Report 2016-141 Recommendation 22 Responses

Report 2016-141: Charter Schools: Some School Districts Improperly Authorized and Inadequately Monitored Out‑of‑District Charter Schools (Release Date: October 2017)

Recommendation #22 To: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District

Acton-Agua Dulce Unified should maintain active memorandums of understanding with its charter schools that describe the district's oversight responsibilities and ensure the schools meet the measurable student outcomes to which they have agreed.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

The District has always maintained MOU's with District-authorized charter schools. The District is in the midst of the annual MOU review and renewal process. Recently renewed MOU's are provided along with operative MOU's that are presently being renegotiated for renewal.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

The district provided copies of its updated MOUs and evidence demonstrating that it has worked with a charter school to ensure that it is meeting its measurable student outcomes.


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

All charter schools authorized by the District have active memorandums of understanding (MOUs).

Revisions, and/or updates, to current MOU's will be addressed during upcoming board meetings.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken

The district failed to provide evidence supporting its assertions.


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2019

All charter schools authorized by the District have active memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The District customizes MOUs as the request of charter schools to address their specific programs and describe the District's oversight responsibilities. Oversight includes monitoring the academic performance of pupils based on annual assessments and reports to the District, school finances, and operations.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

In its previous response, the district noted that it was in the process of executing new MOUs. However, the district did not provide any evidence to demonstrate that it has since executed those MOUs.


1-Year Agency Response

All charters authorized by AADUSD have active memorandums of understanding. AADUSD has a standard Memorandum of Understanding which is then customized to address the specific charter program and describe the district's oversight responsibilities. The annual oversight responsibilities include monitoring student outcomes, finances and operations.

Implementation Date: October 11, 2018 (adoption of updated policy)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

In response to our request for the district's latest memorandums of understanding with its charter schools, the district noted that it is currently executing new MOUs.


6-Month Agency Response

All charters authorized by AADUSD have active memorandums of understanding, These Memorandums of understanding describe the district's oversight responsibilities. The annual oversight process monitors student outcomes.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Although Acton-Agua Dulce Unified stated that it fully implemented our recommendation, the district did not provide any new evidence to support its assertion.


60-Day Agency Response

All charters authorized by AADUSD have active memorandums of understanding, These Memorandums of understanding describe the district's oversight responsibilities and monitor student outcomes to ensure students are making educational gains.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Although Acton-Agua Dulce Unified states that it fully implemented our recommendation, it did not provide evidence to support its assertion. As we note on page 59 of the audit report, Acton-Agua Dulce Unified was not able to demonstrate that it regularly assessed whether its charter schools were achieving the measurable student outcomes identified in their charters and thus were on track for renewal.


All Recommendations in 2016-141

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.