Sierra Sands Unified School District Board of Education Received a Petition to Establish the REALMS Charter School
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SIERRA SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education Special Meeting MARCH 21, 2019 District Office 113 W. Felspar Ave. www.ssusd.org We, the members of the Board of Education of the Sierra Sands Unified School District, are committed to providing the highest quality education in a safe environment to all K-12 students. We believe the school shares with the family, church, and community the responsibility for developing life-long learners who are responsible, productive citizens. A G E N D A CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG 6:15 P.M. Amy Castillo-Covert Bill Farris Tim Johnson Kurt Rockwell, President Michael Scott, Vice President/Clerk Ernest M. Bell, Jr., Superintendent MOMENT OF SILENCE 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 2. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 2.1 Communications from the public The board will provide time during the discussion of each agenda item for members of the public to comment. When addressing the board, please state your name and address at the podium and limit your remarks to three minutes. 3. EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION 3.1 Ridgecrest Elementary Academy for Language, Music, and Science (REALMS) Charter School: Receipt of Charter Petition 4. PUBLIC HEARING 4.1 REALMS: A Charter School Petition 1 Agenda 3-21-19 5. EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION 5.1 REALMS: Determination of Charter Petition 6. CLOSED SESSION 6.1 UCP Appeal to the Board 7. ADJOURNMENT 2 2 SIERRA SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MARCH 21, 2019 3. EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION 3.1 Ridgecrest Elementary Academy for Language, Music, and Science (REALMS) Charter School: Receipt of Charter Petition BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Petitioners for the REALMS Charter School submit a charter petition to the Sierra Sands Unified School District (“District”) offices seeking to establish a charter school within the boundaries of the District for the term July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023. CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS: Education Code provides that charter are governed by the standards and criteria in Education Code section 47605. Education Code section 47605(b) sets forth the process and timeline for the consideration of a charter school petition. To commence the statutory review period under Education Code section 47605(b), the Board of Education will receive the REALMS Charter School charter petition. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None at this time. SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION: The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Education receive the REALMS Charter School charter petition in order to commence the statutory review period under Education Code section 47605(b). 3 RIDGECREST ELEMENTARY ACADEMY FOR LANGUAGE, MUSIC, AND SCIENCE (REALMS) Charter Petition Submitted to: The Sierra Sands Unified School District, and if necessary, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools For the term July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2024 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS AFFIRMATIONS/ASSURANCES ...........................................................................................................1 PREFACE ...........................................................................................................................................4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................6 Educational Philosophy .......................................................................................................6 General Description .............................................................................................................6 Student Population and the Faculty Team ...........................................................................7 ELEMENT ONE – EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM .......................................................................................9 Vision ...................................................................................................................................9 Mission .................................................................................................................................9 Core Beliefs: SPACE ...........................................................................................................9 Four Focus Areas and Tactics ..............................................................................................9 Whom the School is Attempting to Educate ......................................................................10 What It Means to be an “Educated Person” in the 21st Century ........................................11 How Learning Best Occurs ................................................................................................12 Community ........................................................................................................................13 Instructional Program.........................................................................................................13 Assessment and Pacing ......................................................................................................13 Instructional Approaches ...................................................................................................14 Instructional Courses and Curriculum ...............................................................................15 Technology ........................................................................................................................19 Short-term Independent Study ...........................................................................................19 School Calendar and Bell Schedule ...................................................................................20 Serving Academically Low and High Achieving Students ...............................................20 Plan for English Learners...................................................................................................20 Serving Students with Disabilities .....................................................................................26 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act ................................................................................26 Serving Special Education Students ..................................................................................28 Professional Development .................................................................................................36 ELEMENT TWO – MEASURABLE PUPIL OUTCOMES; AND ELEMENT THREE – METHODS OF MEASUREMENT ...............................................................................................................................38 Methods of Measurement ..................................................................................................51 Collecting, Analyzing and Reporting Data ........................................................................52 Use of Data ........................................................................................................................53 Parent Survey .....................................................................................................................53 Reporting Academic Progress............................................................................................53 ELEMENT FOUR – GOVERNANCE.....................................................................................................54 Legal ..................................................................................................................................54 Board of Trustees ...............................................................................................................54 C.E.O..................................................................................................................................56 5 Parent Involvement ............................................................................................................56 ELEMENT FIVE – EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS ...............................................................................59 C.E.O.’s Qualifications ......................................................................................................59 Business Manager Qualifications ......................................................................................60 Principal…….. ...................................................................................................................61 Chief Academic Officer .....................................................................................................61 Core Teachers’ Qualifications ...........................................................................................62 Other Staff ....................................................................................................................63 Personnel Policies ..............................................................................................................63 Evaluation Procedure .........................................................................................................63 ELEMENT SIX – PROCEDURES TO ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS AND STAFF .................65 Procedures for Background Checks ...................................................................................65 Role of Staff as Mandated Child Abuse Reporters ............................................................65 TB Risk Assessment and Examination ..............................................................................66 Immunizations....................................................................................................................66 Medication in