New charter framework to strengthen state oversight, support of schools
The State Board of Education and Delaware Department of Education will release the state’s new performance-based accountability system to evaluate and support the charter schools it authorizes at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 20 during an event at Academy of Dover Charter School, 104 Saulsbury Road in Dover. The public and media are invited to attend.
State officials -- recognizing the system that was established in 1995, when the state’s charter law first went into effect, was due to be refined -- have been working for two years on the performance framework. In 2010, the state sought an evaluation by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers to provide an external assessment with recommendations on how to strengthen Delaware’s system. Many of the suggestions in NACSA’s report, published in March 2011, are incorporated in the framework, which was adopted by the State Board of Education this summer and goes into effect next year.
“This comprehensive framework will set the academic, fiscal and governance standards by which all state-authorized charter schools will be evaluated,” Gov. Jack Markell said.
Secretary of Education Mark Murphy also praised the work.
“This will help inform the state, school and public about how the school is doing and what needs exist to promote and sustain quality performance,” he said.
The performance framework looks at the following
- Academic performance, including:
o Student growth
o Student achievement
o State and federal accountability
o Post-secondary readiness
o Mission-specific academic goals
- Financial performance, including:
o Near-term indicators
o Sustainability
- Organizational performance, including:
o Education program
o Financial management and oversight
o Governance and reporting
o Students and employees
o School environment
o Additional obligations
“We were pleased to be able to work with Delaware to improve its charter authorizing practices,” said Greg Richmond, president and CEO of NACSA. “As the foundation for authorizing practice and decision making, the framework can assist the state in both rewarding its best charter schools with opportunities to grow, and in taking the necessary action on schools that aren’t living up to their promise to educate Delaware’s children well.”
The department’s goal is to focus on outcomes not inputs. Clarity and transparency are essential to an outcomes-based system, State Board of Education President Teri Quinn Gray said.
“It uses multiple measures and trends over time, not just a single snapshot of a single measure, which is important particularly with student growth and proficiency,” Gray said.
The state also is finalizing a new charter school application that goes into effect this year and a template for charter performance agreements for existing charter schools.
Event details
WHAT: Release of new charter framework
WHO: Gov. Jack Markell, Secretary of Education Mark Murphy, State Board of Education President Teri Quinn Gray, NACSA President and CEO Greg Richmond
WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 20
WHERE: Academy of Dover Charter School, 104 Saulsbury Road, Dover
The framework also will be posted online following the release here.
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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education
for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.
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Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
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