January 2013
Don't Miss! Upcoming CCSA Workshops
Need to meet PSCGP training requirements? Have questions about the Common Core State Standards? Afraid you missed all the Business Managers’ Meetings? Learn how these workshops can help.
Featured Grant: Healthy and Sustainable School Food Journalism Awards
Financial award for the winning article about the need for healthy, sustainable school food
CCSA Answers: PI Schools and Title I
Question: What is a “PI” school? What do PI schools have to do with Title I?
Public Charter Schools Grant Program Dissemination Sub-grant: Request for Applications
The 2012-13 Fiscal Year federal PCSGP Dissemination Request for Application (RFA) and forms are available on the CDE Web site.
Sycamore Valley Academy Making a Difference in the Facility Resources Struggle in the Central Valley
For that reason, schools participating in Prop 39 facilities applications and SB 740 facilities private lease reimbursements should be applauded in their efforts to formally communicate the need for facility resources for charter schools.
Feb. 4 Webinars for School Developers: Why, What, How: Crafting Vision, Mission and Value
Often overlooked as merely symbolic, strong and clear Vision, Mission and Values statements have a powerful effect on families, staff, funders and the larger community, propelling the school toward continual improvement and innovation.
Special Workshops at the 20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference!
Hands-on: E-Rate and Tech Plans! PCSGP Workshop! Board Member Best Practice Summit! Get the details and find out how you can participate!
New area eligible for High Quality Charter Grant Program
The Walton Foundation has redefined the boundaries of the areas of Los Angeles that are eligible for its High Quality Charter Grant Program. See the new map!
Happy National School Choice Week!
Every January, National School Choice Week provides an unprecedented opportunity to shine a spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children.
Special Education MOU's Due April 1 for LAUSD charter schools
All LAUSD-authorized charter schools will be required to select a new special education arrangement and sign a new memorandum of understanding by April 1, 2013 to take effect for the 2013-14 school year. Learn more at the Feb. 5 LA Regional Meeting!
Jan. 30 CDE Webinar: PCSGP Dissemination Request for Applications (RFA) and Forms
The webinar will provide applicants information about the eligibility requirements and application process for the Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) Dissemination Sub-grants
Jan. 28 Webinar: Writing a Charter Petition
Get an overview of the development process, a breakdown of CDE regulations and an outline of the topics that must defined in charter petitions
Thought Provoking Speakers, In-Depth Programming & Fun Networking Events!
Don’t miss the 20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference!
Renewals are Signs of Good Things to Come for a Number of Schools
The relationship with your authorizer is critical to the existence of your school. Never is that more apparent then when your school is up for re-authorization. I
Featured Grant: Captain Planet Foundation
Funding to support high-quality educational programs that enable children and youth to understand and appreciate our world through learning experiences that engage them in active, hands-on community service projects to improve the environment in their schools and communities
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools and Drivers Education
Question: Are charter high schools required to offer Drivers Ed classes to their students?
January 2013 Update: CCSA v. LAUSD (Prop. 39 Litigation)
CCSA has filed a Petition for Rehearing in the California Court of Appeal requesting that the Court reconsider its decision in CCSA’s Prop. 39 litigation against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) issued on December 7, 2012
Families That Can Provides Support for Renewal at Yuba Environmental Science Charter Academy
Parents make plans to call, write letters and speak at school board meetings
Pro Bono Service Grants Available Through the Taproot Foundation - Deadline: March 1, 2013
If you are looking to build your internal capacity, consider applying for a Service Grant from The Taproot Foundation. The next deadline for submission is March 1, 2013.
Regional Charter Leaders Meetings Kick Off January 24 - February 11, 2013
Register Today! Regional charter leaders meetings kick off this month and will be held from January 24 - February 11, 2013. These interactive and informative meetings present a great opportunity to discuss state and local regional issues.
February 28: Reach For Success- An Evening of Transition for Students with Disabilities
All LA charter high school students with unique needs and their parents are invited to explore post-secondary options and community resources! Granada Hills Charter High School in partnership with Birmingham Community Charter High School is hosting an evening focused on transition.
Update on 2012-13 CCSA Results on CCSA's Minimum Accountability Criteria
Based on the latest release of CCSA’s 2012-13 Academic Accountability Report Cards, we are seeing reasons for optimism regarding trends in charter school performance. Read more about the trends in our upcoming Portrait of the Movement.
CCSA's 2012 Academic Accountability Report Cards are Live!
CCSA’s Academic Accountability Report Cards are updated with 2012 data and live. Click through to access the 2012 report cards and a sortable Excel spreadsheet listing all charter school results statewide.
LA Charters invited to join the Million Word Challenge
Families in Schools is launching their annual Million Word Challenge literacy campaign. Local charter schools can register to be part of the campaign, which kicks off city-wide on Feb. 4, 2013. Registration and participation are both free.
Celebrate Girls and Women in Sports Day! Student tickets available to the Feb. 2 SDSU Women's Aztecs Game
Join the pre-game fun and get autographs, take pictures, hear powerful messages about academic achievement, and get playing and training tips from SDSU women athletes and coaches!
New Year's Registration Deadline Extended to January 25!
This means you have another week to take advantage of discounted individual and group registration rates for the 20th Annual Conference, AND another week to WIN!
Check Out ZOOM!'s New Website Offerings
Based on user feedback, we reorganized our website, including adding a “Technical Resource Center” in our “Professional Development” section, and refined the help documents that are currently available.
Critical February 6 Deadline is Approaching at the California Department of Education (CDE)
Certify your school’s Free and Reduced Price meal (FRPM) data in CALPADS to ensure accurate funding and grant eligibility for programs like the SB 740 Charter School Facility Grant Program.
Topics to be Discussed at the Upcoming Central Valley Charter Leader Meetings
In addition to the opportunity to network with other charter leaders from your area we will be discussing particular topics specific to each area for the three regional meetings happening in the first week of February.
Featured Grant: Fender Music Grant
Award of musical instruments to be used in school music programs
External Opportunity: Webinar on Spring Deferral Financing Jan. 30
While the passage of Proposition 30 has improved the charter school funding picture for this year, cash flow challenges still remain.
CCSA's Not-to-be-Missed Fundraising Workshop - January 23
This webinar will provide attendees with an overview of how to run an efficient, lucrative, and reliable fundraising program for a charter school.
For ZOOM!: GradeCam Now Available
DataDirector has developed a new way to scan assessment results into its system, and it’s now available for all ZOOM! schools to use!
Webinars for School Developers: Writing Your Charter Petition (Part 3 of 3) & Charter Petition and MOU: Important Elements for Your Special Education Sections
There are a number of online charter school development information sessions coming up in the next few months on topics ranging from incorporation to designing a realistic school budget
Capitol Update 1/17/13
Included in the Capitol Update this week:
* CCSA’s January 2013 Budget Brief
* State Board of Education Appointments
* SBE Approves PCSGP Dissemination Grant
* Upcoming Deadline at the CDE
Academy of the Inland Empire Invites You to Their Common Core Presentation on January 18
Academy of the Inland Empire to present their new “Common Core Standards” for Inland Empire youth.
Charter Parents Eligible for Sponsorship To Attend Parent Summit for FREE
As San Diego plays host to the CCSA Conference in March our region has the honor to host the CCSA Parent Summit on March 13 at the Downtown San Diego Convention Center and sponsor a limited number of Charter Parents to attend the daylong conference.
The Association of African American Educators (AAAE) Holds Conference in San Diego Prior to CCSA Conference
AAAE is seeking presenters and attendees for their March 8 - 9 conference in San Diego
County Office of Education Curriculum and Instruction Group Meets January 24, 2013 at SDCOE
The next County Office of Education Curriculum and Instruction Group meeting is Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 12:45 to 3:00 pm in SDCOE’s Communication Labs 1-4 at Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center
It's a New Year and a New Opportunity to Save on Registration for the 2013 CCSA Conference!
Register by Friday to receive discounted group rates AND be entered into a drawing to receive FREE registration and hotel stay for the 2014 CCSA Conference in San Jose!
New Partnership Between District-run Special Ed Center and LA Charter School
We are excited to announce a brand new partnership that launched Jan. 10 between Granada Hills Charter High School and Leichman Special Education Center which is run by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
Should we Change the Locations of our Regional Charter Leader Meetings to Different School Sites in the Central Valley?
I look forward to the discussion on this subject.
Looking forward to 2013!
With a new year comes new opportunities to work together to address challenges charter schools face in Northeastern California, and to improve public education as a whole.
Why Do YOU Love Charter Schools?
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the charter school movement by showing why YOU love charter schools! You AND your charter school can win a $100 gift card.
CCSA Answers: Saturday School
Question: Is there a way to “recoup” ADA through Saturday school programs?
Guided Language Acquisition Design Training in LA this January
Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts is hosting an upcoming Project GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) Tier I Training for educators at its school.
Webinars for School Developers: Building the Team to Fulfill Your Mission & Becoming a California Benefit Non-Profit Corporation with 501 (c)(3) Status
Explore upcoming sessions on topics ranging from incorporation to designing a realistic school budget.
Capitol Update 1/10/13
Included in the Capitol Update this week:
* Charter School Improvements
* State Fiscal Outlook
* Key Elements for Education
* Principal Apportionment Due Date Reminder
January 2013 Update: CCSA v. LAUSD (Prop. 39 Litigation)
On Friday, January 4, the California Court of Appeal decided to publish the brief decision in CCSA’s Prop. 39 litigation against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) that it originally issued on December 7, 2012. In the opinion, the court upheld LAUSD’s use of “norming ratios” when assigning classrooms to charter schools, finding that the practice is “consistent with the intent of Proposition 39.”
Capitol Update 1/7/13
Included in the Capitol Update this week:
* Legislative Year Begins in Earnest
* CCSA’s Government Affairs Team Announces New Leadership
* Governor Jerry Brown to Release State Budget
Participate in the Facilities Survey: Deadline is January 31
The Facilities Initiative Survey aims to collect data to develop an analysis of the issues and challenges facing California’s charter schools and their access to affordable, adequate facilities.
Featured Grant: Advancing Student Achievement (ASA) Grants
Funding for new math enhancement programs for elementary and secondary students, such as clubs, competitions, before and after school programs, classroom extension periods, etc.
Featured Grant: Christopher Columbus Awards
Funding for groups of students who can identify a problem in a community and apply the scientific method to create an innovative solution to the problem
Central Valley Charter School Accomplishments
This is not an all inclusive list so apologies if I’ve left out information about your school.
Join the Great Kindness Challenge January 14 - 18!
This year’s Great Kindness Challenge will be held from January 14 - 18 for schools K-12 who wish to participate.
Web Tool Wednesdays from San Diego County Office of Education
Expand your digital literacies from the convenience of your office, classroom, or home.
Facilities Continues to be the Number One Challenge Cited by Charter Operators in Santa Clara County
Did you know that there are a handful of charter networks in Santa Clara County that are leasing private buildings AND using district facilities for multiple schools?
Rocketship Education featured on PBS NewsHour
Rocketship, which currently has 7 schools in San José, was recently featured on PBS NewsHour.
Don't Miss the 20th Annual Conference - Register by January 18 and Enter to WIN!
All conference registrants who register by the New Year deadline will be entered to win a full conference registration and hotel stay for 3 nights for the 21st Annual CCSA Conference in San Jose March 3-6, 2014! Three registrants will win!
Local Education Nonprofits Making a Significant Impact
Aspire Public Schools, Lighthouse Community Charter, and KIPP Bay Area Schools (KIPP Bridge) were recently recognized for their significant impact by education experts on the Local Education 2012 Philanthropedia list.
CCSA's Commitment to Accountability for Charter Schools
CCSA’s President and CEO Jed Wallace’s recent op-ed in EdSource reaffirmed CCSA’s strong stance to ensure that collectively charter authorizers, government officials, policymakers, parents and charter school leaders hold all charter schools in California to a high accountability standard.
Jan. 9 Webinars: Writing Your Charter Petition & How to Start a Charter School
There are a number of online charter school development information sessions coming up in the next few months.