CSI School Board Updates

January 2023

Welcome to 2023!

I hope you had a restful holiday break and are recharged for the second half of the school year.

Best,

Anastasia

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Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders

📅 Upcoming Deadlines:

December 31: Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)

As recently shared by the Colorado League of Charter Schools: In 2020, Colorado enacted a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program (Prop 118). The state has been building a new state-run Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program pursuant to this ballot initiative.

While participation in the FAMLI program is mandatory for all private employers, local government employers (with includes charter schools) may choose to opt out of the FAMLI program. To do so, your school governing board must hold a board vote sometime in 2022 and notify the FAMLI division of your decision by December 31, 2022. Employees must be notified regarding FAMLI participation within 30 days after the deciding vote.

There are a series of steps that you must take prior to January 1, 2023, including taking a board vote, allowing a process for employees to provide comments on the vote, notifying the FAMLI program, notifying employees of their ability to opt in, and more. Learn more from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: June 30 Newsletter | FAQ page and website.

If you or your board have additional questions, please make sure you utilize the resources provided through Employers Council and reach out to your legal counsel as necessary.

Orientation for New School Board Members

CSI provides virtual modules for new school board members on topics including: accountability, compliance monitoring, special populations oversight, financial oversight, and understanding the charter contract. Access these modules here.

School Board Calendar

If you are following the CSI Sample School Board Calendar, below are the items that your board should be reviewing this month.

Included below are both summaries of key activities, contact information for CSI staff that can provide further support if requested, and links to related resources.

Academic

Enrollment

Staffing

Culture

Board

Finance

Academic

✔️ Review midyear assessment data

✔️ School Accountability Committee update

School Accountability Committee (SAC) Update

SACs are an integral component of a school's annual planning process. At this point in the year, school boards should ensure a clear line of communication between the SAC chair or co-chair and the school board. School leaders and SACs begin planning for the upcoming school year in the spring and should have a clear process in place for reviewing data, setting focus areas, and engaging in action-oriented planning through the Unified Improvement Planning process. For additional resources, please see the CSI SAC resource page.

Questions & Support Contact:

Jessica Welch, CSI Improvement and Implementation Specialist

Enrollment

✔️ Update on Intents to Enroll for next year

Admissions & Enrollment

Many schools’ enrollment windows open this month or next. As your school considers updates to the Intent to Enroll form, remember CSI schools must conduct a two-stage admissions and enrollment process, collecting only the most basic information about an applicant prior to offering the student a seat (i.e., in the Intent to Enroll). Unless otherwise connected to a weighted lottery, information about race, ethnicity, English Learner status, country of origin, disability status, or free and reduced-price lunch eligibility cannot be collected until a student is offered a seat and the enrollment process begins. Application forms should be available online and in-person and be easy for families to complete and submit.

Per updated State Board Regulations, charter schools must annually train admissions staff on Federal protections against pre-enrollment inquiries about disability status for students and adopt post-admissions enrollment practices that are non-discriminatory and consistent with the best interests of the student applicant. Resources on enrollment policies and practices, including special education enrollment, can be accessed here: https://resources.csi.state.co.us/admissions-and-enrollment.

Questions to Consider

What is your school’s enrollment process (first come, first served; lottery; weighted lottery)?
When does the school leader report on enrollment efforts for the upcoming year to the board?
When will admissions staff receive training on compliance with applicable federal and state statutes as it related to admissions/enrollment practices?
Should there be any changes to the student recruitment plan based on the enrollment results including recruitment of target populations?

Staffing

✔️ Review staff professional development plan

✔️ Update on employee intents to return for next year

Questions to Consider

How is the board evaluating the outcomes of staff recruitment and attrition from the prior school year?
Are there any indications that it may be necessary to review benefits, culture, etc. to attract and retain well-qualified staff?

Culture

✔️ Participation in school events

✔️ School leader to share Equity Focus and Plan (outcome of Equity Screener)

Board

✔️ Designate place(s) for posting of board meeting notices (and agendas)

✔️ Discuss school leader compensation structure and evaluation for next year

Questions to Consider

How is the board checking in with the school leader on midyear progress against their performance goals?
Does the board have plans and resources in place to support the school leader's development against those goals?

Finance

✔️ Review quarterly financial report for October - December

✔️ Board must pass resolution to adopt any amendments to the current year's budget by January 31st

Questions to Consider:

Has the board established a timeline and priorities for formulating next year's budget, including time to discuss any changing resource needs (e.g. new curricula, etc.) with school leaders?
Has the board reviewed enrollment targets and plans for the upcoming school year, including with school leaders? How will the board receive updates on progress through the spring recruitment season?

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