PUB. 11 2021-2022 Issue 1

10 Charter School Accountability Framework BY JENNIFER LAMBERT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UTAH STATE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD NOTE: UAPCS supports charter schools throughout the state. The majority of schools are chartered through the State Charter School Board. For those schools with a different authorizer, we encourage you to take a look at the oversight requirements of your authorizer as well. T his summer, the State Charter School Board voted to adopt adjustments to the Charter School Accountability Framework. Fortunately, this isn’t a new process, but a refinement so we can better support you and provide accountability we believe will mean every student has access to an excellent education that meets their unique learning needs. Over the past year, we learned that elements within the framework led many schools to believe that it was preferable to fly under the radar or that oversight only leads to closure. Not only are these beliefs wrong, but they can also have a negative effect on schools and their performance. We never want to see any of our directors in a position where they feel lost or without an ally. We believe that by reframing the model, we can better support you in your work. With this renewed context about what good charter schools do, you’ll notice a few changes in how the model is implemented. We’ve created a new graphic (see below) that illustrates the different paths LEAs take to get to Good Standing. Every school is on the road to Good Standing, even when they are sent a Notice of Concern or are on Warning. We hope that some schools even become examples to other public schools around the state and become High-performing. We are increasing the number of professional development offerings available to you, your teachers, and your governing boards. These include many local and national experts that will help you navigate to Good Standing. We SCSB Oversight Model: Pathways to Success