Report 2016-141 Recommendation 20 Responses
Report 2016-141: Charter Schools: Some School Districts Improperly Authorized and Inadequately Monitored Out‑of‑District Charter Schools (Release Date: October 2017)
Recommendation #20 To: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District
To ensure that charter schools work toward the academic goals established in their charters, Acton-Agua Dulce Unified should adopt an academic oversight policy that includes steps for working with charter schools with poor performance results.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021
The District annually reviews charter schools' academic performance when testing data and Dashboard results become available, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of standardized academic testing. Academic performance reviews will resume in Spring 2022. The District monitors charter schools' academic progress, requires them to submit academic improvement plans when warranted, and reviews proposed plans from effectiveness, but the District does not tell charter schools what they must do or how they must improve academic performance. That is up to each charter school because they are independent local education agencies and they are ultimately responsible for delivering academic results for their own students.
- Completion Date: October 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Although the District did not adopt an academic oversight policy that includes the steps it takes to work with charter schools with poor performance results, it provided a copy of a settlement agreement where it describes its process for providing academic oversight and the steps it may take if it identifies performance issues. In addition, the district provided evidence demonstrating how it followed up with a charter school as part of its academic oversight process.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020
The District refers the State Auditor to its 2018 response: "The District charter school policy requires that charters with poor performance results be notified of the results of the performance review. Charters with poor performance are required to submit additional benchmark testing results and a detailed plan for improving student performance. (See policy, pages 9-12.)"
The District requires much the same of charter schools with insufficient academic results as the District requires from charter schools with financial concerns. In the last year, multiple charter schools have been required to develop academic improvement plans with clear, measureable goals to increase pupil academic performance. Failure to successfully implement the plan could lead to revocation or non-renewal.
Academic performance is most critical when a charter school seeks renewal of its petition. Several charter schools that were required to create and implement academic performance plans, or were told to begin preparing an academic performance plan, ultimately chose not to seek renewal of their charter petitions; had their plans or results been insufficient, staff most likely would have recommended non-renewal of their petitions.
The District will be updating its Charter School Policy soon to reflect recent, significant changes in the law. It will consider incorporating more information on academic performance plans in the Policy.
- Completion Date: October 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
The district failed to provide evidence supporting its assertions.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2019
The District refers the State Auditor to its 2018 response: "The District charter school policy requires that charters with poor performance results be notified of the results of the performance review. Charters with poor performance are required to submit additional benchmark testing results and a detailed plan for improving student performance. (See policy, pages 9-12.)"
The District requires much the same of charter schools with insufficient academic results as the District requires from charter schools with financial concerns. In the last year, multiple charter schools have been required to develop academic improvement plans with clear, measureable goals to increase pupil academic performance. Failure to successfully implement the plan could lead to revocation or non-renewal.
Academic performance is most critical when a charter school seeks renewal of its petition. Several charter schools that were required to create and implement academic performance plans, or were told to begin preparing an academic performance plan, ultimately chose not to seek renewal of their charter petitions; had their plans or results been insufficient, staff most likely would have recommended non-renewal of their petitions.
The District will be updating its Charter School Policy and Matrix soon to reflect recent, significant changes in the law. It will consider incorporating more information on academic performance plans in the Policy.
- Completion Date: October 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
The district did not provide any new evidence to support its assertions, as a result, we stand by our previous assessment:
Although the district's updated charter school policy notes that it will work with charters that have poor performance results, it does not outline the additional steps that the district noted in its response. During a follow-up conversation, the district stated that it is currently drafting administrative guidelines that will be compiled into a AADUSD Charter School Process and Procedure Manual.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
1-Year Agency Response
The District charter school policy requires that charters with poor performance results be notified of the results of the performance review. Charters with poor performance are required to submit additional benchmark testing results and a detailed plan for improving student performance. (See policy, pages 9-12.)
Implementation Date: October 11, 2018
- Completion Date: October 2018
- Response Date: October 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
Although the district's updated charter school policy notes that it will work with charters that have poor performance results, it does not outline the additional steps that the district noted in its response. During a follow-up conversation, the district stated that it is currently drafting administrative guidelines that will be compiled into a AADUSD Charter School Process and Procedure Manual.
6-Month Agency Response
The District continues to notify charters with poor performance results and asks the charter to submit additional benchmark testing results and a detailed plan for improving student results.
- Estimated Completion Date: October 2018
- Response Date: June 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
Per Acton-Agua Dulce Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.
60-Day Agency Response
The District is incorporating steps for working with charter schools with poor performance results into the District's written policies and procedures.
- Estimated Completion Date: May 2018
- Response Date: February 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
Per Acton-Agua Dulce Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.
All Recommendations in 2016-141
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.