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OBJECTIVE:

To provide local charter authorizers (LCAs) with clear standards and fact-based oversight that ensure all local charter authorizers consistently:

• Authorize high-quality charter schools that provide a great education to Louisiana students;

• Hold schools accountable for meeting clearly defined, rigorous academic, organizational, and financial performance expectations; and,

• Demonstrate fair and transparent high-quality authorizer practices that simultaneously uphold both charter school autonomy and public trust.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

Section 1: Introduction & Guiding Principles 1

Section 2: Accountability Framework Description & Process 3

Section 3: Detailed Performance Frameworks 6

Louisiana BelievesLocal Charter Authorizer – Performance Compact

(Authorizer of Type 1B Charter Schools)

LCA Performance Compact: Section 1 – Introduction & Guiding Principles

1

INTRODUCTION

About Local Charter Authorizers:

Charter schools have played an invaluable role in improving K-12 education in Louisiana, enhancing student outcomes in some of Louisiana’s most challenging school environments. Charter schools are an integral component of Louisiana Believes, the Louisiana Department of Education’s mission to ensure that every child in Louisiana is on track to a college degree or a professional career.

A local charter authorizer is a Louisiana entity (either a non-profit organization with an educational mission, post-secondary institution, state agency, or a nonprofit corporation established by the governing authority of a parish or municipality) with the statutorily provided authority to authorize and oversee charter schools.

Local charter authorizers are uniquely positioned to utilize unique knowledge of their region’s needs and its resources – community organizations, talented individuals, and economic strengths – to recruit school operators and enable innovative school models that lead students to academic success.

Only organizations that complete a rigorous application process and demonstrate a commitment to using high-quality authorizing practices may be certified by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to serve as a local charter authorizer. Charter schools authorized by a local charter authorizer are classified as Type 1B charter schools.

About the Local Charter Authorizer Performance Compact:

The Local Charter Authorizer Performance Compact centers on the concept that high-quality charter school authorizers authorize high-quality charter schools.

Using as a guide both Louisiana’s charter school laws and policies, as well as nationally recognized best-practices, the LCA Performance Compact provides a transparent framework that outlines: 1) clear academic, organizational, and financial performance expectations for LCAs; and, 2) how the Louisiana Department of Education will review an LCA’s performance to make decisions regarding the LCA’s continued ability to authorize and oversee charter schools.

The LCA Performance Compact takes into account the strength of an LCA’s authorizing practices, as well as the collective performance of an LCA’s authorized charter schools.

LCA Performance Compact: Section 1 – Introduction & Guiding Principles

2

Local Charter Authorizer Performance Compact – Guiding Principles:

The Louisiana Department of Education is committed to implementing an accountability framework that enables LCAs to succeed in serving Louisiana’s students. This performance compact is guided by the following principles:

Transparent Oversight

Clear standards and transparent oversight processes enable LCAs to focus less time on bureaucratic processes and more time focusing on authorizer decisions that will lead to student success.

Rewarding High-Quality Authorizer

Practices

The LCA Performance Compact encourages the use of high-quality authorizer practices, such as an LCA’s implementation of performance-based frameworks for school-level accountability.

The LCA Performance Compact subsequently rewards LCA’s for using high-quality authorizer practices by extending an LCA’s certification. Conversely, the LCA Performance compact enforces consequences for an LCA that fails to demonstrate high-quality authorizer practices, including potentially canceling the LCA’s certification.

Equity

The Department remains committed to ensuring all students in Louisiana have the opportunity to attend schools that prepare them for lifelong success. Therefore, this Performance Compact holds local charter authorizers accountable for providing high-quality options for all Louisiana students.

Upholding School Autonomy and Public

Trust

The Performance Compact grants local charter authorizers the autonomy to provide innovative high-quality educational experiences while upholding public trust by ensuring local charter authorizers comply with all applicable laws and policies.

LCA Performance Compact: Section 2 – Accountability Framework Description & Process

3

The Local Charter Authorizer Performance Compact provides for an annual comprehensive performance review of a local charter authorizer.

This annual comprehensive review: 1) includes evaluation of a local charter authorizer using academic, organizational, and evaluation performance frameworks; and 2) will be used to inform key decisions regarding a local charter authorizer’s continued ability to authorize and oversee charter schools.

Performance Frameworks

Each performance framework includes clear performance expectations and standards for local charter authorizers. Annually, the Department will evaluate the local charter authorizer using these performance frameworks and provide a rating that indicates if the local charter authorizer met the framework’s performance expectations.

FRAMEWORK DESCRIPTION

Academic

Local charter authorizers will receive annually an average performance score and letter grade based on the academic performance of the local charter authorizer’s Type 1B charter schools.

This average performance score and letter grade will be calculated in the same manner that correlates to the district performance score formula outlined in Bulletin 111 – the Louisiana School, District, and State Accountability System.

Organizational

The organizational performance framework evaluates evidence of a local charter authorizer demonstrating both: 1) high-quality charter authorizer practices; and, 2) compliance with all applicable LCA laws and regulations.

Not all of the organizational performance expectations may be applicable to a local charter authorizer in a given year (ex: a local charter authorizer may not have a school closure in a given year). In this case, the local charter authorizer’s organizational performance rating will be based off of the percentage of standards met out of all applicable standards.

Financial

Upholding public trust includes ensuring that local charter authorizer’s not only oversee schools that provide an excellent education to Louisiana’s students, but also ensuring the proper oversight of public funds used to provide that excellent education.

The financial performance framework will evaluate the local charter authorizer’s fiscal viability and oversight of public funds.


4

Accountability Processes

After the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) initially certifies an organization to serve as a local charter authorizer, Louisiana charter school law establishes a rigorous bar for BESE to use to hold local charter authorizers accountable for their performance. Furthermore, charter school law includes multiple points in time during both a local charter authorizer’s initial and potentially subsequent certification periods that requires BESE to evaluate if the local charter authorizer has met the rigorous performance expectations.

The Department will use the Local Charter Authorizer Performance Compact’s annual review as a guide to help inform these key decisions. These key decision points include the recertification a local charter authorizer after the initial 5-year certification period, as well as the length of the recertification term. Additionally, the local charter authorizer’s academic performance will specifically be used at intervals within both the initial and subsequent renewal terms to evaluate the local charter authorizer’s ability to authorize new schools.

DECISION POINT TIMELINE DESCRIPTION

Comprehensive Annual Review Annually Evaluates the LCA’s academic, organizational, and financial

performance; informs recertification decisions

Initial Evaluation

Following the third year of operations of the first 1B charter school authorized by the LCA

If the LCA’s overall academic performance** equals a letter grade of an “C”, “D”, or, “F”, then the LCA will be placed on probation and submit a plan to the LDE for improving the performance of the LCA authorized schools

Recertification

In the fifth year of the LCA’s initial certification period, or the final year of the LCA’s contract for subsequent recertification

LCA’s must have an overall academic performance of an “A”, “B”, or “C”, and have sufficient ratings in both organizational and financial performance to be recertified

3-Year Periodic Academic Review

Every three years within a subsequent recertification period

If the LCA’s overall academic performance equals a letter grade of a “C,” the LCA will be placed on probation and may not authorize any new schools until the LCA has an annual academic performance of an “A” or “B”

*Note conducted if the initial evaluation would happen in the same year as a recertification decision.


5

Recertification Decision and Lengths

In the fifth year of a local charter authorizer’s initial certification and in the final year of any subsequent certification period, the Department will use the Local Charter Authorizer’s Performance Compact’s annual review to determine: 1) if BESE should recertify the local charter authorizer; and, 2) if so, then the length of the recertification period.

Recommended recertification decisions and lengths take into account the local charter authorizer’s academic, organizational, and financial performance. The Department will not recommend for recertification any local charter authorizer that fails to meet these expectations. Recertification periods can be for a period between 3-10 years.

LCA RECERTIFICATION TERM LENGTHSLCA Letter

Grade*Academic Base

Term** Additional Years for Organizational and Financial Performance Potential Term Length

A 7 years Up to 3 additional years for meeting organizational and financial expectations for organizational and financial performance 7-10 years

B 5 years Up to 3 additional years for meeting expectations for organizational and financial performance 5-8 years

C 3 years Up to 2 additional years for meeting expectations for organizational and financial performance 3-5 years

D Not recertified N/A N/A

F Not recertified N/A N/A

*Letter grade correlates to the district performance score formula outlined in Bulletin 111

**LCAs that fail to meet expectations for both organizational and financial performance will not be renewed regardless of letter grade.

LCA Performance Compact: Section 3 – Accountability Framework Timeline

6

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

The Department will calculate annually an average school performance score for each local charter authorizer based on the academic performance of all schools authorized by the local charter authorizer.

This score will be calculated in a manner that correlates to the district performance score formula outlined in Bulletin 111 – The Louisiana School, District, and State Accountability System.

Letter Grade* LCA Average SPS Components

A 100.0-150.0 K-6 100% assessments

B 85.0-99.9 K-8, 7-8 95% Assessments, 5% Dropout Credit Accumulation Index

C 70.0-84.9 9-12 25% EOC, 25% ACT Composite, 25% Cohort Graduation Rate, 25% Graduation Index

D 50.0-69.9

F 0.0-49.9

*Letter grade and Average SPS scale may be modified if a letter grade curve is enacted

ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

Rating Percent of Applicable Standards Met* Components

Meets Expectations** 80 – 100% Category # of Indicators

Approaches Expectations 60 – 79% Application Process 3

Fails to Meet Expectations 0 – 59% Pre-Opening & Contract Processes 6

*Standards that do not apply to an LCA in a given year will be removed from the denominator when calculating the percent of applicable standards met

**The maximum rating for schools that do not meet expectations for the at-risk and special education enrollment indicators will be “Approaches Expectations.”

Ongoing Oversight & Compliance 4

Renewal, Revocation, and Closure 3

Total 16


7

ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK INDICATORS

APPLICATION PROCESSIndicator Detail

Application Process LCA conducts a legally compliant charter application process in accordance with R.S. 17:3981.2.

Application Criteria

LCA follows an application process that includes a review of defined academic, financial, and organizational performance criteria, and publishes the criteria simultaneously* with the charter application.

Application Decisions

LCA’s charter application approval or denial decisions align with the LCA’s independent third-party reviewer’s recommendations, or the LCA provides the Department with sufficient written justification when approval or denial decisions do not align with the independent third-party reviewer’s recommendations.

PRE-OPENING AND CONTRACTSIndicator Detail

Pre-Opening Process

Newly authorized Type 1B charter schools complete all LDE-identified pre-opening requirements prior to opening.

Legal ComplianceType 1B charter contracts include all clauses and exhibits required in Louisiana R.S. 17:3991 and BESE Bulletin 126, Chapter 7, and do not violate any provisions or policies pertaining to Louisiana Charter Schools.

Performance-Based Framework

Type 1B charter contracts include the performance-based framework and specific criteria the LCA will use to hold the charter school accountable for academic, organizational, and financial performance.

Renewal and Revocation Processes

Type 1B charter contracts include the specific criteria and a transparent process that the LCA will use to inform charter contract extension and renewal decisions.Type 1B charter contracts include the specific criteria and a transparent process the LCA will use to inform charter contract revocation decisions.The criteria identified in the charter contract to inform renewal and revocation decisions align with the academic, organizational, and financial performance criteria found within the charter contract’s performance-based framework.

ONGOING OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCEIndicator Detail

Comprehensive Annual Review

LCA annually provides Type 1B charter boards and the LDE with a comprehensive review of each respective school’s academic, organizational, and financial performance using performance-based framework found in each Type 1B’s charter contract.

At-Risk Enrollment

Requirement

All Type 1B charter schools meet at-risk enrollment requirements. LCAs may receive partial credit if a Type 1B charter school does not currently meet their at-risk enrollment requirement but makes meaningful progress in alignment with the school’s intervention plan.

Special Education Enrollment

Requirement

All Type 1B charter schools meet special education enrollment requirements. LCAs may receive partial credit if a Type 1B charter school does not currently meet their special education enrollment requirement but makes meaningful progress in alignment with the school’s intervention plan.

Public Organization

Requirements

When exercising its authority as an LCA, the LCA complies with all Open Meeting Laws, Public Records Laws, and the Code of Governmental Ethics, identified the requirements identified in Bulletin 126 §405.


8

RENEWAL, REVOCATION, AND CLOSUREIndicator Detail

Extension & Renewal

LCA extension and renewal decisions align with the criteria and transparent process articulated in the LCA’s 1B charter contract.

Revocation LCA revocation decisions align with the criteria and transparent process articulated in the LCA’s 1B charter contract.

School Closure

In the event of a Type 1B closure, the LCA satisfactorily implements a closure plan that results in: 1) timely notification of school closure decisions to parents; 2) proper disposition of the school’s funds, assets, and property in accordance with Bulletin 126; and, 3) transfer of all student records to corresponding new schools.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKRating Score

Meets Expectations 80 – 100Approaches Expectations 60 – 79Fails to Meet Expectations 0 – 59

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKIndicator Potential Points Full Credit Partial Credit No Credit

Audit Findings of

LCA

Full Credit – 30 points

Partial Credit – 15 points

No Credit – 0 points

Unqualified audit with no findings

Unqualified audit with no recurring or material findings

Unqualified audit with recurring or material findings, or qualified audit

LCA Authorizer

Fee^



LCA properly accounts for all expenditures associated with an LCA’s administrative fees and does not use administrative fees to subsidize the LCA’s other business operations

LCA either does not properly account of all expenditures associated with an LCA’s administrative fees or uses LCA administrative fees to subsidize the LCA’s other business operations.

LCA Fund Balance (Fiscal Health

Indicator)


Partial Credit – 15 points


Y1: >2% Y1: 1 - 2% Y1: <1%Y2: >3% Y2: 1.5 - 3% Y2: <1.5%Y3: >4% Y3: 2 - 4% Y3: <2.0%Y4: >5% Y4: 2.5 - 5% Y4: <2.5%Y5: >6% Y5: 3 - 6% Y5: <3.0%Y5+: >7% Y5+: >3.5% Y5+: <3.5%

Timely Reporting

(LCA)


Partial Credit –5 points


All quarterly reports, administrative fee reports, AFR, and audit submitted timely

One late submission Two or more late submissions

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