Department of Education s5

Department of Education Charter School Accountability Meeting

February 9, 2009

Reach Academy for Girls

Attending Committee Members: Nancy Wilson, Joanne Reihm, Amelia Hodges (proxy for Mike Owens), Scott Kessel (proxy for Dorcell Spence)

Dr. Wilson called the meeting to order. The purpose of the meeting was to meet with representatives from Reach Academy for Girls to discuss their new charter school application. For the purpose of the record introductions were made:

Nancy Wilson, Deputy Secretary of Education, chair of accountability committee Amelia Hodges, Department of Education, proxy for Mike Owens Mike Stetter, Director of Curriculum, member of the committee Joanne Reihm, Education Associate, Assessment and Accountability, member of committee Scott Kessel, Education Associate, Charter School finance, proxy for Dorcell Spence Mary Cooke, Deputy Attorney General, counsel to committee Judi Coffield, Policy Analyst, State Board of Education Terry Whittaker, member of State Board of Education Richard Farmer, member of State Board of Education Julia Webster, Education Associate, Charter Schools Office Charlie Brown, Reach Academy for Girls Anthony White, Reach Academy for Girls Chris Lucas, Reach Academy for Girls Laura Brown, Reach Academy for Girls Valerie Brown-Baul, Reach Academy for Girls Edith Moyer, Reach Academy for Girls Mary Ford, advisor to Reach Academy Sue Ogden, advisor to Reach Academy Karen Scaggs, Charter Schools Office

Dr. Webster gave a brief overview of the application. The school plans to open with 252 students in grades 1-2 and 5-6 and expand to 475 students in grades K-8. The school’s mission is to provide a rigorous core curriculum based on scientifically based research strategies to girls to support their efforts in reaching their highest potential to become leaders in their family, school, and community.

Mr. Kessel reviewed the budget sheets contained in the application. He asked if they could explain the plan for the facilities. Mr. Lucas said the facility is an existing school which would require small renovations. He said they do not have a signed contract at this time. He said the amount reflected in the budget is for the lease and that renovations amounts are reflected in the federal budget using start-up funds. Mr. Kessel asked about the plans or schedule for occupying the facility and the grade configuration for the building. Mr. Brown said there is one main building which has a lot of classrooms. There is also an adjoining building outfitted for pre- school or daycare. He said there are other adjoining buildings that would become available. Mr. Kessel asked if there would be a problem getting the certificate of occupancy for the first year of

1 operation. He also asked how the school plans to recruit 250 girls for the first year. Valerie Brown said they plan on doing an aggressive marketing campaign. She said they would approach the students who attend the existing pre-school program located on the facilities site. She said they would advertise to parents of students currently in elementary school and plan to partner with the Delaware Charter School Network to recruit students. Mrs. Ogden said they have data of parents who are interested in a single gender school for girls.

There was discussion about the difference in the enrollment figures from year one to year two.

Mr. Kessel asked how they would handle the food service program. Mr. White said it is the intent to participate in the free and reduced lunch program with a cafeteria manager on-site. They would participate in the USDA program and there will be a kitchen available.

Dr. Stetter said the curriculum workgroup reviewed the application. He said mathematics scope and sequence was submitted, the school will be part of the science coalition, and social studies units were submitted. He asked about alignment for Visual and Performing Arts and said the health and physical education program should be required not elective. He said he would follow- up with the school regarding specific questions.

Mrs. Cooke asked about the by-laws from 2006 and the resolution that was done in 2007. She asked for the number of current board members. Valerie Brown said they currently have 8 board members. Mrs. Cooke said the by-laws suggest 9 but the resolution suggests the members are increased from 9 to 11. Mr. Brown said the resolution was passed and adopted after the first application was submitted. He confirmed that there are 11 members. Mrs. Cooke pointed out that the application states for a quorum that 50% of the board needs to be physically present. She said if the board is 8 members than 50% would be 4 members which would not constitute a quorum. She said 5 of 8 members would be a majority. Mrs. Cooke asked the school to identify the current board members. She suggested the school review article 9 of the by-laws which addresses conflicts of interest. She said there have been decisions from the Public Integrity Commission regarding charter schools and their need to comply with the state’s officers code of conduct. She said in the student handbook there are references to district boards versus the charter school board and there was no reference in the student handbook to a student’s right to appeal to the State Board of Education.

Mrs. Reihm asked if there will be an active certified teacher on the board. Mrs. Cooke stated there needs to be a Delaware certified teacher and parent on the board before the school opens. Mrs. Reihm said she reviewed statements contained in criteria 4, 5, 13, along with certification issues. She asked for clarification regarding performance goal 1 about which grades would be tested. There was further discussion regarding No Child Left Behind, which grades and content areas would be tested, and the scheduling timeline for testing.

Dr. Hodges had concerns regarding school climate and discipline. She said any members of the board who hold positions at the school should have a full criminal background check. She recommended stating all the student rights and responsibilities. She talked about the school emergency preparedness policy which is a requirement under Admin Code 621. Dr. Wilson asked who is responsible for reviewing a criminal background. Mrs. Cooke suggested the board may want to think what type of criminal activity would be acceptable. Dr. Wilson said the principal also needs a criminal background check. Dr. Hodges said it is required that they follow Admin Code 252 which states records must be transferred and maintained. She said part of the document cites district instead of charter schools. She asked about the student code of conduct which looks like it was copied from a school district. She asked if the board policy for

2 code of conduct would be the same as that district’s. She pointed out language that was inappropriate for the grade levels of the school. Mrs. Cooke referenced the FERPA section. She said the federal regulations were amended in January and that they want to review the policy to ensure it is compliance with the current federal regulations.

Dr. Webster said she would forward comments from Brian Touchette regarding special education.

There was discussion about the legislation the school is expected to comply with regarding a single gender school. Mrs. Ogden said it is to be a single gender school as a companion to Prestige Academy. Dr. Wilson said if the charter application moves forward there are reporting and evaluation requirements in the legislation that must be met.

Dr. Wilson asked about the letter of commitment parents would sign as part of the enrollment process. The letter references that a parent can withdraw a child for good cause after the one year commitment. The law is specific that a parent can withdraw a child in the first year for good cause only, after the one year they can withdraw for any reason. Mrs. Cooke said section 506(c) (3) specifically dictates how the sentence should read.

Dr. Wilson asked about the template of contractual relationships. Mr. Brown said the template was made to be as generic as possible. Dr. Wilson pointed out that there are several places in the application that reference Reach Academy for Boys and Girls which need to be removed. She asked for clarification of when the lease payments would start. Mr. Brown said the school would have access to the facility for renovations in February but not begin paying the rent until July and will have insurance and liability issues addressed.

Dr. Wilson asked about the optional Saturday program. Mrs. Ford said it would be a program paid for by the parents. Valerie Brown said there would be after school and Saturday programs. Mrs. Cooke suggested they review the program for any legal ramifications. She said if it is being offered by current employees of the school it would fall under the officer’s code of conduct and that there is a Public Integrity Commission decision on the issue. Valerie Brown said they will clarify their Saturday program.

Dr. Wilson noted the employee handbook needs to be developed. She asked the school to work with Dr. Webster regarding the assurances.

Valerie Brown talked about the Reach Star Chart used to develop academic and social leaders. She said the five stars are personal aspirations, physical well-being, family/community citizenship, life skills, and academic goals.

Dr. Wilson suggested the school contact the Delaware Girls Initiative. She also suggested they contact Jack Perry and Don Mell of Prestige Academy.

There was discussion about the preparedness of the girls to go to high school and college. Dr. Whittaker said the bottom line is making sure the students are getting a rigorous core curriculum that prepares them for a post secondary education and indirectly prepares them for the work force.

There was discussion about the next steps in the process.

No further discussion. Meeting was adjourned.