Statute Requires Annual Reports to Charter Schools
CACSA Resources Available
Colorado’s charter school law requires charter school authorizers to conduct an annual review of school performance and to provide an annual report describing that review to charter schools they oversee. Many Colorado districts appear to not comply with this requirement, eventually complicating charter renewals and reducing their ability to insist on necessary changes.
CACSA is hosting a webinar to discuss annual reports on Wednesday, August 24, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. This webinar will present tools that districts can use to implement an annual report process and experienced authorizers will share how and why they provide annual reports to the schools they oversee. Districts that do not currently use an annual report process are strongly encouraged to join this event and to start producing these reports this fall. CACSA is available to help districts in this work.
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 821 6608 8986
Passcode: 675747
One tap mobile: +16694449171,,82166088986#
The annual reports must include the school’s progress in meeting objectives in school improvement plans and the results of an annual independent financial audit. Model reports also address operational and governance issues. These reports are expected to contribute to the body of evidence a district uses when making a renewal decision or negotiating a new charter contract.
A considerable proportion of Colorado districts do not conduct these reviews or provide the associated report. Self-reporting by districts indicates that more than a dozen districts do not conduct these reviews. All districts would be well-served by implemented an annual reporting process.
Annual reviews can improve charter-district relations by providing transparency and predictability to both parties. They also reduce the burden on both the school and the district during the renewal process by creating a record of performance and operational trends. Conversely, when districts do not conduct these reviews, renewals can feel more high-stakes to schools because charter operators can be in the dark about their chances of renewal. Schools that are struggling financially can also create greater financial troubles by not addressing financial problems early enough to avoid catastrophic problems.
There is help available to districts launching a new annual reporting process or updating their current process. CACSA has a folder with items on annual reports in its resource library, including model Annual Report Templates and a related Site Visit Protocol. An overview of these resources is available here, an excel spreadsheet provides details on items to include, and mock ups of final reports are available. Various mockups demonstrate different approaches, including examples that emphasize academic or overall performance. A site-visit rubric is also available. These templates address academic performance, finances, and governance and operations. CACSA also has examples of districts’ annual reports that other authorizers can use to inform their own design, including a well-documented version of materials from the Charter School Institute, as well as examples from APS, DPS, and D-49. A CACSA webinar discusses these tools.
While preparing annual reports takes time and effort, it is a key part of implementing strong authorizing practices. Doing it well can make renewals easier, help charter schools improve, and strengthen a district’s hand in the event they ultimately need to seek changes at a school or have to non-renew one. The specific statutory language is as follows:
22-30.5-110.(1)(b) During the term of a charter, the school district shall annually review the charter school’s performance. At a minimum, the review includes the charter school’s progress in meeting the objectives identified in the plan the charter school is required to implement pursuant to section 22-11-210 and the results of the charter school’s most recent annual financial audit. The school district shall provide to the charter school written feedback from the review and shall include the results of the charter school’s annual review in the body of evidence that the local board of education takes into account in deciding whether to renew or revoke the charter and that supports the renegotiation of the charter contract. (Note: Section 22-11-210 references the state accountability system, school plan types, and school planning.)