Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 1

23 The amendment process is rather straightforward and is currently detailed at the USOE website for charter schools (http://schools.utah.gov/charterschools/) . Click the “Charter School Application” link on the left side menu and a drop down menu appears. Select “Amendment Request” and a new page will load with the amendment and application instructions.. As a charter director, I once led a school for several years before I finally sat down and read through every word of its founding charter. I found that I had been leading a school that had significantly evolved beyond many of the program elements described in that document. I brought this to my board’s attention, as all of us were new to the school, assum- ing our roles years after the school’s founding. We decided that we liked the school as it currently existed, that we were providing a solid education for children, and that returning to the original charter was likely not realistic or beneficial to the children in our area. We amended the charter and the revised document was submitted to the school’s authorizer. Based on the Charter Fidelity survey data we received over the past year, it appears there are quite a few schools that would be in similar positions and in need of amending some aspects of their charters. I have been asked by a number of people, “Why do these charters need to be updated?” It is my belief that these agreements, with a full description of what makes the school unique coupled with a set of performance measures set down on paper in a formal way, form the foundation of the school. It is through this agreement that a charter school informs the public of its unique educational offering for students and parents and spells out how that educational offering will be evaluated each year. An updated, fully functional charter agreement keeps the school current and assures everyone concerned with the school that it is adhering to its mission, vision, and purpose. If charter schools are supposed to be something different than the local district schools, then it stands to reason that we define that difference and measure it in some way within the charter agreements. With this assurance, the public provides funding through its government that allows the school to fulfill its defined mission. If these charter documents become outdated, then the document no longer provides a program description and goals that assure the public that a unique school exists and is performing well. The school’s authorizer no longer has a valid contract to hold the school accountable to the funding it receives. Updated charter agreements provide the public and governing bodies with the school details and measures needed to ensure the public trust and protect the public investment of taxes in charter schools. Currently, the SCSB is developing a new charter agreement. These agreements have evolved over the past 15 years. While still in the early stages, it is likely that the new agreement will include laws and assurances foundational to charter school’s legal existence. It may also include elements outlining individual program descriptions, and goals as well as various accountability measures unique to each school. As schools review their Charter Fidelity Surveys, it is likely that many will want to update their charter descriptions and sign a new charter agreement with current program descrip- tions and updated performance measures. There is wisdom in this. As parents, government agencies, legislators, and other members of the community request or require accountability to certain performance standards or expectations based on the school’s contract (charter agreement) with its authorizer, having a full description of the school and solid performance measures in place reflecting the school as it currently operates is imperative to assuring interested parties of the school’s viability and success in educating its students. As schools do this, they assure the public of their fidelity to the school’s charter and ensure a sound educational offering is being provided to the children of Utah. Reach your target audience a ordably. advertise get results DANI GORDEN Advertising Sales 801.676.9722 or 855.747.4003 dani@thenewslinkgroup.com When the reality of students at desks enters the equation, sometimes our goals, programs, and outcomes change.