Signing of H.3010 into Law

Gov. Sanford Signs Charter Schools Bill

Introduction

The Mission of the South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools (SCAPCS) is to improve student achievement by supporting and expanding South Carolina's Charter Schools.

From the moment a charter school petition is approved, its leaders enter into a pact, providing accountability for high student achievement in exchange for autonomy from onerous state regulations and requirements. Our ability as individuals and as a movement to live up to that bargain will determine the strength and sustainability of the charter school movement. It is not enough for charter schools to be merely as good (or as bad) as non-charter public schools, we must be better. We owe it to the students to be better. Moreover, all across the state, charter schools are proving that there is no excuse for schools failing our students. When high expectations, strong teaching practices, supportive learning environments and fiscal responsibility are aligned, students learn. We can and must be that beacon of hope and proof that democracy must not give up on public education-that all students will achieve if we teach them.

Background

The Charter Schools Act of 1996 provided opportunities for teachers, parents, pupils, and community members to establish and maintain schools that operate independently from the existing school district structure as a method to

1) improve pupil learning,

2) increase learning opportunities for all pupils,

3) encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods,

4) create professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site,

5) provide expanded choices in the types of opportunities that are available within the public school system, and

6) hold schools accountable for meeting measurable pupil outcomes.

Underlying intent of the law was the creation of a school-centered, performance-based accountability system that would provide competition within the public school system and stimulate continual improvement in all public schools. The "license to dream" provided by the charter law led to the creation of twenty nine charter schools in the state and many approved and pending applications.

Today, South Carolina's charter schools reflect a variety of educational visions, pedagogical approaches, student populations, and organizational designs, which make them uniquely varied and complex. The South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools values all types of charter school programs focused on academic achievement. Diversity enriches the educational landscape.

We believe, in addition, that all charter schools in this state are bound by the commitment to improve educational opportunities for our children. Our schools do not merely provide educational options, they must provide better options. By starting or operating a charter school, individuals have chosen to be accountable to their students and to their families, their employees, their communities and to each other. Indeed, the success of charter schools in this state will depend upon the actions and choices for which individuals in the charter movement bear ethical, as well as professional responsibility. We believe that by conducting themselves in the manner characterized below, charter schools capture the vision of quality educational opportunity, accountability for student learning and the spirit of educational reform embodied in the original charter law.

The SCAPCS is committed to supporting all charter schools in reaching excellence through meeting quality standards. Members of the Association pledge, through a letter of endorsement by their respective governing board, to work with each other and the members whom they represent to meet these standards.

Quality Statement 1: Student Academic Achievement First

A charter school promotes student learning through a clear vision and high expectations. It achieves clear, measurable program goals and student learning objectives, including meeting its stated performance standards and closing achievement gaps of individual students.

Characteristics

A quality charter school. . .

• Achieves clear, measurable program goals and student learning objectives, including meeting its stated performance standards

• Demonstrates high expectations for student achievement

• Provides a challenging and coherent curriculum for each individual student

• Implements and directs learning experiences (consistent with the school’s purpose and charter) that actively engages students

• Allocates appropriate resources in the way of instructional materials, staffing, and facilities to promote high levels of student achievement

• Supports students in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment characterized by trust, caring, and professionalism

• Productively engages parental and community involvement as a part of the school's support system

• Shares vision among the school community and demonstrates it mission in daily action and practice

Quality Statement 2: Ethical Leadership

The leaders of a charter school are stewards of the charter's mission and vision and carry out their duties in professional, responsible and ethical manner. Charter school leaders use their influence to and authority for the primary purpose of achieving student success.

Characteristics

A quality charter school leader. . .

• Effectively communicates and engages stakeholders in the vision and mission of the school

• Consistently puts into practice, the educational program outlined in its charter

• Generates and sustains a school culture conducive to student learning and staff professional growth

• Regularly monitors and evaluates the success of the school's program

• Provides regular, public reports on the school's progress towards achieving its goals to the school community and to the school's authorizer

• Makes management decisions with the goal of optimizing successful teaching and learning experiences

• Treats all individuals with fairness, dignity, and respect

• Has a cogent understanding of the laws that govern charter schools and monitors the trends, issues, and potential changes in the environment in which charter schools operate

• Uses his/her influence and authority for the primary purpose of achieving student success

• Abstains from any decision involving a potential or actual conflict of interest

• Respects diversity and implements practices that are inclusive of all types of learners consistent with the school charter

• Engages community involvement in the school

Quality Statement 3: Continuous Focus on Increasing Quality

A charter school engages in a process of continuous self-improvement in order to increase the effectiveness of its educational program. The school regularly assesses and evaluates student learning based on stated goals.

Characteristics

A quality charter school. . .

• Uses information sources, data collection, and data analysis strategies for self-examination and improvement

• Establishes benchmarks and a variety of accountability tools for monitoring student progress

• Establishes both long and short term goals and plans for accomplishing the school's mission (as stated in its charter)

• Uses student assessment results to improve curriculum and instruction

• Uses the results of evaluation and assessment as the basis for the allocation of resources for programmatic improvement

• Involves staff, students, parents and other stakeholders in its accountability for student learning and in the school's program evaluation process

Quality Statement 4: Responsible Governance

Charter school boards and administrators establish and implement policies that are transparent and focused on student achievement. Charter school boards and administrators have a cogent understanding of and comply with the laws that govern charter schools.

Characteristics

Quality charter school boards and administrators. . .

• Ensure that policies are implemented in a fair and consistent manner

• Monitor the trends, issues, and potential changes in the environment in which charter schools operate

• Seek input from impacted stakeholders

• Enact policies that respect diversity and implements practices that are inclusive of all types of learners consistent with the school charter

• Actively engage the school's authorizer in monitoring the school's educational program and its fiscal status

Quality Statement 5: Fiscal Accountability

A charter school fulfills its fiduciary responsibility for public funds, maintaining publicly accessible fiscal records. The school engages in an annual financial audit which is made public.

Characteristics

A quality charter school. . .

• Creates and monitors immediate and long-range financial plans to effectively implement the school's educational program and ensure financial stability

• Engages an annual financial audit which is made public

• Establishes clear fiscal policies to ensure that public funds are used appropriately and wisely

• Ensures financial resources are directly related to the school's purpose: student achievement of learning goals

Adopted by SCAPCS Executive Committee (8-27-04)

Dr. David A. Church, Executive Director

(864) 918-1057

FAX: (864) 801-0225

EMAIL: dchurch@SCCharterSchools.org

Ms Debbie Reynolds, Director of Development and Communications

(864) 275-2556

EMAIL: dreynolds@SCCharterSchools.ORG