• • Notes from CEO Bill Sims
• • State Conference Early Bird Discount Expires Friday!
• • Groff to give opening keynote address at State Conference
• • Formative Assessments and Instructional Information Systems
• • Newest OAPCS Members
• • Columbus Preparatory Academy Receives Excellent Rating for the First Time
• • Microsoft Grant Opportunity
• • Assessment Updates
• • New Charter School Insurance Website
• • Parent Membership Program - "Be A Brick"
• • Apple in Education
• • Customized Insurance Package for OAPCS Members
• • Ohio Charter School Teachers: Resources Available for Your Classroom!
• • Back to School Shopping: Staples Advantage Program
• • Midwest Auto Auction, Inc.

OAPCS 3rd Annual Conference
Aspire to Greatness
November 11 – 12, 2010
Hyatt Regency / Columbus Convention Center

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Funding Opportunity:
The Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD)
For the full article click here

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Funding Opportunity:
Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program
For the full article click here

Advocacy

Events

Quality Values and Principles

BREAKING NEWS BEFORE PRESS DEADLINE – IMPORTANT UPDATE:

The Ohio Supreme Court issued an opinion this morning, October 12, 2010, that makes charter schools liable for property taxes on facilities… in other words, if they are in a leased property under a commercial, for-profit property lease agreement, according to this decision, they are NOT exempt as a “public schoolhouse.” The paradox of the opinion is that also by law in Ohio, charter schools cannot pay taxes with public funds; hence the General Assembly, if it concurs with this paradox, will have to create a legislative fix for the consequences of this peculiar decision or Ohio charter schools are in peril. Several questions remain. For example, are these liabilities retroactive and can the General Assembly eradicate these historical obligations with a fix.  Either way, this decision could be perilous for charter schools without a fair legislative resolution. Go here for the opinion. The Alliance has issued a press release on this matter and has made some initial communications to policymakers of its concerns and sense of urgency on this matter.

National Conference Report
This past week the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools hosted a national Conference in Columbus on “Best Cooperative Practices between Charters and Traditional Public Schools.” The conference, funded by the Ohio Grantmakers Forum with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, exhibited 26 collaborative practices from states across the country and the District of Columbia. The conference was co-hosted by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Denver Public Schools and the Arizona, New Mexico and Massachusetts charter school associations.

After a compelling introductory welcome by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Deborah Delisle, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan lauded the purposes of the conference by video saying that charter school and district leaders needed to work together more often in innovative collaboration, bringing and end to historical tensions and asserting finally that a third grader really didn’t know if he or she was in a charter school or a traditional public school as long as they had a good teacher and principal. The 26 collaborative practices will be exhibited in a subsequent publication and will also be made available on the Alliance’s website along with Secretary Duncan’s video remarks to the conference.

State Conference Note
The fourth annual Ohio State Charter School Conference is just around the corner and I’m reminded of how remarkably fast this statewide charter school community event has grown. This year’s conference promises to be even bigger and better as we relocate to the vibrant arena district, “Short North” and convention center locale in downtown Columbus. Don’t miss the timely article below about taking advantage of early bird registrations before the early-bird discount door closes this Friday. We have added a cost effective one-day pass to encourage attendance by teachers. Come one and all for a great networking convention!

Race to the Top
The Ohio Alliance was privileged recently to be a part of a one-day, 11-state (plus DC) convention on R2T. The first two winners, Delaware and Tennessee, hosted a convening for the 12 in Newark, Delaware two weeks ago to advise subsequent state winners on missteps and other avoidances in the start-up and planning processes, but also to exchange ideas on how to avoid repetitive investments and how to maximize through collaboration the impact of federal dollars. Each state sent a team of seven individuals representing state stakeholder groups, Ohio was the only state to send a charter school representative.

EduJobs
Washington has approved a measure (The Education Jobs Fund) that provides $10 billion ($361 million to Ohio) to prevent what would purportedly be hundreds of thousands of teacher layoffs nationwide. The bill explains that money has to be used for salaries, benefits, and support services for school staff. It can also be used to recall or rehire former staff members, or to bring on new employees for K-12 schools and early childhood programs. The Alliance sent OAPCS Updates on the EduJobs bill and its provisions September 1 and September 7.

The Alliance has received several questions related to this legislation because its provisions are contentious. The USDOE has strongly encouraged LEAs to use the dollars this current school year but in Ohio (on a biennial budget cycle) the needs will likely be greater next school year. Funds don’t have to be expensed until the close of 2012. How to expend the dollars remains a local decision because every charter school LEA faces differing financial circumstances; however, I would caution that looming budget cuts could be in the 8-12% range of current spending. The guidelines around how these funds can be spent are specific and can be found here.

In the initial guidance document hyperlinked above, section D-7 is one of the more contentious sections. The implication of this section is that if a management company hires the charter school teachers, they may be exempt from using the dollars to save jobs or hire new teachers or other support personnel. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Washington is providing strong federal-level advocacy on the unintended consequences of this provision.

D-7. May an LEA use Ed Jobs funds to pay the compensation and benefits of individuals who provide school-level services but are not employees of an LEA?
No. An LEA may not use the funds to pay for contractual school-level services by individuals who are not employees of an LEA (e.g., janitors employed by an outside firm). However, an LEA that contracts with another LEA to provide educational and related services may use Ed Jobs funds to pay that portion of the contract associated with the salaries and benefits of the employees of the LEA providing the services.  

We will keep our members apprised of any changes to provisions of this legislation. In the meantime information about filing applications can be accessed here.

– Bill Sims

Top

The 2010 OAPCS State Conference is just weeks away! We are thrilled with the response of sponsors, vendors, presenters and attendees who are planning to be a part of what promises to be the biggest and best conference yet. The National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, Peter Groff, will be our kick off keynote speaker on Thursday morning. We have over seventy breakout sessions planned and over forty vendors will be on hand to showcase their resources. 

New this year is our location! We’d outgrown our past venue and are excited to be moving to the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus. This state of the art facility will be able to accommodate our growing size as well as provide a great backdrop of local activities to keep you busy before and after the conference as well as Thursday night of the conference. Make plans now to gather a group and hit some of the downtown Columbus hotspots. (A list of our top ten is forthcoming!) 

Another new component we’ve added this year is a one day rate for teachers. We are proud to be able to offer the discounted price for teachers who are only able to get away from the classroom for one day.  In order to take advantage of this discounted price, as well as all other early bird discounts, you must do so by Friday, October 15. (THIS FRIDAY!) The discounts are deep so don’t delay.  If you are planning to attend this year’s conference you should register this week! Go to www.oapcs.org for more info!

Top

Peter Groff. President and CEO, for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is slated to present the opening keynote address at the OAPCS State Conference in November. Before joining the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Groff served as the director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U. S. Department of Education. Prior to accepting that position, Groff was the founder and executive director of the University of Denver’s Center for New Politics and Policy (formerly Center for African American Policy), and lectured at the University’s Public Policy program.

Groff also served as the 47th president of the Colorado State Senate and was the first African-American in Colorado to hold that post, and only the third African-American in the nation’s history to hold the gavel as state Senate president. Senator Groff, who was called the “Conscience of the Senate,” served in the Colorado General Assembly for nine years and passed landmark legislation creating visionary education reform measures, prohibiting racial profiling and requiring booster seats for young children.

Born in Chicago, Groff was raised in Denver. He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Redlands (Calif.), a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law and an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Denver.

The State Conference “Aspire to Greatness” will be held November 11-12 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. Registration is expected to open in early September. Check our website www.oapcs.org for more details.

Top

OAPCS hosted a meeting with Michael Sawyers, ODE Associate Superintendent, and Marilyn Troyer, ODE Deputy Superintendent, to discuss charter specific questions in the Race to the Top Scope of Work. Several clarifying questions were asked about the formative assessment and instructional information systems required for participating Race to the Top schools. Essentially, schools are asked to commit to adopting short cycle/formative assessments aligned to the new state standards, and regularly use the data from the assessments to inform instruction.  Instructional Information Systems (IIS) are the depository where assessment (and other) information is stored and manipulated to provide insight into student progress and instructional effectiveness. Many charters are already using systems that would qualify, but funds can be used to enhance and expand to get even better results. Schools do not have to specify the vendor they will use in the Scope of Work, but do need to explain any budgetary asks in this area.
 
Since consistent use of formative assessment data is a practice found in high performing charter schools, OAPCS has been researching systems and practices for some time. As a result of our research, we wrote, and are awaiting funding for, a Performance Management Plan (PMP) grant to be able to work with schools specifically in this area. We are eagerly awaiting the possibility of working with two products: 1) Intel-Assess – a test item bank, aligned to Ohio standards, that provides regular formative assessments aligned to the scope and sequence, written with specific attention to “distracters” and Bloom’s taxonomy so that results inform the teacher (and student) why a student missed a particular question, information needed for intervention at the specific skill deficit, and 2) Illuminate Education’s Data and Assessment (DnA), a web-based software program where a student’s educational history can be viewed to monitor progress to standards over time. The systems work together and include web cam scanning. Students hold up a completed assessment and the camera scans, scores and stores the results. Schools don’t need  expensive scanners, teachers have instant results, and results are stored alongside all other testing data for the child. It is leading edge, powerful, inexpensive technology that can provide each teacher and administrator with instant access to student, classroom and school performance data.   
 
Additionally, OAPCS is working with the Data Teams Certification process very successfully run by the Leadership and Learning Center. Weekly teacher team meetings review student progress data, design interventions, and plan and revise instruction. 
 
We’ll be demonstrating these products at our Fall Conference. We welcome schools – those participating in Race to the Top and can use these activities as allowable expenditures under that grant, and those not participating in Race to the Top – that want to learn more about the OAPCS PMP to contact Marianne Lombardo, mlombardo@oapcs.org, (614) 744-2266 ext. 201.

Top

OAPCS would like to welcome their newest school members. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you in the near future.
• Academy of Columbus
• Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy
• Middletown Fitness and Preparatory Academy
• Northland Preparatory and Fitness Academy
• Springfield Preparatory and Fitness Academy
• Eastland Performance Academy

OAPCS would also like to welcome their newest associate members. Please visit our website to learn more about each of these!
• Zaner-Bloser
• Torinity Publishing Company
• Strategy One

Top

OAPCS would like to congratulate Columbus Preparatory Academy for being ranked a 2010 Excellent Charter School. It was extremely exciting to see staff from the Ohio Department of Education who came to the school to visit with Mr. Chad Carr, the school leader, to learn more about how a school that was ranked Continuous Improvement rose to such success. What was more exciting was seeing students stand up and cheer their school fight song with strong voices and much enthusiasm. Hallways are filled with writings and artwork demonstrating many of the reasons why this school has become so successful. Their sponsor, the Ohio Council for Community Schools, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools were all on hand to celebrate their success and to support the continued success of this school for many years to come! Congratulations to Mosaica, Mr. Chad Carr and the board at Columbus Preparatory Academy.

Top

Win Up to $100,000 for Your School

Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, is asking one simple question: What does your school need? “Our School Needs” is a contest to raise awareness about the serious needs that public schools are facing today and in support of this contest, Bing will give away more than $500,000 in total prize and donation money to support public school classrooms. Whether it's a new photography lab, remodeled gymnasium, or new books for the library, Bing wants to hear what your school needs. Entries can be in the form of an essay, a video, or photos that describe what your school needs. The contest kicked-off on September 16 and the last day to enter is October 22. To learn more, get your how to kit, or submit an entry click this link:
 http://ourschoolneeds.discoverbing.com/

Top

Test Administration in 2011
The OAA test administration in 2011 will begin on April 25. In 2011, Easter is on April 24 and many districts have scheduled, or are considering scheduling, spring break the week of April 25. Spring break during the week of April 25 will mean the district has the week of May 2 for the initial administration and the week of May 9 for make-up testing only.

Districts cannot use the week of May 9 for initial administration. To meet the results deadline in June, the scorable materials need to be picked up during the “rolling” pickup period: May 6, May 9 and May 10. If this does not happen, the return of test results in June would be jeopardized.

Please consider scheduling spring break the week before Easter. If time off is required after Easter, perhaps the Monday following Easter also could be included in the spring break. This still would allow districts time to administer tests the week of April 25.

Reminder – Suspension of Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA) in Writing and Social Studies
The development and administration of the OAA grades 4 and 7 writing assessments and the grades 5 and 8 social studies assessments will continue to be suspended for the school year 2010-2011 due to budget cuts. The OAA-Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities in the areas of writing and social studies also will continue to be suspended for the school year 2010-2011. At this time, we do not know if these tests will be returned to the assessment program. Development and administration of assessments for these subjects is dependent upon funding available in the next state biennial budget.

Top

The O’Neill Group Charter School Division officially announced the launch of their Charter School Insurance website, located at www.charterschoolinsurance.com.

Top

Top

Apple offers special education pricing on Apple computers, software and select third party products to College Students, or Teachers, Administrators and Staff of all grade levels. Call 1-800-MY-APPLE for more information and to register your school and start saving today.

Top

OAPCS members have access to an exclusive program for their schools’ insurance needs. CharterSafe is the first insurance program designed specifically for charter schools by school leaders and school insurance experts. CharterSafe was created as a direct response to schools’ needs of finding insurance options that provided the correct coverage at group reduced rates.

Top

Need classroom materials to teach and support your students this year (lab equipment, calculators, novels, etc.) Sign up for a free teacher account on DonorsChoose.org to begin requesting these resources now!

How do I participate?
1.    First, log in to your teacher account on DonorsChoose.org (if you don't have one, any public school teacher can sign up at www.donorschoose.org/teacher).
2.    Once you're logged in, submit a request for the classroom materials you need (microscopes, math manipulatives, models, notebooks – you name it!).

Note: Teachers are especially encouraged to submit projects this summer, as many DonorsChoose.org funders are eager to support requests in the late summer and early fall.

Top

 
I am pleased to share with you this wonderful membership benefit — one that is an absolute benefit for your school's budget. The OAPCS has negotiated an agreement with Staples Advantage for office and classroom supplies and furniture. We believe every member can benefit from this resource — highlights from which include:
• Free next-day shipping on office and classroom supplies
• Up to 50% savings off list price
• With this agreement, Staples Advantage has demonstrated its commitment to Ohio's charter school market and to making implementation as quick and easy as possible.
If you currently purchase from Staples, you will receive a new account number to access OAPCS-exclusive member pricing. To connect with Staples at any time, please contact Julie Crist, the OAPCS dedicated Staples Account Manager, at julie.crist@staples.com or (800) 860-8500, Ext 2009.

We hope you’ll realize the benefit of using the Staples Advantage program for your supplies and furniture needs, and we hope this new resource will allow you to put more money into the classroom this school year!

Top

 
Midwest Auto Auction has been contracted to liquidate all of the surplus property of the Detroit Public Schools, as well as several Charter Schools in the Detroit Metropolitan area. As you are probably aware, the DPS is closing another 30 (+) Schools this year and we have also been contracted to close three Charter Schools with several others pending. This surplus property includes every kind of item that would normally be found in any school and needless to say, the list of items that will be sold is lengthy. 

Top