RENEWAL
PRESENTED FOR
SPONSORSHIP CONSIDERATION TO
East
Prepared in compliance with
the terms, conditions, and requirements of
EC 47605 and
related statutes and as amended - The
October 3,
2008
I.
Educational Philosophy and
Program
We
believe in educating each of our students for the 21st century by
providing individualized learning opportunities in small learning communities
that incorporate increased parental participation and involvement.
Educational Philosophy
This
charter school shall be known as South Sutter Charter School (hereafter "SSCS”)
and its administrative
office shall be located in East Nicolaus, CA in Sutter County.
SSCS
will operate on the understanding that all students have different learning
styles, abilities and background experiences.
As important as “what” students learn is “how” they learn. The former
may be viewed as the end goal of education while the latter is the road leading
to it. SSCS will utilize learning and assessment modalities that, based on
current research, identify best practices regarding how students learn.
SSCS
identifies an educated person in the twenty-first century to mean a person who is
literate, can understand and function sufficiently in the world around him or
her, has an overview of the history of mankind, has an understanding of United
States political processes, has an ability to solve mathematical problems and
to think scientifically, and has the values necessary to enhance the world in
which he or she lives. This person is one who has realized his or her own
unique educational interests,
talents, or abilities, whether it is in the arts, sciences, or other areas. It
is the goal of this charter school to help students become educated individuals
who are intrinsically motivated to learn, who have diverse yet well-developed
interests, and are becoming competent lifelong learners.
Each minor student and at least one parent, and each adult student, with the
assistance of SSCS Education Specialists(ES) and ES Advisors, shall design,
consistent with SSCS student standards and policies, appropriate curricula
based upon the student's educational needs and objectives, and shall sign a written agreement (see Addenda, “Student Agreement”) with SSCS
that clearly describes the student's individual educational goals and
curriculum for each school year the student is enrolled with SSCS. The written
agreement shall describe the student's course(s) of study, the chosen method(s)
of ascertaining competence in designated course(s) of study, and if applicable,
the credit(s) the student will receive upon successfully demonstrating competence
and completing the course of study.
High School Program
SSCS high school students will receive information on the
transferability of courses to other public high schools through individual
meetings with his/her assigned Education Specialist and information on
eligibility for college entrance from the guidance counselor.
SSCS Education Specialists (credentialed teachers) will receive annual
training in these requirements.
Students
to be Served
SSCS will be open to all students in grades
K-12. SSCS will be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment
practices, and all other operations. SSCS will specifically target currently
non-enrolled students seeking a non-traditional, small learning community-based
educational setting. SSCS shall not charge tuition, and shall not discriminate
against any pupil on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin,
ability, disability, or place of residence. Enrollment space will be based on
need in the community and availability of qualified, trained NCLB certified
credentialed teachers to serve as Education Specialists.
Parents
who enroll their children in SSCS shall, through specific enrollment and
curriculum contracts, accept the responsibility to participate in their
children’s education. SSCS will
support its students and parents both with appropriate educational materials,
and with a team of NCLB certified California teacher credentialed Education
Specialists
, ES Advisors, and school administrators. SSCS Education
Specialists and ES Advisors shall advise and assist parents and students in all
aspects of student education pursuant to relevant contracts.
Curriculum
and Instructional Design
Students who attend SSCS will be educated in
small learning communities with individually designed curricula, which may
include, but are not limited to, small group instruction, apprenticeships,
community-based educational programs, group seminars, distance learning via
current technology, and supplemental and Independent Study learning projects.
The teacher to student ratio for all grade levels will average
This charter school’s parents, students, teachers, administrators and
staff believe that the best learning occurs when:
·
Academic
instruction is viewed as a central aspect of an effective education that leads
to mastery of the state content standards.
·
Flexible
instructional practices are tailored to the strengths of the students and their
learning style and are congruent with the SLC’s intended academic outcome.
·
Teachers not only
teach but also mentor, support and coach students and each other.
·
Contextual
learning is emphasized allowing students to grasp the logical application of
their learning.
·
Parents are
active partners in the school, in the creation of learning opportunities and in
the work produced by their child(ren)
·
Real life
context-based learning is emphasized within a personalized learning
environment.
·
The entire
community serves as a platform for learning. Learning opportunities integrate
and bridge school-based learning with community-based learning.
Educational program goals of SSCS include, but shall
not be limited to, the following areas of student attainment. Students will:
·
Perform and
achieve better than their previous year’s state assessment scores when
available.
·
Apply the skills
and concepts of the school’s academic content standards and the state content
standards in their daily assignments.
·
Actively engage
in skill development and in the discovery and construction of their own
knowledge by participation in individual learning activities.
·
Demonstrate the
ability to use technology efficiently integrated into daily assignments.
·
Recognize and use
their strongest skills and abilities to build confidence and motivation to
improve in areas where they are weak.
·
Be provided with opportunities to explore their potential in the visual
and performing arts and or with a foreign language.
SSCS affirms the importance of educating children to be optimally prepared for the
twenty-first century. Living in the age
of computers and the internet provides students the opportunity to acquire
knowledge unlike any other time in history.
SSCS will be continuously updating our curricular options to allow our
students to utilize state-of-the-art educational technology and learning
systems.
Plan for Students who are
Academically Low Achieving
To directly support low
achieving students, we believe that the teacher, parents, and student must
collaborate to design the optimal education plan. All students will be assessed
upon admission to SSCS. With the
co-creation of the student’s individual learning plan, which includes the
initial assessment and the student’s learning style and interests, the success
rate for the low achiever will be greatly enhanced. SSCS believes that both the
confidence and the motivation to learn begins by meeting the student at the
current level of academic proficiency and then adjust the pace and rigor of
learning to challenge and engage her or his full potential.
Plan for Students who are
Academically High Achieving
The individual learning plan
of high achieving students will be adapted for their individual needs and allow
for them to be accelerated and/or be more highly challenged in their
studies. SSCS has WASC accreditation so
that we may offer A-G courses that will allow our students to have equal access
to California’s UC and CSU systems. Our
guidance department will offer opportunities for all of our students to apply
for a number of different scholarships for which they qualify.
Plan for English Learners All EL students will be CELDT tested upon enrollment
according to the legal guidelines. SSCS believes all EL students that are not
proficient in the English language need every opportunity to be able to become
proficient. If a student is unable to
read, write, and understand English and is in 2nd
through 11th grade, the state required CELDT assessment will be
administered. The school education director and district STAR coordinator must
certify compliance with the requirements of law pertaining to the
administration of the state required CELDT primary language test as required in
California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 857c.
SSCS trains its teachers to test these students to identify their specific
areas of weakness and therefore select the most appropriate curriculum to
address deficiencies and build required skills. SSCS has a bilingual instructor
to work with all our EL students to give them every opportunity of succeeding
in their educational process. EL students are tested
annually until they are proficient in English.
Plan for Special Education
The
charter school shall serve the needs of disabled pupils by complying with
applicable state and federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination
against, and requiring a free appropriate public education be provided to,
children with disabilities.
SSCS Special Education Director will:
In the event that SSCS, at
its election, presents verifiable written assurances during the term of this
Charter that SSCS will participate as an LEA in a special education local plan
approved by the State Board of Education, the parties agree to amend this
Charter and any applicable MOU provisions to enable SSCS to do so.
II. Measurable Student
Outcomes
The
measurable pupil outcomes, for purposes of this part, means the extent to which
all pupils of the school demonstrate that they have attained the skills,
knowledge, and attitudes specified as goals in the school’s educational program
aligned with California State Frameworks and Content Standards. Students will demonstrate
competency in seven (7) school growth area goals. The extent to which students
achieve these goals is determined by mastery of the student standards and by
demonstrated proficiency on STAR-specific assessments:
Student reads and writes effectively.
¬ Student
reads actively and derives meaning from written media.
¬ Student reads extensively for a variety of purposes.
¬ Student writes using grammatically acceptable English.
¬ Student adjusts tone and style of writing for purpose and audience.
¬ Student supports statements using well-rounded facts, theory, and opinion
¬ Student separates fact from opinion.
¬ Student logically reaches conclusions based on sufficient evidence.
¬ Student clearly and succinctly states key points.
¬ Student organizes ideas in a variety of ways.
¬ Student demonstrates creativity through style, organization, and development
of content.
Student sufficiently understands and functions in the world around him.
¬ Student
demonstrates involvement in his/her community.
¬ Student has knowledge of the reciprocal relationship between the individual
and his/her
environment.
¬ Student demonstrates various skills in seeking employment and/or college
admission.
¬ Student understands and demonstrates his/her role as an employee, consumer,
and financial manager.
¬ Student identifies and documents the effects of technology on his/her
environment.
¬ Student participates in physical activities that develop strength, endurance,
and personal fitness.
Student appreciates the
history of mankind in all its diversity.
¬ Student
shows his/her appreciation for history by identifying relationships between past and present events or
situations involving cause and effect: people, events, or situations
influencing an action or result.
¬ Student shows his/her appreciation for history by identifying relationships between past and present events or situations
involving comparison: similarities and differences.
¬ Student shows his/her appreciation for history by identifying relationships between past and present events or
situations involving classification: events and situations explained as
political, economic, social, and/or intellectual.
¬ Student shows his/her appreciation for history by identifying relationships between past and present events or
situations involving anticipation of the future using evidence from the past
and the present to draw conclusion about the future.
¬ Student shows his/her appreciation for history by identifying relationships between past and present events or
situations involving understanding of the extent of time.
¬ Student applies physical and cultural geography to his/her understanding of
societies.
Student comprehends the political process.
¬ Student understands the structures, operations, and relationships of the
governments in the
Student applies mathematical principles and operations to solve problems.
¬ Student demonstrates knowledge of basic skills, conceptual understanding,
and problem solving with numbers and operations.
¬ Student demonstrates knowledge of basic skills, conceptual understanding, and
problem solving in geometry and measurement.
¬
Student demonstrates knowledge of basic skills, conceptual understanding, and
problem solving in functions and algebra.
¬ Student demonstrates knowledge of basic skills, conceptual understanding, and
problem solving in statistics and probability.
¬ Student solves problems that make significant demands in one or more of these
aspects of the solution process: problem formulation, problem implementation,
and problem conclusion.
¬ Student communicates his/her knowledge of basic skills, understanding of
concepts, and his/her ability to solve problems and understand mathematical
communication of others.
Student applies scientific concepts and skills to explain his world and
find solutions to its problems.
¬ Student
observes, compares, orders, and categorizes characteristics and behaviors.
¬ Student communicates ideas.
¬ Student relates factors of differing objects and events, and infers about
unknown or unseen processes.
¬ Student applies knowledge and thought processes to explain his/her world and
solve problems.
¬ Student shows a perception of the interrelationships among the scientific
themes (energy, interactions, patterns, and change) and their application to
the four spheres (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, ecosphere).
¬ Student recognizes the effects of the sciences, technologies, and societies
on one another and on the environment.
Student realizes his own unique educational interests, talents, and abilities.
¬
Student participates in visual and performing arts, obtains aesthetic
perception and valuing opportunities, and understands historical and cultural
contributions, or
¬
Student communicates in a language other than English, while gaining knowledge
and understanding of different cultures.
Students
participate with their assigned Education Specialist and parents in the design
of an individualized learning plan that incorporates all aspects of his/her
educational program.
Academic Performance Index
The Academic Performance Index (API) was the
cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. It measures the academic performance of
schools on a variety of academic measures.
After the first calendar year, an API base is established. The fall of each progressive year indicates
the API growth rate. The scores are
ranked in 10 categories from 0-10 referred to as deciles. The scores run from 200-1000. Results of three test components of the
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program, as well as the CAHSEE, are
used in calculating the API Base. SSCS believes
that using an initial enrollment assessment, developing an individual learning
plan for each student, and tracking monthly progress using our methods of
assessment outlined below, our students will make continual academic progress.
Annual
Yearly Progress
The AYP is comprised of four major components. First,
is the achievement of a 95% participation rate on assessments of CST’s CAPA 10th
grade and CAHSEE 10th grade. Secondly, the achievement of the annual
measurable objectives (AMOs) in both ELA and math must be met. Thirdly, the
school wide API is considered. Lastly, the graduation rate is
considered only for high schools and is based on the
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that all
students perform at or above the proficient level on state standards-based
assessments by 2014. In order to achieve this goal and meet annual performance
objectives, districts and schools must improve each year according to set
requirements. It is the clear intention of the founding group and SSCS
personnel to do all that is required to be in compliance to make AYP and have a
positive impact on the District.
Methods of Assessment
All
students will achieve the student standards by graduation, but not all students
will progress at the same rate. Certificated Education Specialists shall
consider each student’s individual abilities, interests, and talents in
utilizing the following measurements.
The charter school shall administer the mandated state assessments and shall
also meet any required state performance standards as developed. Every year the
charter school shall receive an evaluation via the State of
Additionally, student progress will be assessed through the current state
mandated assessment tools (STAR, CAHSEE, CELDT, and PFT) and a variety of the
following:
· Monthly review of work,
· Annual portfolios,
· Parent, student, and Education Specialist
observation,
· Norm and criterion referenced tests,
· Student demonstrations,
· Student grades.
Use and Reporting of Data
SSCS will give each student a baseline assessment when
they initially enter our school so that we can track student progress. SSCS will keep a database system where we
will track the state mandated test scores for each of our students. SSCS will report data to our parents in the
monthly school newsletter, as well as posting our yearly SARC report on our
school website. SSCS will evaluate the data to see if any changes need to be
made to our program on an ongoing basis.
III. The Governance
Structure of the School
The charter school shall be
governed by the School Council, which will consist of 29 parents of SSCS
students. Except as otherwise provided herein, the members of the Parent
Council shall be elected by a majority vote cast by the parents of SSCS
students, and the term of office for each member shall be two years. Elections
shall be held during May of each year. Each election shall be by written
ballot. Each family having one or more student(s) enrolled in SSCS on the date
of the elections shall be entitled to one vote per enrolled student. No more
than one parent from any family may serve as a School Council member at any
time. The initial members of the School Council shall be drawn via lottery by
the site administrator of SSCS from
a pool of SSCS parent volunteers compiled from the respondents to an
informational memorandum sent to all parents soliciting participation in the
initial School Council. Fourteen of the initial School Council members shall
serve a one year term, and the vacancies created by the expiration thereof
shall be filled by parents duly elected as otherwise provided herein. A quorum
of the School Council necessary for the transaction of business shall be a
majority of the elected members. All business of the School Council shall be by
the majority of the members attending a School Council meeting. The charter
school education director or their
designee shall preside, but not vote, at all School Council meetings.
All meetings of the School
Council shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with
Section 54950) of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code), shall take
place at least semi-annually, and shall be held at a location within the
sponsoring district. The charter school practices and policies will ensure
parental involvement through the School Council activities.
The School Council will be
responsible for developing the school council by-laws and each member will each
be a part of a sub-committee responsible for the following: WASC accreditation
parent group, organizing student group educational activities, coordinating
fundraising events, STAR testing volunteer coordination, organizing the yearly
graduation ceremony, and other school events and activities approved by the
school education director. The School Council will uphold the mission of the
school, monitor the school’s performance, and make suggestions to the school
administrators for school improvement.
The charter school will be operated
as a public charter school and shall be managed by IEM, a 501(c)(3)
As outlined in Education Code
section 47604(c), the Marcum-Illinois Union Elementary School District, as the
authority that grants a charter to a charter school to be operated by, or as, a
nonprofit public benefit corporation, shall not be liable for the debts or
obligations of the charter school. SSCS
shall maintain a comprehensive range of insurance coverage, commensurate with
that of other public schools and/or nonprofit organizations of similar type and
size, to protect both itself and the sponsoring district. Details of this
policy will be outlined in a Memorandum of
Understanding (“MOU”) between SSCS and the sponsoring district and a copy of
this insurance policy will be available for review to the sponsoring district at
their request.
IV. Human Resources
Qualifications of School
Employees
The
Director of ES support will be responsible to ensure that appropriate
arrangements for coverage are made. All charter school students are assigned to
an Education Specialist who shall hold a NCLB certified Commission on Teacher
Credentialing certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which a
teacher in other public schools would be required to hold. The director may
hire additional certificated and non-certificated personnel to assist in
providing supplementary instruction, management and support services. All staff
of SSCS will have the necessary qualifications, skills, experience,
certification, and credentials to fulfill their job description. These
documents and job descriptions shall be maintained on file at the school
website and shall be subject to periodic inspection upon request by the
District.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation
for ESs will be based on the number of active students assigned to the
Education Specialist (ES) for each official school day, the grade levels
served, and their placement on the salary schedule. Administrator compensation
will be determined by the average
Employee Representation
All employees of
SSCS shall be employees of the charter school and not employees of any District
or the SBE for the purposes of AB 631. This charter school shall be deemed the exclusive
public school employer of the employees of SSCS for the purposes of the
Education Employment Relations Act Section 3540.1 of the Government Code.
Rights of
Persons
employed by SSCS shall not be deemed to be employees of the sponsoring district
for any purpose whatsoever. All employees leaving the district to work at SSCS
shall enjoy the same employee benefits as all other employees of SSCS with
similar job classifications.
Health and Safety
SSCS
shall comply with all of the requirements of Education Code section 44237 to
ensure the safety of employees and students. SSCS will comply with all
applicable laws, including the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act,
concerning immunization, health and safety, first aid, child abuse reporting
and related issues for both employees and students. All employees of SSCS will
furnish criminal record summaries in accordance with Education Code section
44237.
Dispute Resolution
Any
dispute between SSCS and the sponsoring district (collectively "the
Parties") shall be resolved in accordance with the following procedure.
The term dispute means any alleged violation, misinterpretation, or misapplication
of a specific provision of this Charter or the MOU between the parties, which
does not constitute a severe and imminent threat to the health and safety of
pupils. The parties will first attempt to resolve disputes between SSCS and
District by discussion and agreement between the District Superintendent or
designee, a representative of the SSCS Parent Council, and the district liaison
of SSCS within thirty (30) days of any party identifying any such dispute in a
written notice sent to all other parties.
If the parties are unable to reach agreement, the dispute shall be
referred to non-binding mediation before a single neutral mediator. A request
for mediation shall be in writing and must be served on all other
non-requesting parties no later than fourteen (14) calendar days from the date
the parties last met to discuss the dispute but were unsuccessful in reaching
an agreement. A request for mediation shall succinctly state the nature of the
dispute and the relevant provisions of the Charter and/or MOU. The mediator
shall be selected by mutual agreement. The mediation shall commence within
thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt of the request for
mediation, unless extended by mutual agreement for the convenience of the
parties and/or mediator. The costs of mediation shall be born equally by all of
the parties. No party shall commence any litigation or other administrative action in connection with any dispute
relating to this Charter or any MOU between the parties without first exhausting this dispute resolution procedure.
All
matters not resolved by agreement or mediation as provided herein shall be
submitted to binding arbitration before a panel of three arbitrators. Each party shall select one arbitrator, and
the two arbitrators selected by the parties shall select a third arbitrator who
shall preside over the arbitration panel.
V. Student Admissions,
Attendance, and Suspension/Expulsion Policies
Student Admission Policies
and Procedures
Students
will be considered for admission without regard to ethnicity, national origin,
gender, and disability or achievement level. Admission will not be determined
according to the place of residence of the student or parents, except as
required by law. Prior to admission, all parents must sign the written
agreement regarding the charter school outcomes, philosophy, program, and any
other applicable requirements including special education services offered by
the charter school. All students’ continued
enrollment shall depend upon them fulfilling the terms of the written
agreement.
Charter
schools are schools of choice. All students in the
The
charter school shall comply with all laws establishing minimum age for public
school attendance. For a maximum age limit, the school shall allow only pupils
over 19 years of age to attend if
they have been continuously enrolled in public school since age 18 and continue
to make satisfactory progress towards a high school diploma.
Non-Discrimination
The
means by which the charter school will achieve a racial and ethnic balance
among its students that is reflective of the general population residing within
the territorial jurisdiction of the school district to which the charter
petition was submitted will consist of public announcements of the school’s
program that will neither encourage nor discourage any particular racial or
ethnic group from gravitating to the charter school. SSCS will maintain information concerning the
ethnicity of all SSCS students, and if the balance is not reflective of that of
the sponsoring district, a committee of school parents, teachers and SSCS staff
will meet to discuss the imbalance and explore available options, which may
include additional outreach initiatives, to remedy the situation.
Public School Attendance Alternatives
Attendance
at this charter school is entirely voluntary on the part of the students who
enroll. Attendance at district of residence public schools shall be an option
for all students who do not choose to attend this charter school.
Suspension/Expulsion
Students
may be suspended or expelled from the charter school for any act specified in Ed Code 48900, non-compliance
with the terms of the written agreement, or any material violation of any of
the conditions, standards or procedures set forth in the charter school
petition, the school handbook or of the school’s policies and procedures.
Based
on information regarding student behavior or performance as specified above,
South Sutter Charter School will send a suspension or expulsion notice to the
student’s parent(s) or guardian(s). The parent(s) or guardian(s) of a student
who has received a suspension or expulsion notice may request a hearing where
the parent and the student shall be given an opportunity to participate and
present facts relevant to the issues set forth in the notice. In the event of
any such request, the school education director shall appoint a Hearing
Committee composed of five (5) members of the School council which shall
conduct a hearing regarding the notice. After the hearing, The Hearing
Committee shall send its recommendation to the school education director and
the district liaison. The school education director and district liaison,
together, will make all final decisions concerning suspension, expulsion, or
reinstatement of suspended or expelled students. In the event of a student’s
expulsion, SSCS will notify the student’s district of resident of the student’s
expulsion.
If
a student who is not a resident of the district is expelled, South Sutter CS
shall notify the student and the student’s parents or guardians in writing of
the student’s duty to attend the school district in which the parent or
guardian reside. If the notice relates to any expellable act listed in Education
Code 48900, South Sutter CS will send a copy of the notice to the district in
which the parent(s) or guardian(s) reside. When the student is a resident of
the District, and is expelled by South Sutter CS for any expellable act as
listed in Education Code 48900, and the parents have not agreed to a stipulated
expulsion, the District shall review the expulsion hearing record and file to
determine whether the student was afforded due process required by law. If South
Sutter CS failed to follow due process procedures, the student will either
receive a new hearing by South Sutter CS or be re-enrolled in South Sutter CS.
VI. Financial Planning,
Reporting, and Accountability
Budget
Attached is the 2008-2009
budget and cash flow spreadsheet.
Financial Reporting
IEM shall implement and
manage all financial reporting and business services for this charter school.
Administrative Services
All operations shall be
subject to annual audit according to strict accountability standards.
IEM shall provide all
administrative services necessary for SSCS’s efficient operation, including,
but not limited to:
A) School Systems
1) Collect documentation for
charter and employer tax status and complete
authorization forms.
2) Apply to the federal and state tax-reporting agency to request Employer Tax
Numbers.
3) Continue to work with authorizer to set up the charter
school database systems to meet
district reporting needs and
requirements. Also, set up the school's general ledger per the State Standard
Account Code Structure.
4) Maintain the
School Database System that incorporates general information
about the school into categories from which specific data and needed reports
can be extracted on-demand continuously. Examples of categories are employee
work calendars by type, salary structure, payroll, school budget, job
descriptions, etc. IEM will work with
the charter school to define these categories and establish them into a fully
accessible database system.
5) IEM will gather employment data from the school for each employee and
process them into the School Database System.
B) Revenue
1) Prepare the annual Charter School Funding Survey
and submit it by the required
deadline.
C) Vendor/Purchasing
1) Process credit applications for the school in order to set up accounts for
ordering/purchasing supplies.
2) Maintain effective business relations with SSCS approved vendors for various
purchasing needs.
3) Identify and obtain bids from Health Insurance Companies on behalf of the
school. Review contracts and secure health benefit insurance coverage with
vendor on school's behalf.
4) Identify and obtain bids from Liability Insurance Companies on behalf of the
school. Review contracts and secure liability insurance coverage with vendor.
Recommend limits and coverage to the school education directors as needed.
5) Identify, negotiate, and establish credit limits with vendors to set-up
accounts for purchasing textbooks, instructional materials, equipment, and
furniture.
D) Budgeting & Forecasting
1) Work with school education directors to develop annual budget for subsequent
fiscal year beginning in January of each year for Board approval no later than
June 1st. The annual budget will include monthly cash flow for the year.
2) Upon the approval of the State Budget, IEM will work with the school's
education directors to perform any needed revisions to the school budget to
reflect legislation adopted.
3) Build multi-year budget projections based on Annual Budget adopted.
4) IEM will perform a mid-year forecasting for the school based on Actual Year-
To-Date revenue and expenditures at the end of December to highlight possible
budget outliers. Another forecast will be done in March of each subsequent
year.
E) Accounting Services
1) Establish and maintain the school's general ledger per the State
Standardized Account Code Structure. IEM will monitor and edit revenue and
expenditure account code structure, add program and location codes when needed,
and perform all other regular maintenance.
2) Perform daily reconciliation of all Balance Sheet Items.
3) Accounts Payable - Process vendor invoices/bill for payments including,
verify approval of payment determine cash flow availability, verify non-
duplication of payment, log appropriate accounting entries, produce check
payments utilizing the County Commercial Warrant System, and verify check
security.
4) Accounts Receivable- Review prior year accounts receivable and monitor
receipt of revenue including that revenue is coded appropriately. Perform
collection activities to receive funding past due. Perform quarterly analysis
of outstanding revenue balances for the year.
5) Monthly, perform a compliance check of auditable items and notify SSCS of
any potential problems and/or recommendations.
F) Financial Management Reporting
1) Prepare and email Standard Financial Reports to school education directors monthly,
specifically the Balance Sheet, Actual vs. Budget, and Paid/Unpaid Bills Report.
2) Quarterly, prepare and review Standard Reports with school education
directors
and update school education directors on unusual items and unfavorable trends.
3) Prepare and present school financial health reports as appropriate, or as
required by authorizer.
4) Perform on-going analysis of actual versus budget and prepare written review
of financial activity for month.
5) Monitor cash flow for school and notify school of unfavorable trends.
6) Attend District Board or Superintendent meetings
and report on school's
finances every other month, or as requested by authorizer or SSCS school
education directors.
7) Deposit all received funding per instructions by the school.
8) Formal annual school financial audit preparation and compliance.
G) Training Assistance
1) Provide support and training for school education
directors to understand the different financial reports and understand how to
read them.
2) Provide support and training for school staff to understand coding of
expenditures per the State Standard Account Code that IEM uses to meet State
and District requirements.
3) Provide workshop designated to outline school finance and budget development
as well as strategic planning for school administrators, staff, and
stakeholders. IEM, at the school's request, can also develop the budget after
input and priorities are generated by the school.
4) Provide SSCS with sample policies and procedures as it relates to fiscal,
personnel, student discipline, etc. and provide assistance on crafting specific
policies and procedures as requested.
5) Provide ongoing recommendations re: personnel policy and procedures as
currently updated by changes in law and revised CDE regulations.
H) Payroll Processing
1) Maintain employee files and database. IEM will process any status updates,
new hires, termination, and or informational changes that must be reflected in
the database.
2) Upon timely submission of payroll information including time worked and
status updates, IEM will process payroll according to the agreed upon payroll
schedules.
3) Payroll checks are reconciled by IEM, summarized on a summary sheet for
school administrators, and distributed to the school.
4) As required by law, federal and state payroll tax payments are calculated by
IEM each month and submitted for payroll tax payments.
5) Health Benefits Administration- perform monthly reconciliation of vendor
payments for each health plan option, process status updates and information
changes, and prepare payment authorization forms.
6) Retirement plan administration- perform monthly reconciliation of vendor
payments for each plan option and process status updates and information
changes.
7) Retirement/Pension reconciliation- perform monthly reconciliation of vendor
payments for each retirement plan option and process status updates and
information change.
I) Personnel
1) Perform new hire and consultant reporting as appropriate and required by
law.
2) Prepare, review, and distribute W-2s and 1099s as required by law.
3) Monitor and remedy all personnel "red flags" from daily database
alerts.
4) Monitor and review all submission of State Disability, Worker's Comp, and
Unemployment claims. Assist school in completing claim forms and work with the
County and State in tracking claim results.
5) Maintain and store employment records for SSCS. Review and monitor files
for accuracy and completeness. Retain copies of employment records for all
employees and consultants in a secured setting.
6) Perform New Hire Processing including reference checks, verification of
eligibility for employment, medical clearance, general employee orientation,
and health benefit orientation if applicable. Perform exit interview and
conduct exit paperwork for employees leaving the school.
7) Process pre-employment data requirements such as DOJ livescan clearances and
and tuberculosis test results.
8) Oversee administration of employee benefits programs.
9) Conduct formal review and inquiry re: employee complaints concerning
discrimination and harassment.
10) Assist the development of school employee handbook.
11) Assist the development of school employee performance evaluations
12) Facilitate teacher credential application assistance, information and
expiration notification.
13) Facilitate teacher and staff vacancy advertisement postings.
K) Enrollment
1) Input student applications into database
2) Identify and notify Special Ed Department of SE applicants
3) Weekly and monthly student count reports prepared
and submitted to school
and/or authorizer
L) Cumulative Folders
1) Requests are made from prior school for each student's folder.
2) Information entered into database verifying birth certificate, immunizations
and official transcripts.
3) Student folders/records for dropped students sent out to new school on
request
M) Immunizations
1) Ensure proper immunizations are secured
2) Enter immunization information into database
3) Monitor all conditional students
4) Immunization information mailed out to parents
5) Complete yearly assessment reports for State Health Department
N) Child Health and Disability Prevention Program for 1st grade
1) CHDP Information mailed to parents of kindergarten & 1st grade students
2) Information recorded into database
3) CHDP Annual School Report Prepared and submitted to District
O) Attendance
1) Receive and enter all incoming attendance roll sheets
2) Prepare ADA Reports monthly, and mail to District and school education
directors
3) Generate tri-annual reports (P1, P2, P3 and revised P2) in order to complete
State funding requirements for the school.
4) Supply requested data to auditors for individual school audits.
5) Quarterly, perform enrollment and
administrators can assess trends and how it will affect funding.
P) Transcripts
1) Transcript processing and administration for grades 9-12
2) Make requests for official transcripts from previous schools
3) Send out official transcripts to schools when requested
4) Information is entered for each student as a permanent record.
Q) Reporting and Required Annual Reports
1) Report cards are processed and placed in student's cumulative folder
2) Prepare and supply annual CBEDS Report to District and school administrators
3)Prepare and submit SNOR Report to State.
4) Prepare and submit Demographic Data Report to State
5) Prepare and monitor the Welfare Tax Exemption application annually.
6) Administer and maintain any student assessment and accountability reports as
required including the State mandated tests and API scoring
R) Categorical Funding Applications
1) Funding program pricing includes the funding categories identified in the
School's Budget and as modified by IEM and the school staff at the beginning of
the school year. This includes the consolidated application, if applicable,
class size
reduction, staff development, EIEP and ELAP application.
2) Prepare monthly child nutrition claims processing.
3) Perform negotiations with the district for full and due special education
funding.
4) Prepare part 1 of the Consolidated Application, if applicable, for funding
under Title I, II, IV, & V and submit by required deadline.
S) Compliance and Fiscal Reporting
1) Twice a year, prepare J-210 Budget report, including budget summary,
report, cash flow report, and break-out of revenue detail.
2) Twice a year, prepare J-250 Interim Financial Reports and submit to the
District.
3) Annually, prepare the J-200 Final Actuals Report and Program Cost Report.
4) Prepare payroll tax filing reports quarterly for state and federal.
Prepare the annual payroll tax filing report.
T) Technical Assistance and Facilitation
1) Review the Governor's Budget and notify the school of any significant
changes in legislation or funding, and re-adjust school budget to actuals.
2) Provide updated and necessary changes for attendance systems.
3) Handle all compliance issues for funding
4) Provide loan packaging other than facility
5) Facilitate lease negotiations
6) Establish Accounts Payable & Receivable process in line with annual
school
fiscal policy and facilitate and record all transactions.
7) Implement all required Risk Management Protocols
8) Negotiate and manage contracts pertaining to facilities and support services
9) Direct facilities management including capital projects, space planning,
lease management and office equipment.
10) Provide ongoing informal audits of payroll ledgers, employment files, etc.
to insure compliance.
Facilities
SSCS shall request an attached
rent-free facility from the District to facilitate SSCS administration and
teacher training/professional development, and will pay the District 3% ADA for
oversight as required by Education
Code section 47613 (b).
Transportation
All transportation to and
from the charter school including all related school programs is the sole
responsibility of the enrolled students’ parents or guardians, and is not the
responsibility of this charter school.
Audits
SSCS
will cause an annual financial audit of the charter school to be conducted by
an independent auditor, employing generally accepted accounting principles and
experienced in State charter school law. Audit reports will be completed and
available for review by the school members and the public and submitted to the
District Board of Trustees following the protocol established by the district
for such audits. All audit exceptions
and deficiencies will be resolved as determined by state law and this charter.
Procedures and/or processes that caused the exceptions and/or deficiencies will
be modified by SSCS to meet the auditor’s specifications and such modifications
will be sent to the District Board of Trustees within three (3) months of the
auditor’s report.
As outlined in Education Code section 47604.3, the charter school shall promptly respond to all
reasonable inquiries, including, but not limited to, inquiries regarding its
financial records, from its chartering authority or from the Superintendent of
Public Instruction and shall consult with the chartering authority or the
Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding any inquiries.
Annual Reports
The
school will complete and file any annual reports required pursuant to Education
Code Section 47604.33
Mandated
Costs
Though under California Law South Sutter Charter
School may not be required to meet the same health, safety, and welfare requirements
for its students as mandated for non-charter public schools, South Sutter Charter
School reserves the right to do so if it determines that such will best provide
for its students’ health, safety or welfare, but shall not be required to do so
unless specifically required by law. South Sutter Charter School shall comply with
all state mandates required for charter schools.
South Sutter Charter School reserves the right to
directly file with the State of California or other applicable governmental
agency(s) its requests for state mandated cost reimbursement. In the event that
through the operation of law or otherwise South Sutter Charter School is
prevented from either filing its request for mandated cost reimbursement
directly with the State of California or other applicable governmental agency
(s) or receiving reimbursement for such state mandated costs of from the State
of California or other applicable governmental agency (s) through direct
application there for, then South Sutter Charter school submit its mandated
cost reimbursement requests to the District, and the District shall include
such requests with its own requests for mandated cost reimbursement. Upon receiving reimbursement for any South Sutter
Charter School mandated costs, the District shall forward such reimbursement to
South Sutter Charter School after deducting there from all documented costs of
processing.
In
order to meet the health, safety, and public accountability requirements of all
public school children at South Sutter Charter School, the charter school may
choose to comply with any current or future mandates that directly pertain to
the health, safety, and welfare of charter school students. In addition, any mandates that must be
performed to satisfy the State’s testing and graduation requirements. It is the expressed intent of South Sutter
Charter School to file directly for reimbursements. If a reimbursement claim can only be filed
through the sponsoring district, the sponsoring district agrees to fold the
Charter School claim into its claim and pass through the Charter School funds
when received.
Eligible
expenses which the sponsoring district incurs as a result of current charter
school law, subsequent charter school legislation, or CDE interpretations of
these laws are not the responsibility of the Charter School and should be
addressed by the sponsoring district through the State’s Mandated Cost
Reimbursement Program.
Closure Protocol
In the event SSCS closes,
SSCS shall document and effect its closure by official action which shall
identify the reason for the closure. SSCS shall promptly notify the District
and SSCS students and parents of the official action and the effective date of
the school closure. SSCS shall provide information to assist parents and
students in locating suitable alternative educational programs.
As applicable and consistent
with statute, SSCS will provide parents, students, and/or the District or
subsequently selected school(s) with all appropriate student records and will
otherwise assist students in transferring to their next school(s). All transfers of student records will be made
in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 20
U.S.C.§1232g.
As soon as reasonably
practicable, SSCS will prepare final financial records and shall commission an
independent audit by a qualified Certified Public Accountant selected and paid
for by SSCS to determine the disposition of all assets and liabilities of SSCS. The results of the audit shall be forwarded
to the District upon completion.
Upon the school’s closure,
all assets of the School, including but not limited to all leaseholds, personal
property, intellectual property and all accrued
the charter school subject
to all audited and verifiable claims documented in the final audit as provided
herein. In the event that charter school
is dissolved, all such property shall be distributed in accordance with its
Articles of Incorporation and state statutes governing
nonprofit public benefit
entities. As the school is
operated as by a non-profit benefit corporation, should the
corporation dissolve with the closure of the School, the Board will follow the
procedures set forth in the California Corporations Code for the dissolution of
a non-profit public benefit corporation and file all necessary filings with the
appropriate state and federal agencies.
VII. Impact on
the Charter Authorizer
Impact to the charter
authorizer shall be minimal. Because of
their extensive charter school experience, the school administrators shall
provide or cause to be provided all reports and oversight documents to the
district/county in the type and format requested.
Services
obtained from Charter Authorizer
Details
of any business or administrative services, special education services, costs
and funding between the district and SSCS shall be detailed in the MOU. In the
event of changes to state law or regulations applicable to charter schools
enacted subsequent to granting this Charter, which are inconsistent with but
applicable to the terms of this Charter, the parties agree to amend this
Charter and any applicable MOU provisions to accord with any such changes.
Initial
Term and Renewal
The
term of this Charter shall be five years and may be renewed for subsequent
five-year terms by the District Board of Trustees. The District Board of
Trustees must act to renew or not renew this Charter no later than six
(6)months prior to the date this Charter expires.. The term of this renewed charter shall begin on the July 1,
2010 , and if it is not renewed as
provided herein, shall expire on June 30 after the end of the 10th academic
year of SSCS’s existence.(June 30, 2015)
Revoking The Charter
The
District Board of Trustees may revoke the Charter if it finds that SSCS did any
of the following:
1. Committed a material violation of any of the
conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter or MOU.
2. Failed to meet or pursue any of the pupil outcomes identified in the
Charter.
3. Failed to meet generally accepted accounting principles, or engaged in
fiscal mismanagement.
4. Violated any provision of law.
Amendments
This
Charter School Petition may be amended by a written agreement between SSCS
&
the
District Board of Trustees.
Addenda
ASSURANCES
This form is intended to be signed by a duly authorized representative
of the applicant and submitted with the full application.
As the authorized representative of the applicant, I
hereby certify that the information submitted in this application for a charter
for the renewal of the California public school charter school South Sutter
Charter School within the boundaries of the Marcum-Illinois Unified School
District is true to the best of my knowledge and belief; I also certify that
this application does not constitute the conversion of a private school to the
status of a public charter school; and further I understand that if awarded the
renewal, the Charter School:
1. Shall
meet all statewide standards and conduct the student assessments required,
pursuant to Education Code§60605, and any other statewide standards authorized
in statute, or student assessments applicable to students in non-charter public
schools. [Ref. California Education Code §47605(c)(1)]
2. Shall be deemed the exclusive public school
employer of the employees of the South Sutter charter school for the purposes
of the Educational Employment Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with §3540) of
Division 4 of Title 4 of Title 1
of the Government Code.2 [Ref.
California Education Code §47605(b)(5)(O)]
3. Shall be nonsectarian in its programs,
admissions policies, employment practices, and all other operations.[Ref.
California Education Code §47605(d)(1)]
4. Shall not charge
tuition. [Ref. California Education Code §47605(d)(1)]
5. Shall admit all eligible
students who wish to attend the South Sutter Charter School, and who submit a
timely application, unless the charter
school receives a greater number of applications than there are spaces for
students, in which case each applicant will be given equal chance of admission
through a random lottery process. [Ref. California Education Code §47605(d)(2)(B)]
6. Shall not discriminate on the basis of the
characteristics listed in Section 220 (actual or perceived disability, gender,
nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other
characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in
Section 422.55 of the Penal Code or association with an individual who has any
of the aforementioned characteristics). [Ref. California Education Code
§47605(d)(1)]
7. Shall adhere to
all provisions of federal law relating
to students with disabilities, including but not limited to, Section 504 of the
rehabilitation Act of 1974, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act of
2004.
8. Shall meet all
requirements for employment set forth in applicable provisions of law,
including, but not
limited to credentials, as necessary. [Ref. Title 5 CA
Code of Regulations, §11967.5.1(f)(5)(C)]
9.
Shall ensure
that teachers in the school hold a Commission on Teacher Credentialing
certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which a teacher in
other public schools are required to hold. As allowed by statute, flexibility
will be given to non-core, non-college preparatory teachers. [Ref.
California Education Code §47605(l)]
10. Shall at all times maintain all necessary and
appropriate insurance coverage.
11. If a pupil is expelled or leaves the charter school
without graduating or completing the school year for any reason, the charter
school shall notify the superintendent of the school district of the pupil’s
last known address within 30 days, and shall, upon request, provide the school
district with a copy of the cumulative record of the pupil, including a
transcript of grades or report card and health information. [Ref. California
Education Code §47605(d)(3)]
12. Will follow any and all other federal, state, and local
laws and regulations that pertain to the applicant or
the operation of the charter school.
_______________________________________________________________________________________Authorized
Representative’s Signature Date