources •Innovative and rigorous programs •Extracurricular activities •“Whole Child Approach” to education •Safe school campus •Technology integration in every classroom •Specialty classes •Exceptional Student Education (ESE), English Language Learners (ELL), Gifted Students Programs •After School Care •Transportation •Community Recreation Center •Aventura Arts and Cultural Center 12 OVERVIEW CONTINUED WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL? •Our students are considered MDCPS students •We are a municipally sponsored charter school •Our teachers are not district employees •We must follow all compliance guidelines mandated by the state •We utilize the New Florida Standards We are funded in the same way as public schools (but do not receive all funding) •We have autonomy related to allocating staff and curriculum resources •We are a school of choice ACES SIP ACES 2013-2014 PERFORMANCE Subject Area Subgroup 2013-14 Performance 2013- 14 AMO-2 Targets 2013-14 Met Target? Reading (% scoring at level 3 or higher on FCAT 2.0, or scoring at level 4 or higher on the FAA -for reading) All Students 90 89 Y White 91 90 Y Black NA 72 NA Hispanic 88 88 Y Asian NA NA NA Am. Ind.NA NA NA ELL 80 68 Y SWD 78 66 Y ED 85 81 Y Math (% scoring at level 3 or higher on FCAT 2.0 or EOCs, or scoring at level 4 or higher on the FAA -for mathematics) All Students 90 89 Y White 91 90 Y Black NA 68 NA Hispanic 88 88 Y Asian NA NA NA Am. Ind.NA NA NA ELL 85 81 Y SWD 82 73 Y ED 84 81 Y 2014-2015 CHANGES TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN As a result of going from the FCAT as a measure of school performance to using the Florida State Assessment (FSA) the type and number of goals have changed for the 2014-2015 school year. The goals for this year will be broad goals that will be supported school wide. They will be general goals that target improvement through a specific targeted initiatives that do not include percentage goals. 2014-2015 GOAL 1 Focus: Achievement Students will achieve proficiency on all areas of the Florida State Assessment through a school wide focus on implementing and reinforcing the use of academic vocabulary in every class. 2014-2015 GOAL 1 INITIATIVES Focus: Achievement •Multiple professional development sessions with staff, including one with a consultant from s3Startagies focusing on academic vocabulary across the curriculum. •Imbedded professional development led by the math and ELA specialists modeling and observing the implementation of teaching academic vocabulary. •Monitoring of lesson plans by administration for inclusion of teaching academic vocabulary strategies. 2014-2015 GOAL 2 Focus: Early Warning Systems Attendance, tardiness and class failures, which are indicators of probability of graduation, will continue to be tracked and monitored through student and parent conferences with the counselor and academic dean. 2014-2015 GOAL 2 INITIATIVES Focus: Early Warning Systems •Continued and consistent enforcement of the school wide attendance and tardy policy. •Regular meetings with the counselor and academic dean for students with excessive absences or tardiness. •Multiple support opportunities for students failing multiple subjects including intervention classes, tutoring and virtual school course recovery. 2014-2015 GOAL 3 Focus: STEM Students will become STEM literate through the incorporation of two major STEM projects in multiple subjects throughout the school year. 2014-2015 GOAL 3 INITIATIVES Focus: STEM •Multiple professional development sessions with staff with a focus on how the develop and implement STEM projects across the curriculum. •Imbedded professional development led by STEM specialist modeling and observing the implementation of STEM projects. •Elective course that will include a year long offering of STEM activities 2014-2015 GOAL 4 Focus: Parent Involvement Parent involvement in the academic success of their child will be maximized by offering a variety of insightful parent workshops related to the academic, social and emotional development of children. 2014-2015 GOAL 4 INITIATIVES Focus: Parent Involvement for Academic Success •Various opportunities for parents to become informed and help students feel safe and confident in school. •Words Count initiative, a series of five parenting workshops, Book Fair and STEAM night CULTIVATING COMMUNITY SCIENCE BASED FIELD TRIPS SPORTS CLUBS AND CHORUS SCHOOL WIDE STEAM INITATIVE Charter Schools USA Overview CSUSA OVERVIEW Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) has been a leader in education reform since 1997 and is one of the oldest, largest and fastest-growing education management companies in the United States. ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS USA •Founded in 1997 and privately owned •Increasing access to high-quality education by replicating high-performing charter schools and turning around failing traditional public schools and low preforming charter schools •Network consists of 70 schools in FL, GA, LA, IN, IL, MI, NC serving nearly 60,000 students in grades PK through 12 (as of 2014 -15) –60 start up charter schools; 7 charter turnaround schools; 3 district turnaround schools –Approximately 50% of schools are Title I schools –Approximately 60% of students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch (poverty indicator) –70% of students are non-white –2012 high school graduation rate was 93.4% •CSUSA is the first AdvancED accredited education management company in the country ACES Demographics •Free Lunch 23% •Reduced Lunch 3.5 % ACES does not qualify for title I funds ACES Student Demographics American Indian or Native Alaskan Asian or Pacific Islander Black -Not of Hispanic Origin Hispanic Multi Other Unknown White -Not of Hispanic Origin 0.10%1.19%1.59%39.48%3.37%2.68%6.55%45.04% Where We Operate 34 35