Valley Preparatory Academy Renewal Charter Petition with proposed name change to Aspen Valley Prep Academy An Aspen Public School OPERATED BY VALLEY PREPARATORY ACADEMY, INC., A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022 Submitted to The Fresno Unified School District December 1, 2016 SHELLY LETHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASPEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 4221 N. HUGHES AVE. FRESNO, CA 93705 (559)225-7737 [email protected] Valley Preparatory Academy Renewal Charter Petition Page | 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEMENT A: THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ...................................................................... 5 I. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY, SCHOOL FOUNDERS, MISSION AND VISION ......................................... 5 A. SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DURING THE CURRENT CHARTER TERM ...........................................................7 B. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY ...................................................................................................... 12 C. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP .............................................................................................................. 15 D. MISSION ............................................................................................................................. 16 E. VISION ................................................................................................................................ 16 II. STUDENTS VPA WILL EDUCATE ......................................................................................... 17 A. TARGET STUDENT POPULATION ................................................................................................ 17 III. VPA PREPARES STUDENTS TO BE EDUCATED CITIZENS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.................................. 18 IV. HOW LEARNING BEST OCCURS .......................................................................................... 19 V. VALLEY PREP WILL ENABLE STUDENTS TO BECOME SELF-MOTIVATED, COMPETENT AND LIFELONG LEARNERS ........................................................................................................................... 21 VI. THE REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE § 47605(B)(5)(A)(II) .............................. 22 VII. VALLEY PREP’S FRAMEWORK FOR INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN IS ALIGNED WITH OUR TARGET POPULATION 25 A. TEACHING METHODOLOGIES .................................................................................................... 25 B. CURRICULUM ....................................................................................................................... 37 C. TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES .................................................................... 47 VIII. TEACHER CAPACITY: RECRUITMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ................................... 48 A. TEACHER RECRUITMENT .......................................................................................................... 48 B. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................. 49 IX. INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES ............................................................................................. 50 A. SAMPLE DAILY BELL SCHEDULES ................................................................................................ 51 X. SPECIAL NEEDS: VALLEY PREP ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL SUB-GROUPS, INCLUDING AT-RISK STUDENTS ........................................................................................................................... 52 A. ENGLISH LEARNERS ................................................................................................................ 53 B. SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS........................................................................ 61 C. ACADEMICALLY HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS ................................................................................ 61 D. ACADEMICALLY LOW-ACHIEVING STUDENTS ................................................................................ 62 E. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................................... 63 Valley Preparatory Academy Renewal Charter Petition Page | 1 XI. INDEPENDENT STUDY ................................................................................................... 70 ELEMENT B: MEASURABLE STUDENT OUTCOMES ........................................................... 72 I. MEASURABLE GOALS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ............................................................ 72 II. SCHOOL OUTCOME GOALS WILL ALIGN WITH CALIFORNIA’S EIGHT STATE PRIORITIES ...................... 73 III. ADDITIONAL OUTCOMES .................................................................................................. 73 ELEMENT C: METHODOLOGIES FOR MEASURING STUDENT OUTCOMES ......................... 75 I. METHODS FOR MEASURING STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRESS .................................................... 75 II. DATA DRIVEN INSTRUCTION .............................................................................................. 76 III. PROGRESS REPORTS/GRADING.......................................................................................... 77 ELEMENT D: GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE .......................................................................... 78 I. NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION ........................................................................ 78 II. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE ................................................................................................ 78 A. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................................................... 78 III. GOVERNING BOARD COMPOSITION AND MEMBER SELECTION ................................................... 81 IV. GOVERNANCE PROCEDURES AND OPERATIONS ...................................................................... 82 V. PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT .................................................................................... 83 ELEMENT E: EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS ....................................................................... 85 I. CMO LEAD STAFF .......................................................................................................... 85 A. VPA, INC. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ............................................................................................... 85 B. ACADEMIC DIRECTOR ............................................................................................................. 87 II. INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF ..................................................................................................... 88 A. SITE DIRECTOR ...................................................................................................................... 88 B. TEACHERS ............................................................................................................................ 89 C. INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS ...................................................................................................... 90 D. AIDES/PARAPROFESSIONALS .................................................................................................... 91 III. NON-INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF .......................................................................................... 92 A. OFFICE MANAGER ................................................................................................................. 92 B. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ...................................................................................................... 93 Valley Preparatory Academy Renewal Charter Petition Page | 2 ELEMENT F: HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES ............................................................ 94 ELEMENT G: RACIAL AND ETHNIC BALANCE ................................................................ 100 I. OUTREACH CAMPAIGN .................................................................................................. 100 II. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ........................................................................................... 101 ELEMENT H: ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS .................................................................. 102 I. PUBLIC RANDOM DRAWING ........................................................................................... 102 A. ADMISSION PROCESS AND OPEN ENROLLMENT ........................................................................... 103 B. PUBLIC RANDOM DRAWING PROCEDURES ................................................................................. 103 C. WAIT LIST ......................................................................................................................... 105 ELEMENT I: FINANCIAL AUDITS .................................................................................... 106 I. INDEPENDENT FISCAL AUDITS .......................................................................................... 106 II. INSURANCE ................................................................................................................. 107 ELEMENT J: STUDENT SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION PROCEDURES ............................. 108 I. DISCIPLINE POLICY ........................................................................................................ 108 II. GROUNDS FOR IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION, OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION ............... 110 A. ENUMERATED OFFENSES ....................................................................................................... 110 B. IN-SCHOOL