CASI February 2025 Charter Chat Resource Page

Charter Chat Topics

1. Legislative Updates by Santa Clara County Office of Education
2. Program Hot Topics
3. Fiscal Hot Topics
4. California Department of Education and State Board of Education Updates
5. CASI Annual Survey
6. Upcoming Events
7. Q&A from Previous Charter Chats and CASI Email

Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is provided as a reference only. Charter schools and chartering authorities are encouraged to review the laws and regulations and consult with their own legal counsel regarding the application to their specific situations.

Legislative Updates by Santa Clara County Office of Education

The new two-year legislative session began January 1, 2025. Legislators have until February 21, 2025, to introduce new legislation.

• AB 84 (Muratsuchi) —School accountability: audits: charter schools: data systems
• AB 640 (Muratsuchi) —Local educational agencies: governance training
• AB 730 (Arambula) —Expanded Learning Opportunities Program: supplementary academic instruction and high-impact tutoring
• SB 48 (Gonzalez) —Immigration enforcement: school sites: prohibition on access, sharing information, and law enforcement collaboration
• SB 341 (Perez) —Instructions School Gardens Program: reestablishment: Department of Food and Agriculture
• SB 719 (Cabaldon) —“Spot bill”: Multi-Agency Charter School Audits Task Force recommendations
• To follow current legislation at the California Legislative Information website:
  • Under "Quick Bill Search," select either "Bill Number" or "Keyword(s)"
  • Enter the bill number or keyword, respectively
  • Once the desired bill is located, click "Add to My Favorites." This will prompt the user to create a profile and receive email updates on the status of the desired bill.

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Program Hot Topics

• Comprehensive School Safety Plans (CSSP)
  California Education Code (EC) Section 47605(c)(5)(F) requires each charter school to develop a CSSP, and for that charter school to review and update its plan by March 1 each year. It is considered a best practice for authorizers to require their charter schools to share their CSSP after March 1 of each year and review that the CSSP includes all topics. The notice requirements under EC Section 32288 are not extended to charter schools.
  
  AB 1858 has added the process, procedures, and drills in preparation for an active shooter situation to CSSPs. EC Section 47605 was amended to reflect the addition of the new requirement under the CSSPs:
  • EC Section 47605(c)(F)(ii) states: For all schools, the development of a school safety plan, which shall include the safety topics listed in EC sections 32282(a)(2)(A–M). For schools serving pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, the development of a school safety plan shall also include the safety topic listed in EC Section 32282(a)(2)(N):
    • EC Section 32282(a)(2)(M)(i): When a comprehensive school safety plan is next reviewed and updated on or after July 1, 2025, procedures to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening medical emergency while on school grounds.
    • EC Section 32282(a)(2)(M)(ii): The procedures described in clause (i) are encouraged to integrate evidence-based core elements, including any cardiopulmonary resuscitation training offered and the placement of any automated external defibrillator available on the school site in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based emergency cardiac care guidelines, as dictated by the school safety plan.
• Form 700
  Form 700 must be completed annually by April 1. Additional information is available at California Fair Political Practices Commission - Form 700 .
• Charter Renewal
  Under EC Section 47604.32(a)(5)(A), a chartering authority (e.g., school district or county office) is required to provide timely notification (i.e., within 10 days) after approving the renewal of a charter school to the California Department of Education (CDE). The renewal of a charter school must be documented by an official action (e.g., board minutes, board resolution, signed letter from superintendent, etc.) of the chartering authority. The chartering authority (i.e., not the charter school) is to submit the notice of the renewal approval to the CDE via email at charters@cde.ca.gov prior to the expiration of the charter term. In order for the CDE to process the renewed charter term, the following documents are required to be provided by the chartering authority:
  1. Charter School Renewal Cover Sheet (PDF) signed by the Superintendent of the chartering authority.
  2. Written notice (e.g., board minutes of the public hearing approving the renewal of the charter) by the governing board of the chartering authority. The minutes need to include a statement that the charter school has been renewed for an X-year term effective from July 1, XXXX, through June 30, XXXX.
  3. Updated and complete petition (including new legislation enacted after the charter school was originally granted or last renewed) as approved by the chartering authority.
  4. If the status of the charter school is low performing, a copy of the written plan adopted by the governing body of the charter school as stated under EC Section 47607.2(a)(4)(A), and the charter board minutes demonstrating the date the written plan was adopted by the charter school governing board.

  Additional information regarding the charter school renewal process is provided at CDE Charter School Renewals. Please contact charters@cde.ca.gov with questions.

• School Closure Resources
  CASI participants have requested guidance related to charter school closure resources and oversight. Below are related statutory requirements and resources:
  • CDE Charter School Closure web page
  • Los Angeles County Office of Education Charter School Closure Procedures Checklist
    

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Fiscal Hot Topics

• Second Interim
  According to EC Section 47604.33(a)(4) , on or before March 15, a second interim financial report, reflecting changes through January 31, is due to the chartering authority and county office of education (COE), or just the COE, if they are the authorizer.

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California Department of Education and State Board of Education Updates

• The Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) meeting was held on February 4, 2025.The agenda included renewal of a State Board of Education (SBE)-authorized charter school, Altus Schools South Bay. The next ACCS meeting will be held on April 5, 2025.
• The next SBE meeting will be held on March 5, 2025.

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CASI Annual Survey

Please complete the CASI Annual Survey if you have not already done so.

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Charter Chat Q&A

When does the CDE anticipate releasing the Charter School Performance Category Data File?

The CDE anticipates releasing the Charter School Performance Category Data File on or before March 31, 2025. Upon release of this data file, a notification will be sent to all charter school administrators. Please ensure that the contact information on the California School Directory for your charter school is up to date as this information will be used to notify of the release of the data file. Additionally, you may sign up for the Charters-Schools Listserv at CDE Charter-Schools Listserv to stay informed and receive updates from the CDE Charter Schools Division.

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