Charter SchoolsNotice

Section § 47616.5

Explanation

This section requires an analysis of how effective California's charter school system is. An independent evaluator must study various factors, such as students' test scores before and after attending charter schools, parents' satisfaction, and the financial management of these schools.

They’ll also look at how charter schools drive innovation, provide opportunities for teachers, and focus on diverse student needs, including low-achieving and gifted pupils. Other considerations include any issues with discrimination, the approval and denial of charter school petitions, district monitoring practices, the employment of noncredentialed staff, and the impact of collective bargaining.

Finally, the evaluator will assess how charter schools differ operationally from standard public schools, including dropout rates and overall governance.

The Legislative Analyst shall contract for a neutral evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the charter school approach authorized under this part. On or before July 1, 2003, the neutral evaluator shall report directly to the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to modify, expand, or terminate the charter school approach. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the charter school approach shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following factors:
(a)CA Education Code § 47616.5(a) If available, the pre- and post-charter school test scores of pupils attending charter schools and other pupil assessment tools.
(b)CA Education Code § 47616.5(b) The level of parental satisfaction with the charter school approach compared with schools within the district in which the charter school is located.
(c)CA Education Code § 47616.5(c) The impact of required parental involvement.
(d)CA Education Code § 47616.5(d) The fiscal structures and practices of charter schools as well as the relationship of these structures and practices to school districts, including the amount of revenue received from various public and private sources.
(e)CA Education Code § 47616.5(e) An assessment of whether or not the charter school approach has resulted in increased innovation and creativity.
(f)CA Education Code § 47616.5(f) Opportunities for teachers under the charter school approach.
(g)CA Education Code § 47616.5(g) Whether or not there is an increased focus on low-achieving and gifted pupils.
(h)CA Education Code § 47616.5(h) Any discrimination and segregation in charter schools.
(i)CA Education Code § 47616.5(i) If available, the number of charter school petitions submitted to governing boards of school districts and the number of those proposals that are denied, per year, since the enactment of the charter school law, including the reasons why the governing boards denied these petitions, and the reasons governing boards have revoked charters.
(j)CA Education Code § 47616.5(j) The governance, fiscal liability and accountability practices and related issues between charter schools and the governing boards of the school districts approving their charters.
(k)CA Education Code § 47616.5(k) The manner in which governing boards of school districts monitor the compliance of the conditions, standards, and procedures entered into under a charter.
(l)CA Education Code § 47616.5(l) The extent of the employment of noncredentialed personnel in charter schools.
(m)CA Education Code § 47616.5(m) An assessment of how the exemption from laws governing school districts allows charter schools to operate differently than schools operating under those laws.
(n)CA Education Code § 47616.5(n) A comparison in each school district that has a charter school of the pupil dropout rate in the charter schools and in the noncharter schools.
(o)CA Education Code § 47616.5(o) The role and impact of collective bargaining on charter schools.
charter school evaluation neutral evaluator pre- and post-test scores ...

Section § 47616.7

Explanation

This California law requires an evaluation of how funding is distributed to charter schools that provide nonclassroom-based learning. It also looks at how well the State Board of Education's process works for approving this type of funding for these charter schools.

The evaluation provided for in Section 47616.5 shall include an analysis of the funding system for charter schools that offer nonclassroom-based instruction. The evaluation shall also examine the effectiveness of the State Board of Education’s process, as provided for in Sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, for approving funding for charter schools offering nonclassroom-based instruction.
charter school funding nonclassroom-based instruction State Board of Education ...