Performance Monitoring and Accountability - The authorizer develops/maintains accountability measures and implements systems that hold the charter school to high standards.
Proficiency: Create/refine practices for holding schools accountable with clear communication around performance status and corrective action processes.
Learning
Introduction
Participants will learn about the importance of establishing contract performance metrics, articulating Tiered Intervention to correct and recalibrate performance as necessary, and guide course correction through a corrective action or school improvement plan. They may use the information in this course to monitor performance metrics, successfully guide performance recalibration as necessary, and drive quality performance collaboratively.
Detail
Authorizer Corrective Action Slides Each video in this course will address certain slides within this PowerPoint. Download these slides and use them as a reference guide for this Buzz course. Format: Google Slides Length: 40 slides
What authorizer activities below best describe the “Monitoring” actions of a quality authorizer?
Does the Charter Contract negotiations and agreement set the performance expectations for a charter school?
Should quality authorizers make performance oversight decisions based on personal beliefs?
Is timely notice an important expectation of a well-designed
Tiered Intervention policy and practice?
Format: YouTube Video Length: 14:29 minutes
NACSA Principles and Standards Read the “Performance Contracting” through the “Protecting Student Rights” Sections (Pages 14–18) in the NACSA Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing document to learn more about contracting with charter schools. Quality authorizers define and communicate the process and method for reporting performance measures to their charter schools. The charter contract is the document in which authorizers can clearly state the rights and responsibilities of both the authorizer and charter governance board. Format: PDF Length: 4 pages of a 28-page document
Wisconsin Charter School Authorizer Best Practices Read the Wisconsin version of Authorizer Best Practices. Specifically, read the “Performance Contracting” through the “Protecting Student Rights” Sections (pages 13–17). Note that authorizing in Wisconsin is similar to authorizing in other states. Each charter contract will be unique and is clearly written to identify the roles and responsibilities of the authorizer and charter governance board. Format: PDF Length: 5 pages
GUIDING QUESTION 2: What does a tiered intervention system look like? Watch the video that discusses slides 11–17 from the WRCCS PPT Authorizer Corrective Action slideshow. Then reflect on how you would create or review a tiered intervention for your charter school(s). It is important to have a clearly communicated and consistent intervention system in place. Format: YouTube Video Length: 13:15 minutes
NACSA Principles and Standards Read the “Intervention” sections (page 19) from the NACSA Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing document to learn more about how quality authorizer intervenes when necessary Format: PDF Length: 1 page
Introduction to Tiered Intervention Levels This video discusses slides 22-26. An authorizer’s ladder or levels of intervention provides a guide for how the authorizer will respond to non-compliance issues or concerns at increasing levels of consequences due to increasing severity of triggers or compliance issues. The tiered intervention further can give grounds for intervention with the corresponding actions that the authorizer can choose to take because of those triggers or failure to remedy. Format: YouTube Video Length: 9:26 minutes
Tiered Intervention Levels Read through the Intervention Tiered Intervention Policy Levels below and use the reflection questions to inform the levels that would make sense for your current situation. Reflect upon the possible triggers (tiers) that could activate an intervention notice and the actions and consequences for the performance deficiencies.
Level 1 (Notice of Concern) Reflection:
Should a Notice of Concern require a Corrective Action Plan? Explain your logic of whether to require a formalized remediation plan or why you would not.
Why is it important to have documentation of a Notice of Concern?
Level 2 (Notice of Deficiency) Reflection:
If either or both the performance frameworks or the contract trigger a Notice of Deficiency, is it important to establish and communicate agree-upon metrics, in either or both, to inform any future intervention?
Why is it important to require a corrective action plan or remediation steps that have very specific improvement steps within a defined timeline?
Level 3 (Notice of Probation) Reflection:
Why would an authorizer give a Notice of Probation because of failure to satisfy an improved corrective action plan?
Is it important to inform the school’s board? If so, why?
Level 4 (Notice of Charter Review or Suspension) Reflection:
In your reflection, what would constitute a “flagrant” disregard for the charter agreement?
Why would it potentially be advisable to replace the school leader or appoint a new school board at this tiered intervention level?
Level 5 (Notice of Charter Revocation / Closure) Reflection:
Would it be important as a quality authorizer to have established a closure protocol and timeline prior to revoking a charter or board approved closure sanction? Why or why not?
What constitutes a “pattern of failure” to comply with performance targets?
Intervention Checklist Review the Intervention Checklist. It is designed to help ensure an intervention process and policy are complete and consistent. Use the tool to audit a current Intervention Practice or Policy. If you do not have one, use the Intervention Checklist to guide you on drafting a policy or practice. Format: Word document Length: 1 page
GUIDING QUESTION 3: “How can schools develop a corrective action or school improvement plan to address issues cited in an intervention notice?” Watch the video that discusses slides 32-37 from the Authorizer Corrective Action PowerPoint. Then reflect on how charter schools could build and implement a corrective action plan to address authorizer concerns. It is important that authorizers communicate expectations for corrective action plans and monitor progress during the term of the intervention. Format: YouTube Video Length: 15:55 minutes
Corrective Action Plan Guide Sheet This guide sheet provides authorizers sequential steps to develop a strategic work plan to address a contract violation or deficiency. This guide sheet is designed to help authorizers personalize how they handle corrective action. The guide sheet can be used with either the WRCCS Corrective Action Plan template or any other School Improvement Plan tool. Format: Word document Length: 2 pages
Corrective Action Plan Template Here is an example corrective action plan (CAP) template that can be used by schools, governance boards or authorizers. Feel free to use as is or make changes to better meet your needs. Format: Word document Length: 1 page
WRCCS School Improvement Plan Template Here is an example school improvement plan (SIP) template that schools, governance boards, and authorizers can use. Some authorizers and schools use a school improvement plan in conjunction with corrective action planning. Feel free to use as-is or make changes to better meet your needs. Format: Word document Length: 7 pages
Applying
Applying
Create or revise your current Tiered Intervention system based on your new learning. Make sure you have an intentional focus on practicing collaborative performance intervention that allows the authorizer, the school, and the board to develop performance measures. Make sure your tiered interventions are clear, consistent, and complete.
