CACSA Update
This CACSA Update focuses on authorizer and charter school activity to respond to the COVID19 virus.
CACSA is convening a conference call for authorizers to share strategies and talk about how best to respond to this challenge. The call will take place on Friday, March 13, at 9:00 am MDT. Login information is at the bottom of this note.
National and State: The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance available here. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) has a folder with information for charter schools here. Information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment click here. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) also released a series of documents addressing the issue. Attached and in links below are documents that provide guidance on school closures, travel, and general guidance.
- Novel Coronavirus – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Planning for Schools and Child Care
- Novel Coronavirus – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Planning for Schools and Child Care Closure
- Travel and Spring Break
Authorizer Authority to Close a Charter: One issue that may emerge for authorizers is determining who should decide when a school should close. CDE’s guidance spells this out as well, but there could still be disagreement about when to close schools or take other actions. Aurora Public Schools shared the attached MOU, which they are using with their charters to clarify the authority of the district to direct actions as necessary.
The Role of Technology: Robin Lake from the Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) will join our call. Robin shared insights on the topic in a piece at The 74 that you can read here. CRPE is based on Seattle, so she has been in discussions with people involved in steps that may be a few days ahead of potential Colorado actions. She discusses the role of technology and how schools will need to innovate with remote learning to address this challenge.
Special Education During Closure: If schools shift to remote learning, challenges with special education may emerge. The National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools (NCSECS) released a document with advice and federal guidance released federally when a previous virus (the H1N1 virus) was circulating and raising fears of large scale school closures. You can read the information from the NCSECS here.
NACSA Webinar: The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) is hosting a webinar on the topic next Wednesday, March 18. You can register for their webinar here.
If you have any materials to share, questions, or suggested strategies, please send them directly to me at Alex.Medler@coauthorizers.org.
To join the call.
Login: https://zoom.us/j/279464641?pwd=dS9ud3BUMFFGaE90WUNzMnkvWWpoZz09
Meeting ID: 279 464 641
One tap mobile: 16699009128,,279464641#