Topics: Curriculum & Programs
LCFF Priorities/Whole Child Resource Map Now Available
The California Department of Education has released a Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Priorities/Whole Child Resource Map that lists resources to support the needs of California’s diverse student population. Check out the resource when developing Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs).
Apply Now for Code.org's Teacher Professional Learning and Facilitator Development Programs!
Want to teach Computer Science in your school? Code.org is seeking enthusiastic teachers and facilitators for their new middle school and high school courses: CS Discoveries and CS Principles. Applications for Code.org’s Facilitator Development and Teacher Professional Learning Programs for 2017-2018 are currently open.
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools and Drivers Education
Question: Are charter high schools required to offer Drivers Ed classes to their students?
Attention Southern CA Charter Leaders: Attend the C&I Charter Schools Symposium
Southern California charter school leaders and teachers are invited to attend the Curriculum and Instruction Network for Public Charter Schools Symposium. The focus of the Symposium will be “Meeting the Needs of Each and Every Student” featuring a keynote presentation by Dr. Joseph Johnson, the Executive Director for the National Center for Urban School Transformation at San Diego State University.
Op-Ed: Charter Schools Association Responds to School District Errors in Oakland Post
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) recently published its annual “Enrollment Options Guide,” which was intended to be a resource for local families. However, the publication contained numerous errors and excluded the fact that charter public schools support students with special needs as well as those who are English Learners.
Save the Date! Webinar: Introduction to Expanded Transitional Kindergarten
Early Edge California and CDE are offering a webinar that will provide an overview of the expanded transitional kindergarten funding.
Sign Up Today for New 2015-16 Leadership Development Opportunities
Attention school leaders in LA, San Diego and San Bernardino! Based on the successes and learning from last year’s pilots, CCSA and School Leaders Network (SLN) will offer more opportunities in the 2015-16 school year.
2015 California STEM Symposium: Register Now to Save
Register today to be part of California’s largest gathering of professionals devoted to STEM education. Regular-priced registration is available through September 15.
New 2015-16 Leadership Development Opportunities Available
Based on the successes and learning from last year’s pilots, CCSA and School Leaders Network (SLN) will offer more opportunities in the 2015-16 school year.
New Common Core Fact Sheet Available
A new fact sheet is available regarding the Common Core State Standards. Read more.
School Spotlight: Common Core Implementation
Adopted in 2010 by the California Department of Education (CDE), the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are currently in the implementation phase. Learn more.
CCSA Answers: Can Credentialed Elementary Instructors Teach Preschool?
Question: Can Credentialed Elementary Instructors Teach Preschool?
External Opportunity: The Tom Bradley Project
A curriculum guide for 12th grade Government classrooms, supported by Common Core standards, designed to accompany the educational documentary, “Tom Bradley’s Impossible Dream.”
Need Help with Your Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)?
Developing a LCAP can be a daunting task. How do you measure school climate? What defines student and parent engagement? The TC Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys for parents, staff and students can help.
CCSA Releases NEW Common Core Knowledge Briefs!
New Common Core Knowledge Briefs serve as a great resource for members.
Lunch & Learn: Common Core Implementation - Oakland
Join us for the session, “Keeping up with Common Core Implementation,” coordinated by your Regional Director and offered by CCSA Vendor Member, EdTec.
Lunch & Learn: Common Core Implementation - Santa Rosa
Join us for the session, “Keeping up with Common Core Implementation,” coordinated by your Regional Director and offered by CCSA Vendor Member, EdTec.
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.
Miss the Recent CDE Common Core Webinar? Watch it Today.
The webinar covers the changes in the assessment and accountability system, AB 484, Smarter Balanced, Common Core, and much more!
New Common Core Resource
Download the new resource “Leadership Planning Guide: Common Core State Standards and Assessments Implementation”
CCSA Answers: Contracting to Provide Courses or Tutorial Services
Question: May a charter school contract with a nonprofit educational organization to provide courses or tutorial services?
CCSA Answers: Retroactively Entering Into an Independent Study Contract
Question: Can independent study be recorded for a student retroactively?
CCSA Answers: Preparing technologically for Common Core
Question: What can our charter school do to prepare technologically for the Common Core?
External Opportunity: Free, Online Course on Blended Learning with Silicon Schools Fund
There’s a lot of buzz about “blended learning” and its growing impact on the way students learn in the classroom. But what is it really? Sign up today for a new course kicking off on Oct. 15!
"Beyond the Workshop" Offers Online Professional Development for Charter Teachers
A new website has launched offering online reading and math strategy courses for teachers.
E4E Teachers Release White Paper on Redesigning Classrooms and Careers
Read the paper and invite E4E to your school for an interactive presentation on this topic. The teachers recently presented their information to LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy.
New Guidance on Pupil Fees Available
Understand how to implement AB 1575 and when a school may lawfully charge pupil fees for school-related activities.
Common Core State Standards Professional Learning Opportunities
The CDE is hosting two one-day Common Core State Standards (CCSS) professional learning opportunities for teachers.
Common Core State Standards
CCSA is proud to announce the release of its latest Knowledge Brief, “Common Core State Standards,” and the accompanying pre-recorded webinar.
CCSA Answers: Charter Student Placement in District Summer School Program
Question: Are our charter students entitled to placement in the District’s summer school program since we will not be offering summer school this year?
May 1: Common Core Implementation Workshop
Questions about Common Core implementation? Don’t miss this in-person workshop presented by The Center for College & Career Readiness, in partnership with the California Charter Schools Association.
CCSA Answers: Credential Needed to Teach Math and Science at a Site-Based Charter School
Question: Which credential is needed to teach 6th grade math and science at our site-based charter school?
Recommended Literature: Common Core Resource
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson recently unveiled the new “Recommended Literature: Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve” list.
Common Core Workshop and Resources
Got questions about the Common Core? Join our webinar to learn what charter schools must do to implement the Common Core standards.
March 27: Common Core Workshop
Got questions about the Common Core? Join our webinar to learn what charter schools must do to implement the Common Core standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments.
Enter to Win Amazing Tech Prizes for Students from the CK-12 Foundation
An entire classroom has a chance to win iPads, Kinkdles, Nooks or Chrombooks from the CK-12 Foundation by demonstrating educational innovation and creativity in the “Get-Real” competition.
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools and Drivers Education
Question: Are charter high schools required to offer Drivers Ed classes to their students?
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.
External Opportunity: No-cost Common Core Academy + Consultations
CCSA members are invited to participate in Common Core and College & Career Readiness opportunities at no cost thanks to CCSA Vendor Member Center for College & Career Readiness.
CCSA Answers: Must Physical Education Teachers at Charter Schools Be Credentialed?
Question: Must Physical Education Teachers at Charter Schools Be Credentialed?
Free Resource: San Diego COE Curriculum and Instruction Network for Public Charter Schools Meeting
Common Core Assessments will be the focus of the next San Diego County Office of Education Curriculum and Instruction Network meeting on Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 12:45 pm - 3:00 pm.
External Opportunity: Online Learning Platform Free for Charter Schools
A FREE, online learning platforms to CA Charter Schools. These include a digital literacy program which covers the topics of cyber bullying, online safety, website credibility, texting and driving, and more.
Reading Comprehension Series for Middle and High School Teachers
Interested in resources for boosting students’ reading comprehension? Too busy to attend face-to-face professional development? Take this free online course for charter school teachers!
Featured Resource: Back to School Checklist
The beginning of the school year can be hectic, but it’s also an important time to review and update vital information. The Association’s “Back to School Checklist” contains information schools should consider as they prepare to open for a new school year
Update on Transitional Kindergarten
It is the position of the California Charter Schools Association that the applicable law, SB 1381, regarding Transitional Kindergarten does not require charter schools to offer Transitional Kindergarten.
Ready to Expand Your Program?
Charter schools in SDUSD are finding great success in growing their schools through expansion of their current program by adding grades to their current petition.
External Resource: Common Core Updates on CDE on iTunes U
For Spring, the California Department of Education (CDE) has added new professional development content related to Common Core State Standards.
Recruitment of Educators to Serve on the English Language Arts Focus Groups
Are you an educator interested in helping shape what students learn in the classroom? Find out how you can participate.
CCSA Answers: Charter Schools Developing Partnerships with Private Entities
Question: May charter schools develop partnerships with private entities for the purpose of licensing curriculum to be used at the charter school?
Feb. 1: Charter Curriculum and Instruction Meetings (C&I)
SDCOE continues their support of the charter community by hosting this excellent opportunity to meet, share best practices, learn and more.
CCSA Answers: Operating a Single Sex Charter School
Question: Is it legal to operate a single-sex charter school?
Defense Authorization Bill Clears Senate: Changes Enlistment Policies for Online Charter School Graduates
Online learning is no longer a small pilot program; thousands of students are learning via this model each year. CCSA encourages federal law that recognizes online education and treats it equally with other forms of educational delivery.
CCSA Answers: Teaching Religious Curriculum at a Charter School
Question: Can religious curriculum be taught at a charter school?
External Opportunity: Free Multimedia Presentation & Leadership Workshop in Partnership with Participant Media and Me to We
Me to We and Participant Media are excited to continue their partnership through an exclusive speaking tour based on the award-winning documentary, Waiting for “Superman.” Through an hour-long presentation designed for high-school students, using themes and clips from Waiting for “Superman” and an afternoon action-planning workshop for 30 students focused on issues awareness and leadership skill building, Me to We speakers explore the importance of and barriers to education across the world.
CCSA Answers: When Should A Charter High School Go Through WASC?
Question: As a newly-opened charter high school, when do we need to go through WASC so we can offer UC-approved A-G courses?
Career Technical Education Resources Available for Charters
CCSA has created a Knowledge Brief on Career Technical Education that addresses how to fund a CTE program and provide CTE courses, as well as case studies of charter schools across the state that are successfully providing CTE courses.
CCSA Answers: Is Ed Code Section 51745(e) applicable to charter schools?
Question: Education Code Section 51745(e) states, “No course included among the courses required for high school graduation under Education Code Section 51225.3 shall be offered exclusively through independent study.” Does this apply to charter schools with independent study programs?
External Resource: Free Cyberbullying Toolkit Available
Cyberbullying is back to school, too. Don’t let it get settled in.
CCSA Answers: The Fair Education Act and Charter Schools
Question: How will the passage of the Fair Education Act impact charter schools?
External Resource: Free Teacher Professional Development
Teachers! Take advantage of this online resource: planning guides and actionable research delivered to your inbox!
CCSA Answers: License for Operating an After School Program
Question: Are charter schools required to have a license to provide after school care?
CCSA Answers: Funding to Provide Meals to Low-Income Preschool Students
Question: Is there funding available to help provide meals to low-income preschool students at a charter school?