O.U.S.D. OFFICE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS

Authorizer Responsibility
"The Legislature intended charter schools to increase innovation and learning opportunities while being accountable for achieving measurable student outcomes.  In order to hold the charter schools accountable, the Legislature required that each charter petition contain certain elements, including measurable student outcomes proposed by the school to accomplish its educational program. These outcomes give the chartering entity criteria against which it can measure the school’s academic performance and hold it accountable.The charter agreement is critical for accountability, as it outlines the standards the school is agreeing to be held to."     
                                                                                 - State Auditor Report, 2002

Ongoing Oversight, Evaluation, and Intervention.
Authorizers oversee charter schools in a variety of ways, but whatever the method, authorizers must balance the tension between fulfilling their public stewardship responsibilities and minimizing administrative burdens on schools. Therefore, authorizers have to consider the balance between compliance requirements and school autonomy.

Excess in one direction can lead to procedural regulation that makes a mockery of the notion of autonomy, while moving too far in the other direction can enable abuse of public funds and public trust. This balancing applies to development of compliance requirements, gathering of information relevant to those requirements, and corrective action, as appropriate, when the school is not meeting requirements.
                                                                                      - National Association of State Boards of Education

OUSD Office of Charter Schools Accountability::

Each Year the OUSD Office of Charter Schools conducts a Ten-Point Compliance visitation in the fall to all charter schools authorized by OUSD.  The office requires charter schools to provide evidence of valid CA teacher certification for all teachers assigned to core or college prep-classes.  This includes all multi-subject teachers as well.

Any school found out of compliance receives a Notice of Concern that directs the charter school to either acquire the necessary certification within a specified timeframe, or replace the affected teacher.  The Office of Charter Schools continues to require evidence of certification throughout the school year as staff changes may occur from time to time.

Valid CA teacher certification may include::
> Temporary County Certificate,
> Internship Credential,
> Preliminary Credential,
> CA Clear Credential.

 
<< Click Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Charter Schools

CHARTER LAW: Teacher Credentialing::

EC47605(l) Teachers in charter schools shall hold a Commission on Teacher Credentialing certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which a teacher in other public schools would be required to hold. These documents shall be maintained on file at the charter school and are subject to periodic inspection by the chartering authority. It is the intent of the Legislature that charter schools be given flexibility with regard to noncore, noncollege preparatory courses.

CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing::
Click Here >> Does your child's teacher hold a valid CA Teaching Credential? 

Click Here >> Does your staff need credentialing support?

BTSA: New Teacher Induction::
California requires new teachers to complete a two year INDUCTION PROGRAM in order to clear their credentials.  OUSD has an outstanding BTSA Program, in which most OUSD charter schools participate.  Click Here >> for information on how your new teachers can take advantage of this critical service and support.