Report 2016-141 Recommendation 34 Responses

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

Recommendation #34 To: Antelope Valley Union High School District

To ensure that charter schools work toward the academic goals established in their charters, Antelope Valley Union should provide its charter schools with annual oversight reports on their academic performance.

1-Year Agency Response

AVUHSD staff in collaboration with Educational Services and the Superintendent provides its Board and charters with annual oversight reports using the FCMAT aligned Annual Oversight Checklist and the charter school's petition, as it pertains to Measurable Pupil Objectives (MPOs) and LCAP Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs). See Attachment- (AVUHSD Charter School Annual Oversight Checklist Desert Sands, Feedback sections on Pg. 13, pg. 36, pg. 44, pg. 57, pg. 64, pg. 75, pg. 83, pg. 91 and Appendix A-list of documents reviewed).

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

Antelope Valley Union provided a copy of a completed Fiscal Crisis & Management Team (FCMAT) checklist that it provided to one of its charter schools and its Board. The checklist section specific to the charter school's educational program notes that the school has implemented an ongoing cycle of continuous improvement. It also notes other efforts that the school has taken to improve the academic performance of its students.

6-Month Agency Response

District staff, in collaboration with Educational Services and the Superintendent provides charter summary reports, which include academic performance, to the Board annually based on consultation and annual oversight visits. District staff, in collaboration with Educational Services and the Superintendent will also share those reports with their respective charters. Additionally, the academic portion of the Annual Oversight Checklist-aligned with FCMAT, will be incorporated into the Board reports and used to address progress made toward academic goals and student performance as they relate to the Charter's LCAP goals and the California School Dashboard upon availability. District staff in collaboration with Educational Services and the Superintendent will provide its charter with an annual written report using the results gathered from the Annual Oversight Checklist- aligned with FCMAT.

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

Per Antelope Valley Union's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

60-Day Agency Response

AVUHSD presents Charter summary reports to the Board annually and may also share those reports with their respective Charters. Proposed Charter Board Policy-Administrative Rules and Regulations as well as subsequent MOU proposed language will address the need for the AVUHSD to collaborate with charters on their performance as indicated in state and local academic reports that compare all students as well as student groups with students attending the AVUHSD. The AVUHSD will provide charters with assistance as needed for creating academic reports that help to compare how their students are performing in comparison to the students of AVUHSD. Additionally, AVUHSD may adopt written procedures aligned with proposed Board Policy and subsequent proposed MOU language that standardizes the use of tools such as the "Annual Oversight Checklist," (see attachment) aligned with FCMAT to address the charter's education program, ongoing assessment, and LCAP requirements for academic progress. The use of electronic checklists that include sections for feedback will support AVUHSD in the process of providing timelyfeedback with recommendations to ensure that charter schools work toward academic goals established in their charters. For any follow-up questions, contact Julianne Vela- Director of Categorical and Special Programs- jvela@avhsd.org -(661) 952-2249.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Per Antelope Valley Union's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

All Recommendations in 2016-141

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.