Topics: Board & Governance
CCSA's Spring 2018 Governance Academies Conclude This Week
Don’t miss out on your final chance to attend a local Governance Academy workshop! This free workshop will increase participants’ knowledge of charter school legal obligations and develop high-functioning, legally compliant governing boards. Register for your local workshop today!
CCSA's Governance Academies Begin This Week!
Back by popular demand, the California Charter Schools Association is bringing back our Governance Academy, offered in partnership with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP (San Diego and Los Angeles), and Young, Minney and Corr, LLP (Bay Area and Sacramento).
Best Practices to Protect Your School from Liability and to Maximize Your Flexibility Webinar Coming Next Week!
This informative and interactive webinar will include guidance on California sick leave law, best practices on board oversight of employees, structuring employment agreements, and essential employment practices and policies.
NEW Resources: National Charter School Resource Center Releases Two Toolkits on Fiscal Oversights
As part of CCSA’s effort to provide members relevant resources on strong financial practices, we are sharing two toolkits from the National Charter School Resource Center featuring successful practices and recommendations for charter school governing boards and authorizers. Check out the toolkits.
CCSA's Governance Academy Coming Soon!
Back by popular demand, the California Charter Schools Association is bringing back our Governance Academy, offered in partnership with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP (San Diego and Los Angeles), and Young, Minney and Corr, LLP (Bay Area and Sacramento).
Sign Up Today for CCSA's Governance Academy!
Back by popular demand, the California Charter Schools Association is bringing back our Governance Academy, offered in partnership with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, and Young, Minney and Corr, LLP.
Announcing New Resources for Charter School Developers
CCSA has partnered with Public Counsel to develop new resources to assist charter school developers with drafting the governing documents for their non-profit corporations.
CCSA Answers: Requirements for Spending the Educator Effectiveness Grant
Question: What requirements are our board subject to as we prepare our Educator Effectiveness Grant spending plan?
Sign Up Today for CCSA's Governance Academy!
Back by popular demand, the California Charter Schools Association is bringing back our one-day Governance Academy, offered in partnership with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, and Young, Minney and Corr, LLP. The Governance Academy is a free, in-person only, four-hour intensive workshop designed to help school leaders and governing board members increase their knowledge of ethical and legal obligations as stewards of public institutions.
CCSA Answers: Emergency Drills
Question: What drills are charter schools required to conduct and with what frequency?
CCSA Answers: Can a Student with Special Needs who is over Age 19 Generate ADA?
Question: A student who is eligible for special education services and is over the age of 19 would like to complete his high school education at our charter school. Would we be able to collect ADA for this student?
CharterSAFE Compliance Reminder: New Tuberculosis Requirements
Effective this year the TB testing requirement has been changed to allow for the completion of a “risk assessment” rather than a skin test.
CCSA Answers: Campaigning on campus for a facilities bond measure
Question: A facilities bond measure is being proposed by our authorizing school district. Our charter school would receive a substantial portion of the bond proceeds for new facilities, should the bond measure pass. Can our board members use charter school materials like computers and copy machines to generate flyers in support of the bond measure and hand them to our teachers to distribute to students and their parents?
CharterSAFE Compliance Reminder: New Sick Leave Law Requirements Go Into Effect July 1
The State of California’s new sick leave law goes into effect on July 1. All employers, including charter schools, must be ready to comply with the new Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act of 2014.
Webinar: How to Find and Recruit Board Members
Learn how to build the right board for your charter school at this webinar from Board on Track.
CCSA Answers: How to Get "Highly Qualified" Under NCLB
Question: I have four experienced teachers with multiple subject teaching credentials teaching single-subject courses at the middle school level. How can I get them “highly qualified” under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB)?
CCSA Answers: Process to Change a Charter School's Name
Question: What is the process for a charter school to change its name?
Did You Know? CCSA Offers Legal Services for Incorporation and Tax Exemption!
CCSA offers an Incorporation Services Program under which qualifying CCSA members can receive pro bono or reduced rate legal support with the incorporation and tax exemption process from outside attorneys.
CCSA Answers: Required School Holidays
Question: Which holidays are mandated to be observed by our charter school?
CCSA Answers: Compliance with AB 1825, Sexual Harassment Training
Question: Are all charter schools required to hold sexual harassment training every two years, in compliance with AB 1825?
CCSA Answers: Possession of Permanent Cumulative Folders
Question: Can a student leaving a charter school to be privately home schooled take their original cumulative folder with them, or should the charter school make a copy and keep the original until another public school requests it?
CCSA Answers: Making Up An Emergency School Closure
Question: Our district recently had an emergency school closure and all schools, including ours, were closed for the full day. Our district is doing a make-up day. Do we need to make up the day, too?
Register Today for CCSA's Governance Academy in May!
Register today for May’s Governance Academy, offered in partnership with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, and Young, Minney and Corr, LLP.
CCSA Answers: Safety Plan Requirement and Charter Schools
Question: Do the state safety requirements included in Education Code Section 32286 apply to charter schools?
CCSA Answers: Facilities Standards and Charter Schools
Question: Must charter school facilities comply with the school facility design, construction, and building standards that apply to school district facilities?
CCSA Answers: Enrolling Concurrently in a Private and a Charter School
Question: Can a child, who is enrolled in a private Independent Studies Program, also enroll concurrently in a charter school?
CCSA Answers: Why is this Round of Funding the Best Opportunity to Maximize E-Rate Benefits for Charter Schools?
Question: One of our students is planning to spend her spring semester of 10th grade enrolled in a semester abroad program. Would this student need to de-enroll with our charter school, enroll in the new program for the semester, then apply for admission to our school again upon her return?
Hands-on Tech Plan Writing and E-Rate Planning
Take advantage of 6-hours of expert guidance relating to technology, the relationship of free and reduced lunch eligibility to discounts, how long it takes to get the funding and more. Discuss your plans with colleagues from your own and other schools so that you will be reading for the next funding cycle!
CCSA Answers: Why is this Round of Funding the Best Opportunity to Maximize E-Rate Benefits for Charter Schools?
Question: How much money is in this E-Rate pot? How likely is it that my Charter will get some of the funding?
CCSA Answers: Value of E-Rate for Charter Schools
Question: In a nutshell, what value does E-Rate offer my Charter?
CCSA Answers: Safety Requirements in Education Code Section 32286
Question: Do the state safety requirements included in Education Code Section 32286 apply to charter schools?
RSVP Today for a CCSA 2015 Lunch & Learn Series Near You
The CCSA Strategic Partnerships team is excited to kick-off our 2015 Lunch & Learn series, with the goal to bring our School Members together for engaging and content-rich workshops. Each meeting will be presented by one of our Vendor Members.
CCSA Answers: STRS and Payment Schedule Options
Question: If we are paying STRS for our teachers, would it be possible to pay some teachers over a 12-month period and other teachers over a 10-month period? Or, because of STRS, do we have to have all teachers on the same pay schedule?
CCSA Answers: Authorizer in an all-charter district
Question:Who is the authorizer in the case where a direct-funded charter school is applying for renewal in a tiny district that has transformed itself into an all-charter district?
2015 California Charter School Laws and Regulations: An Annual Compilation of Selected Provisions is Now Online
Read the new 2015 Annual Compilation of Selected Laws Applicable to Charter Schools.
CCSA Answers: Charter School Facility Funding
Question: How do Charter schools pay for their facilities? Are they able to access bond funds?
Granting Funds to a Charter School Attended by the Child of a Foundation Trustee
Granting Funds to a Charter School Attended by the Child of a Foundation Trustee
Don't Miss CCSA's Winter Business Managers Meetings!
Got questions about the Governor’s 2015-16 State Budget Proposal and how the state’s financial situation will impact your school? Look no further than CCSA’s Business Managers meetings!
CCSA Answers: Parental Notification for Pest Control
Question: We have a pest control company scheduled to fumigate our charter school and are wondering about requirements for parent notification. Answer: The Healthy Schools Act requirements are something that charter schools may want to consider. The Act requires…
CCSA Answers: Teaching Religious Curriculum at a Charter School
Question: Can religious curriculum be taught at a charter school? Answer: Under the California State Constitution, all public education must be of a non-sectarian nature and the teaching or funding of any religious or faith based “public” school is…
Parent Involvement Policies in the News
An organization from the Bay area called Public Advocates released a report on Thursday, November 20 that highlighted and called into question charter schools across the state with parent involvement policies. Find out more about the report and answers to members questions.
CCSA Answers: Charter School's Executive Director Participating in Child's Testing or Admission into the Gifted and Talented Program
Question: Is it a conflict of interest for the Executive Director of a charter school, who usually interviews each child to make a determination about his or her readiness for the Gifted and Talented Program, participate in her child’s…
CCSA Answers: Changing a Charter School's Funding Designation
Question: What is the process for changing a school’s funding designation from local to direct? Answer: Each year charter schools receive notification to complete the “Charter Schools Annual Information Survey” from the CDE. This is generally sent no later…
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools and Sales Tax
Question: Is there a lower sales tax rate for public schools, including charter schools, in California? Answer: Schools and nonprofit organizations in California are required to pay the prevailing local sales tax rate….
CCSA Answers: Qualifying for SB 740 Funds
Question: How can a school qualify for the SB 740 Charter School Facility Grants? Answer: The Charter School Facility Grant Program was enacted by Senate Bill (SB) 740 (Chapter 892, Statutes of 2001, Education Code Section 47614.5) for the…
CCSA Answers: Number of Audits Required for Multiple Charter Schools
Question: Our second charter petition is about to be approved. It will operate under a nonprofit corporation. Are we required to have two audits, one for each charter, or can we have a single audit covering both schools? Answer:…
CCSA Answers: Deadline by which to Submit Surplus Property Requests
Question: What is the deadline by which surplus property request letters must be submitted by charter schools looking for a facility for the fall of 2015, to school districts? Answer: There is no deadline to submit a letter notifying…
Sign Up Today for CCSA's Governance Academy!
CCSA is offering its one-day Governance Academy in partnership with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, and Young, Minney and Corr, LLP. Register Today!
CCSA Answers: Are charter school developers eligible for Proposition 39 facilities for their new schools?
Question: Are charter school developers eligible for Proposition 39 facilities for their new schools? Answer: Absolutely, as long as the school developers can provide a reasonable projection of 80 or more in-district ADA. However, school developers must submit both…
CCSA Answers: Are Charter Schools Required to Designate LEA status in their Charter Petition?
Question: Is a charter school required to state in their petition whether or not they want to be their own Local Educational Agency (LEA)? Answer: Charter schools need to disclose their entire governance structure and describe their financial planning…
CCSA Answers: Cell Phone Usage by Charter School Students
Question: What rights does a charter school have to specify student cell phone usage during the school day? Answer: There are no state statues or regulations regarding student cell phone usage in charter schools. There are an increasing number…
CCSA Answers: Receiving Credit for Emergency Days When Determining ADA
How can charter schools receive credit for emergency days when determining average daily attendance (ADA)?
CCSA Answers: Federal Civil Rights Laws and Charter Schools
Are charter schools subject to the same federal civil rights laws that apply to traditional public schools?
CCSA Answers: Requiring a Release in Writing from a Student's Resident District
We are a conversion charter school. Must we require any student coming from another district’s attendance area to be released in writing from their resident district?
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools and Pupil Personnel Services Credentials
Do charter school counselors have to have their Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential?
CCSA Answers: Minimum Insurance Requirements for Charter Schools
Are there minimum insurance requirements for charter schools?
Public Charter Schools Grant Program RFA Coming Soon!
The planned release date of the 2014-15 Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) Request for Applications (RFA) for Planning and Implementation (P/I) grants is August 1, 2014.
CCSA Answers: New Changes to Transitional Kindergarten and their Impact on Charter Schools
What changes occurred in the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program as a result of the State Budget adoption, and what is their impact on charter schools?
CCSA Answers: Recommended State of a Charter Petition for Signature Gathering
When obtaining petition signatures must the charter be complete? In other words, must it be the exact petition that will be submitted to the district, or can the petition be revised beyond that point?
CCSA Answers: Authorizer role and LCAP Approval
Is our charter school required to have our LCAP approved by our authorizer?
2014-15 Charter Schools Annual Information Survey Due June 13
The survey enables charter schools to submit, review, and edit data on file with the Charter Schools Division in the California Department of Education (CDE).
CCSA Answers: Listing Donors in a Newsletter
Question: May a charter school which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation list donors in its newsletter?
CCSA Answers: Must Charter Schools Comply with Education Code 42103?
Question: We received a notice from our County Office of Education stating that, to comply with Education Code 42103, we must display our 2013-2014 budget for public comment. Is this required for charter schools?
Sign up Today for CCSA's Governance Academy!
The Governance Academy is a free, in-person only, four-hour intensive workshop designed to help school leaders and governing board members increase their knowledge of ethical and legal obligations as stewards of public institutions.
Did you know CCSA offers Incorporation and Tax Exemption Support to Qualifying Members?
CCSA has a program under which qualifying CCSA members can receive pro bono or reduced rate legal support with the incorporation and tax exemption process from outside attorneys.
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Pulls Draft Charter School Regulation from April Agenda
The FPPC staff is taking more time to consider regulations to govern the application of the Political Reform Act.
Sign up Today for CCSA's Governance Academy!
The Governance Academy is a free, in-person only, four-hour intensive workshop designed to help school leaders and governing board members increase their knowledge of ethical and legal obligations as stewards of public institutions.
Form 700 Filing Deadline - April 1
The filing deadline for local public agency officers and employees to file a Statement of Economic Interest (or Form 700) with their filing officer under the California Political Reform Act is April 1.
LAUSD Authorized Schools: Form 700 Filing Deadline - March 21
If you are an LAUSD authorized charter school, learn more information regarding the filing of Form 700.
Lunch & Learn: Board Member Recruitment & Training - Los Angeles
Join us for the session, “Leveraging Networks and Strengthening Supports,” coordinated by your Regional Director and offered by CCSA Vendor Member, ExED.
2014 California Charter School Laws and Regulations: An Annual Compilation of Selected Provisions is Now Online
It contains nearly all the relevant legislative and regulatory changes affecting charter schools today.
New 2014 Laws Impacting Charter Schools
The start of 2014 brought into effect several new laws that impact how charter schools operate and govern. These laws include AB 2109, SB 751 and AB 1266.
CCSA Answers: Addressing E-mail Thread Among Board Members in Violation of the Brown Act
Question: If an e-mail thread among board members occurs which is in violation of the open meeting requirements, how can we address this after the fact?
CCSA Answers: The Difference Between a "Special" Board Meeting and an "Emergency" Meeting"
Question: What is the difference between a “special” board meeting and an “emergency” meeting, and when is each used?
CCSA Answers: Number of Audits Required for Multiple Charter Schools
Question: Our second charter petition is about to be approved. It will operate under a nonprofit corporation. Are we required to have two audits, one for each charter, or can we have a single audit covering both schools?
CCSA Answers: Notification Necessary in the Event of a Charter School Name Change
Question: What materials must be submitted and which California Department of Education (CDE) divisions need to be notified of a change in a charter school name?
Update: People v. Selivanov and Berkovich
CCSA has issued an FAQ to provide more details about the convictions of Eugene Selivanov and Tatyana Berkovich. Additionally, Mr. Selivanov and Ms. Berkovich are seeking assistance from the charter community by July 1 with their upcoming sentencing.
CCSA Answers: Procedure for Designating Expenditures for EPA Payments
Question: Our authorizing district recently passed a board resolution to accept and designate expenditures for its Education Protection Act (EPA) payments. The resolution suggested that there was a ‘required hearing’ as to how the funds would be spent. The resolution also stated how the district would use the funds. Is this required for charter schools, too?
Don't Miss CCSA's In-depth Annual Governance Academy!
It happens just once a year… Got questions about charter school governance? Don’t miss CCSA’s 3-hour in-depth Governance Academy.
CCSA Answers: Proxy Voting
Question: May charter schools include the option of proxy voting in their bylaws?
Webinars for School Developers
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.
Webinars for School Developers: Charter School Facilities 101, Building the Team to Fulfill Your Mission (Part 2 of 3), PCSGP: Governance 101 and PCSGP: Finance 101
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.
Public Charter Schools Grant Program Finance and Governance Trainings
CCSA will be holding four online Public Charter Schools Grant Program Finance and Governance Trainings.
CCSA Answers: Alternate Form for Reporting Financial Data
Question: What is the Charter School Unaudited Actuals Financial Report Alternate Form for reporting financial data and where can it be found?
Middleton, Young & Minney Offering Free Workshop On Brown Act, Best Practices and Governance
Throughout the month of October, the attorneys of Middleton, Young & Minney will be offering a series of workshops across the state on the Brown Act, best practices, governance and more.
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools and Anti-Bullying Policies
Question: Are charter schools required to adopt anti-bullying policies under AB 9 and AB 1156?
The Brown Act and Posting Meeting Minutes
Question: Does the Brown Act include a directive related to the posting of meeting minutes?
Building a Special Collection of Charter School Documents
The California State Library, through the California Research Bureau, is currently compiling a special collection of charters and charter school petitions to support the spread of best practices in charter school formation and management.
May 30: LA Regional Meeting
Register today! The next regional meeting will have a focus on board governance issues and fundraising.
CCSA Answers: Charter School Employees Serving on the Charter School's Board
Question: Can a charter school employee serve on the charter school’s board?
CCSA Answers: Nonprofit Board Member Serving on the Charter School's Board
Question: Can a nonprofit board member also serve on the charter school’s board?
April 2: Form 700 Filing Deadline for Local Charter School Officials and Employees
Depending on your local authorizer’s conflict of interest policies, certain charter school officers and employees may be required to file Statements of Economic Interest with a filing officer by the April 2 deadline.
March 27: Intensive Finance Academy in Hayward
Got questions about charter school finances? Don’t miss CCSA’s 4-hour in-depth Finance Academy which is offered just once a year! This workshop will assist charter schools and developers in all phases of financial management and is designed for schools that are working toward long-term sustainability.
March 21: Intensive Finance Academy in Los Angeles
Got questions about charter school finances? Don’t miss CCSA’s 4-hour in-depth Finance Academy which is offered just once a year! This workshop will assist charter schools and developers in all phases of financial management and is designed for schools that are working toward long-term sustainability.
Don't Miss CCSA's Intensive, Once-Yearly Finance Academy!
Got questions about charter school finances? Don’t miss CCSA’s 4-hour in-depth Finance Academy which is offered just once a year! This workshop will assist charter schools and developers in all phases of financial management and is designed for schools that are working toward long-term sustainability
CCSA Answers: Charter School Name Change
Question: Does a charter school name change constitute a material revision to the charter school’s petition?
New Board Meeting Agenda Posting Requirement Under the Brown Act
Reminder to CCSA members on Brown Act compliance requirement regarding posting upcoming board meeting agendas
School Board Member Best Practices Summit at the Conference
Hundreds of charter school board members from throughout California will meet to learn about best practices and strategize about the future of the charter school movement.
Public Charter Schools Grant Program Workshops: Register Today!
These workshops are fast approaching! Register today to include these workshops in your grant application work plan.
Register Today for Upcoming Public Charter Schools Grant Program Workshops
CCSA offers a number of workshops to help member schools successfully access funds through the Public Charter School Grant Program, including these upcoming trainings.
CA Charter Schools Conference Special Event: The Charter School Board Member Best Practices Summit
The Charter School Board Member Best Practices Summit at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference & Advocacy Week will be a special one-day conference event on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.
Don't miss Governance Training this week!
This intensive workshop led by experts and legal attorneys gives school leaders and their board members all the info they need to be effective stewards.
San Diego-Area Training Opportunity Reminders
Don’t forget about all the training opportunities coming up at the end of this month and next, including in-person governance and special education sessions!
Free Charter School Governance Academy for Charter Leaders and Board Members
The California Charter School Governance Academy is a free, four hour intensive workshop designed to help school leaders and governing board members increase their knowledge of their ethical and legal obligations as stewards of public institutions. Sign up today for a workshop near you!
School Development Information Sessions
The next session will cover what you need to know about incorporating as a nonprofit public benefit corporation, as well as best practices and compliancy for a Charter School’s Tax Exempt Status.