CSI School Leaders Regional Gathering Updates April 2023
Updates from the CSI School Leaders Regional Gathering in April 2023 include logistics information, introductions of attendees, agenda details, portfolio updates, CSI office updates, and legislative updates on various bills impacting CSI and charter schools. Significant information on furniture donations, cost savings, legislative advocacy, and facilities funding collaboration is provided.
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CSI School Leaders Regional Gathering April 2023
Logistics Breakfast WiFi Restrooms
Introductions Name School Location / Model
Portfolio Updates Authorizing and Accountability Manager, Michael McManus Next Year: Ascent Grand Junction Ascent 27J Transfer Out James Irwin Charter Academy New School Applicant: Wildflower Montessori Grand Junction
CSI Office Updates Governor s Executive Order to reduce state office space The State Service Building has agreed to co- locate *new* CSI Office Address: 1525 Sherman St, B75 and B76 Timing: Furniture: CSI furniture will be donated to CSI schools (see 4/10 email) Finances: Significant cost savings Staff: Renting and using free spaces for meetings, school-facing CSI staff continue to be regularly in your schools April 28: CSI school furniture pick up day June 9: CSI school furniture pick up day July 1: CSI fully moved out of 1600 Broadway space
Legislative Updates Including CSI & CSI schools Advocacy has resulted in CSI / CSI charter schools now being represented in: SB23-004 Concerning Employment of Certain School Mental Health Professionals SB23-094 Concerning the Creation of a Task Force to Report on Measures to Improve School Transportation HB23-1198 Concerning A Statewide Teacher Externship Program To Provide K-12 Teachers Work-Based Learning Opportunities HB23-1207 Concerning National Certification Compensation Stipends for National Board-Certified Educators HB23-1212 Concerning the Creation of a Navigator Program to Promote Apprenticeships to High School Students SB23-256 Consolidate Colorado Educator Programs in Colorado Department of Education
Legislative Updates Facilities Funding Collaboration: Ongoing working group including CLCS, CSI, CASE, CASB, Rural Alliance Context/Issue: Decline in marijuana excise tax revenue will reduce public facilities funding -- anticipating 20% decrease if legislation isn t passed Proposed Solution: Pursue legislation that: Provides an alternative source of funding for facilities this year and next to mitigate drop (including BEST and Capital Construction) and to include an increase Adjusting BEST match factors so its more equitable to charters (factors have not been adjusted in over a decade) Supplementals, cap construction
Legislative Updates Accountability Collaboration: Ongoing meetings with Ed Reform partners Context/Issue: Accountability Audit report confirmed system is doing what it is supposed to be doing Proposed Solution(s): HB23-1241 Task Force To Study K-12 Accountability System Creates task force to study academic opportunities, inequities, promising practices in schools, and improvements to the accountability and accreditation system Includes multiple seats for CSI and charter representation HB23-1239 Local Innovation For Education Assessments SB23-061 Eliminate State Assessment In Social Studies
Legislative Updates School Finance Act Currently being considered: An additional $2.5M to the CSI MLE Fund (i.e., a total increase of $10M for 23-24) CSI Mill Levy Equalization is achieved formulaically beginning in 24-25 CSI schools to be eligible for declining enrollment averaging CSI schools in rural districts to receive rural dollars in 23-24
Mill Levy Equalization Update $27M? The journey to date Currently at $7.5M addition for FY24 Opportunity for additional funding Nothing is finalized until May $17M $9M $7M $5.6M $5.5M FY 18-19 FY 19-20 FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24
Legislative Updates What other topics are you monitoring?
FY2023-24 Budgeting Enrollment Workbooks were sent out 3/21 Due back on May 8th. Drives funding in July. Funding sheets were sent out 4/19 with budget reminders Expanded assumptions, competitive grants detail MLE, $1265 PPR 8% increase SpEd Reserve Spend it prior to High Needs Grant application
FY2022-23 Year End Review Meet with your finance team General Ledger Q3 Report Grants Milestone Check Confirm contract with your auditor Verify field dates, share with CSI
Governance Reminders School Leader Evaluation The School Leader Evaluation should be completed this month if it hasn t been done already. Resources from the CSI website Climate and Culture Surveys Review the administrative, family and staff survey results to determine if there are themes or overarching areas for improvement that can be addressed by the board.
Please ensure Safe2Tell has your school s crisis response team s updated contact information so that your school is receiving the appropriate tips: https://safe2tell.org/contact-updates/
School Survey Results, Next Steps 10:30-11:30
Overall Takeaways Overall positive Agreement that CSI provides an appropriate level of autonomy Continuum of opinions on ideal level of support desired from CSI Need for clearer protocol on communications (timing; between CSI and school leaders/boards)
Level of Support Feedback varied from requesting fewer supports to requesting increased, district-level supports. Currently, If we are requiring a submission, we will provide training, templates, and/or access to resources for schools to complete the submission Additionally, we offer optional supports that schools can take advantage of should they choose
Level of Support Future Planning CSI Board Retreat CSI s strategic plan and value proposition Authorizer considerations Revisiting Requirements & Non-Negotiables Aligned to Statute/Maximum Autonomy Essential for Oversight/Minimal Burden Aligned to Statute/Offered Supports Assurance Assurance of Compliance SPED MOU Proof of Insurance Assessment Calendar Parent/Student Handbook and related policies Employee Handbook FRL/Transportation Survey Website audits (Open Meetings, Admissions) Safety, Readiness and Incident Management Plan
Optional Support: State Pricing Agreement All CSI schools can now access the state pricing agreement for: Western Paper Distributors - a supply company specializing in food service and janitorial items Advanced Technology - market basket for warewashing needs Typically have significantly lower cost than general market rates What additional areas might be beneficial for your school to access state pricing? CSI Contacts: IleneAgustin@csi.state.co.us orMaggieNecaise@csi.state.co.us.
Communication Norms & Protocols CSI contacts the school leader if/when They are the school level contact Monthly newsletters Noncompliance (Notice of Concern +) Complaints (School Level) CSI contacts the governing board if/when Monthly board newsletters Noncompliance (Notice of Concern +) Complaints (Board Level) CSI staff are expected to respond within 24-48 hours.
Communication Protocols What other clarifications or adjustments to communications should we consider?
School Leader Event: School Feedback Virtual is most helpful for updates In person is most helpful for relationship building, networking, collaborating *Stay tuned to Available School Supports session* Interest in going deeper on topics
School Leader Events: Future Planning Continue monthly updates via school leader newsletter Continue mix of virtual and in person options Be more intentional on topics based on format Virtual Meeting (45 minutes, updates) Aug-May as needed (we ll block monthly holds in months other than conference months) School Leaders Meeting (daylong, updates, conference-style, discussion and networking) November February (prior to CLCS conference) Regional Leadership Lunches (2 hours, check Throughout the year in) Terry School Visits Throughout the year
School Leader Events: Feedback Add thoughts/questions Is early November the right time for a school leaders meeting? If not, other times? Feedback on frequency of virtual calls? Regional leadership lunches?
CSI Board Feedback & Future Planning Many schools haven t had interactions with the CSI Board CSI Board expectation to visit a minimum of 3 schools per year, with at least 1 outside of their home community Scheduling school tours/visits Attending renewal site visits Attending tours/visits prior to CSI Board meetings
CARS 3.0 12:30-1:00
CARS Financial Report Assess financial health at a high level Snapshot in time. 5 years of data. Pulls data across 4 key categories Enrollment, Occupancy, Balance Sheet, Operating margin. Looks at data across years for a more wholistic approach Trends for enrollment, unassigned fund balance and operating margin.
Changes to Measures Still measured in each category Pulls from same Gov t Wide and Gov t Funds Near Term Still measured in each category Pulls from same Gov t Wide and Gov t Funds Sustainability
Metrics Removed Months of Cash on Hand more emphasis on unassigned fund balance Removes Proprietary Fund specific calculation captures impacts in Government Wide roll up. Removes change in Net position. calculated liabilities can swing this drastically.
Metrics Added 3-Year change in enrollment Debt service coverage more nuanced calculation than Debt to Asset ratio. Adds months of unassigned fund balance trend focus on ability to sustain or actualize growth. 3-Year Averaging of operating margin.
Organizational Measure TABOR met Debt Default Budget to Actual FPC Assurance review CSI Reporting Compliance (includes audit) Financial Transparency Act (FTA) Grants milestones met
CARS Ratings Cleaned up ranges No material impacts
CARS Organizational Report Assess organizational capacity at a high level Compliance review Quantitative measures Pulls data across 5 key categories Governance, Education Program, Diversity, Equity of Access, and Inclusion, Financial Management, School Operations and Environment Looks at data across years for a more wholistic approach Trends for noncompliance and quantitative measures to provide additional information
Changes to Measures Reordered Changes across framework Reorganization Still measured in each category Pulls from CSI compliance process Compliance Review Informational only Uses readily available data Quantitative Measures
CARS Ratings No changes to how the organizational performance impacts the overall school rating.
Available School Supports 1:00-1:30
23-24 Goals 1. To clearly communicate what schools are required to do by program area. 2. To provide supports that schools may opt in to by program area. 3. To continuously refine support offerings to align with schools' current focus areas and needs.
Goal 1: To clearly communicate what schools are required to do by program area. Action 1: Create simple, easily accessible document that outlines minimum school requirements by program area. Shared with school leaders and relevant school contacts at the start of the school year directly and through multiple channels of communication (newsletter, guidebook, etc) Action 2: Include minimum requirements by program area on CSI resource site Action 3: Communication from CSI staff will clearly state when things are a requirements compared to an option, opportunity, or good practice
Goal 2: To provide supports that schools may opt in to by program area. Basic trainings and resources Low time commitment, most available on demand Deeper dive into focus area More advanced content based on current research and best practice Higher time commitment Ad hoc consultation based on need One-on-one or school-specific
Intended Training to increase/refresh knowledge of participants; Structured time to allow schools to share knowledge, resources, and experiences Facilitation Virtual Modules Evergreen trainings related to static topics that may be connected to compliance requirements CSI On-demand Resource Site documents/resources by program area
Cohort/Collaborative Longer-format professional learning opportunity for individuals or groups from schools to focus more deeply on a specific topic. Includes content knowledge, peer networking, coaching, and action/implementation planning. Topic-based summits, conferences, or "learning labs" Full day or multi-day drop in events that may include content-based seminars, real- time observations, and opportunities for networking.
Crisis Response Consultation Coaching
Goal 3:To continuously refine support offerings to align with schools' current focus areas and needs. Trends in support requests 301 101 201
Questions and Feedback: Email jessicawelch@csi.state.co.us
Transportation & Safety 1:30-2:00
Transportation Overview Convening that brought together charter school leaders and authorizers to explore how access to transportation to and from school makes a meaningful impact on enrollment equity CDE SoC Transportation Convening A variety of current offerings and needs -CDE Transportation Overview -Pinnacle -New Legacy -Mountain Middle -CDPHE Electric School Bus Grant Current Transportation Offerings and Options SB23-094 Concerning the Creation of a Task Force to Report on Measures to Improve School Transportation Pending Legislation ? Future Needs
