Utah State Charter School Board
It is the intent of the Utah State Charter School Board (SCSB) to establish processes that meet the duties and obligations that have been placed on it as an authorizer pursuant to 53G-5-205(2)(c) and to address such other matters that are deemed necessary to promote the purposes of the charter schools that it has authorized. The SCSB is dedicated to making sure charter schools are doing their best for students. They have a set of rules and processes to check if schools are meeting their goals and responsibilities.
To answer these questions, SCSB uses performance frameworks that allow them to create and communicate a common set of performance expectations. This framework sets clear expectations for schools and helps ensure they have the freedom to operate independently while still being held accountable. It's designed to be fair and supportive, focusing on performance with the aim of providing constructive feedback. The goal is to foster a conversation and support improvement, rather than being punitive.
This thorough evaluation helps ensure that charter schools are providing high-quality education and meeting their commitments to students and families.
The Academic Framework evaluates schools based on various factors, including student performance, growth, school percentile rankings, mission-specific goals, and national assessments. Charter schools have the flexibility to select from three distinct academic pathways that best align with their unique educational goals and philosophies. This flexibility empowers charter schools to actively participate in shaping their evaluation process, ensuring that the assessment is tailored to their specific needs and objectives. By offering multiple pathways, the framework supports diverse educational approaches and encourages schools to strive for excellence in ways that resonate with their mission and vision.
While charter schools have the autonomy to manage their finances, SCSB has created the Financial Framework to determine if a school is financially viable and able to meet its promises to students, families and community. The Financial Performance Framework will be completed on a preliminary basis based upon the Utah Public Education Financial System (UPEFS) October 1st submission then finalized based upon the audited financial statements.
Charter Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must certify to a list of operational requirements that must be completed by Utah law. By the end of each school year, charter LEAs verify that all required tasks have been completed. The operational requirements for school boards include: adhering to open meeting laws, ensuring financial oversight, monitoring student achievement, maintaining compliance with state regulations, upholding the school's charter mission, and actively engaging with the community to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of students, all while being accountable to the SCSB for their actions and decisions.