Title: 11.  APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT (CHARTER) - SOS MIDDLE

Requested Action:

Approve the charter school renewal application and accept the recommendation of the Charter School Review Committee to negotiate a one year charter renewable for two additional years contingent upon:

1.      The school shall demonstrate adequate yearly gains in FCAT Math, Reading and Writing.

2.      Resolution of current contract violations in the area of teacher certification.

Summary Explanation and Background:

The charter for SOS Middle School will expire June 30, 2004. 

The District has developed an extensive renewal process that requires the renewal applicant (school administrator and Board Members) to interview with the district committee and submit a renewal application.  In the renewal application, the charter school answers a series of questions pertaining to academic program, governance and management, facilities and risk management, financial operations, and general school operations.  The committee holds a series of workshops to review these applications and makes a recommendation.  In addition, the committee reviews Annual Report Data, Performance Accountability Reports, and other tools that assess whether the charter school is complying with the commitments stated in the charter.  A careful evaluation of the above mentioned components allows the committee to make a recommendation to the Superintendent of Schools whether to renew or terminate a charter.

SOS Academy Middle School’s renewal application received an overall ranking of 198 points out of 312.  The committee recommends negotiation of a one (1) year contract, renewable for two (2) additional years without reapplication contingent on the following:

1.      All teaching staff must be appropriately certified prior to entering into contract negotiations.  SOS Middle must be in compliance with its current charter prior to negotiating a renewal charter.  

2.      The school shall demonstrate adequate yearly gains in student performance as a condition of the contract.  The school shall target a school performance grade designation of “C” of better for the 2004-2005 school year. 

3.      Review of Student Code of Conduct so that minor student code of conduct infractions are not grounds for dismissing students.

4.      Review of Dismissal Procedures/Parent Contracts so that it coincides with the Student Code of Conduct.

5.      Review of renewal application to discuss areas of deficiencies.

The Charter School Coordinator will work closely with the renewing school to ensure all requested elements are understood and included in the contract prior to bringing it to the Board for approval and execution.

A full staff report has been made available to the Board and school officials.

For Additional Information, contact:

Aimee Tous-Parker      390-2039

Dr. Sally Hague           390-2082