San Diego County Grand Jury • 2018-2019 • Agency Response

“Charter School Oversight by San Diego County Small School Districts” (“Report”)

Published: September 18, 2019 114 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 4 findings

F01
All four authorizing school districts studied are found to be in compliance with the minimum oversight requirements for their charters. The District agrees that it complied with the minimum oversight requirements for the charter schools operating under its authorization. Nevertheless, as explained in the following section, the District has instituted various procedures to improve and expand upon its charter oversight process.
No recommendations for this finding
F02
The authorizing districts [sic] visits are too short and too infrequent for competent oversight. As noted above, the law only requires a charter authorizer to visit each charter school at least annually. (Educ. Code § 47604.32.) Although the District’s focus is on quality oversight, not necessarily the quantity or duration of the visits, the District agrees that establishing a more comprehensive process that addresses all key areas of charter operations is appropriate. This includes performing both announced and unannounced site visits to the charter schools as part of the oversight process, as well as conducting follow-up audits/reviews of the charter schools’ practices and/or record-keeping (e.g., fiscal practices, teacher credentialing, etc.) if circumstances warrant.
No recommendations for this finding
F03
Limited oversight visits to home schools, primarily virtual or exclusively virtual schools are ineffective. The oversight of charter schools that operate primarily or exclusively nonclassroom-based programs presents challenges due to the nature of the instructional model. Unlike with a traditional classroom-based program, charter authorizers are limited in their ability to observe nonclassroom-based instruction for students enrolled in the charter school. However, the District 2 agrees that such visits could be more effective. As detailed below, the District has developed a new oversight process that addresses virtual programs that includes a review of documents specific to nonclassroom-based instruction, interviews of key charter personnel (e.g., independent study coordinator and independent study teacher) and parents/guardians of students receiving virtual instruction, and other components.
No recommendations for this finding
F04
Oversight visits to the charter schools lack direction and criteria-based plans. The District recognizes the importance of establishing a systematic process for conducting effective and comprehensive oversight for each of the charter schools operating under its authorization. The District agrees that its oversight visits could be more robust and follow a criteria-based plan that addresses all key areas of charter school operations. Below, we address the steps the District has taken to develop and implement a new charter oversight process that includes the use of a criteria-based plan, including written oversight compliance grids, document requests, interview questions, and site visit observation checklists. By following these procedures, the District will be better equipped to conduct effective, meaningful oversight of its authorized charter schools and effectuate greater accountability and transparency in their operations and practices. District’s Response to Grand Jury Recommendations The District has thoughtfully considered each of the Grand Jury’s Recommendations in the Report and has proactively taken measures to both standardize and increase the efficacy of its charter oversight process. The District provides the following responses to the Grand Jury’s recommendations. We also provide further information regarding the District’s anticipated next steps for the implementation of its charter oversight procedures for the 2019-2020 school year and thereafter.
No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 118

Observations 7