Charter School Academic Accountability

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS

That the Board of Education amends Board Report: 22-0928-PO1, the Charter School Academic Accountability Quality Policy to align with updates to state summative designation changes by the State Board of Education. This policy was posted for public comment from April 26, 2024 until May 30, 2024.

PURPOSE: To establish a system of academic accountability performance standards for district-authorized charter schools.

POLICY:

I. SCOPE

This policy sets out broad charter school academic performance standards to ensure that (1) there is transparency regarding the expectations and standards for charter school academic performance and (2) the portfolio of charter schools available to Chicago families and students contains academically high-quality schools.

This policy must be considered when determining which charter schools are subject to contract revocation or non-renewal for failure to meet or make reasonable progress toward student academic achievement in accordance with Section 27A-9(c)(2) of the Illinois School Code. Nothing in this policy will prevent the CEO from recommending charter expansion or replication.

This policy does not apply to Options schools.

II. ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS

Charter schools will receive a status based on ISBE's designations aligned to ESSA:

1. All schools designated "Exemplary" or "Commendable" by ISBE will be deemed to have met or be making reasonable progress toward student academic achievement standards in accordance with Section 27A-9(c)(2) of the Illinois School Code.
2. All schools designated "Targeted," "Comprehensive," or "Intensive" by ISBE are subject to contract revocation or non-renewal for failure to meet or make reasonable progress toward student academic achievement in accordance with Section 27A-9(c)(2) of the Illinois School Code and will be placed on the Intensive Academic Support List (defined in Section IV below).

For schools that receive two separate summative designations from the state in a given year, the higher-performing designation will be used to determine their academic accountability status for renewal or non-renewal, but CPS may require a school improvement plan for a school's grade cohort that receives a summative designation that would have placed it on the Intensive Academic Support List.

III. STANDARDS FOR RENEWAL AND NON-RENEWAL

Evaluation standards and the specific evaluation framework by which a charter school shall be evaluated shall be further defined and incorporated into the charter school's charter agreement and called an "Accountability Plan." Any charter school that has not executed a renewal agreement based on the Board's most recent renewal authorization may be renewed for no more than 2 years.

IV. STANDARDS AND PROCESS FOR REVOCATION

The "Intensive Academic Support List" refers to the list maintained by the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") or designee that identifies charter schools or campuses failing to meet or make reasonable progress towards student academic achievement. A charter school or campus will be placed on the Intensive Academic Support List if the charter school or campus receives an ISBE Summative Designation of Targeted, Comprehensive, or Intensive.

When a charter school or campus is placed on the Intensive Academic Support List, and/or when indicated in a charter school's Accountability Plan, the CEO or designee will send notice that the school or campus is in revocation status and subject to possible closure pursuant to Section 27A(9)(c) of the Illinois School Code. Upon receipt of such notice, the charter school or campus must submit a written school improvement plan to the CEO or designee to rectify the problems that resulted in the charter school or campus being placed on the Intensive Academic Support List. The written school improvement plan must include a timeline for implementation, and the CEO or designee must monitor the implementation and adherence to the school improvement plan requirements. The CEO will recommend revoking a charter school or campus to the Board if the CEO determines that the charter school or campus failed to implement the school improvement plan and/or meet academic goals within the school's improvement plan.

If the charter school or campus on the Intensive Academic Support List achieves an ISBE Summative Designation of Commendable or Exemplary, the school or campus will be removed from the Intensive Academic Support List.

V. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Nothing in this policy prohibits the CEO from making individual recommendations regarding charter school expansion or replication, non-renewal, or revocation based on the totality of factors the CEO deems relevant, particularly including equity considerations. Nothing in this policy prohibits the Board from revoking or not renewing a charter for failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management, for failure to comply with applicable law, or for committing a material violation of any of the conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in their charter school agreement.