How does DOE handle failing charters?

The threat of a state takeover or closure can loom over failing Louisiana public schools for years, but how does the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education handle a failing charter school that it approved?

Kunjan Narechania is the assistant superintendent of portfolio for the DOE, which includes charter schools, recovery schools and Every Student Succeeds Act efforts. She provided a breakdown of what the DOE looks for as part of school oversight and how the department's recommendations for charter renewal or non-renewal are determined.

Northeastern Louisiana is home to six BESE-approved charter schools and two public laboratory schools tied to universities. More charter schools, such as Excellence Academy and Beekman Charter School, are under the auspices of public school districts.

School Performance Scores, released last month by the DOE, show that two BESE-approved charters that started in 2014 will be in line for review in the 2017-18 school year.

Northeast Claiborne Charter has about 150 kindergarten-through-high school students. The Junction City school pulled a 42.6 F in 2014-15 up to a 51.3 D.

Vision Academy in Monroe serves approximately 175 high school students. The school pulled up a 13.1 F to a 30.2 F.

If the schools don't pull up low scores, charter renewals might be limited. If the schools are failing and better-scoring schools are available in the area, the charter might not be renewed at all.

How do charters work?

Statewide, there are 148 charter schools that fall into five basic categories determined by type of schools and what group approved and has oversight of the charter. Each school, regardless of whether it was locally or BESE-chartered, has a board of directors that makes academic and financial decisions.

• 28 are new charters that were approved by local school boards: Type 1
• 39 are BESE-approved new or traditional schools that converted to charter schools schools: Type 2
• 14 are conversion schools approved by local school boards:Type 3
• 1 is a new or conversion school authorized by both BESE and the local school board; it is governed by the local school board: Type 4
• 61 are BESE-authorized Recovery School District Schools: Type 5
• 5 are former Type 4s that were transferred from the Recovery School District back to a local school system: Type 3B

When BESE approves a charter, school administrators agree to the charter school performance compact, which defines clear guidelines of the academic, financial and organizational standards the schools are expected to meet. Schools submit data at regular intervals.

A small number of schools are eligible for an alternate charter framework, which Narechania said applies to two types of schools: those who target students with a specific special need, such as dyslexia, and high schools that enroll students who have been expelled from other schools.

BESE delayed making a decision about Louisiana Key Academy earlier this week. The school, graded F, is a Baton Rouge elementary that focuses on children with dyslexia.

For schools that focus on students with disabilities, Narechania said the DOE looks to see whether students are showing growth. The goal, she said, would be for the child to improve to the point he or she can transition into a traditional school setting.

High schools catering to at-risk teens, she said, also would never pass if based only only on the letter grade. Most have an F. The alternative framework looks for growth in factors such as ACT scores.

When is the renewal determined?

Initial charter approvals are for five-year terms. The state tracks the data that are submitted year-round and determines whether an intervention is needed in any area, including financial and organizational performance. In the fourth year, the school is reviewed more rigorously and judged most heavily on its academic performance. BESE determines whether the school will be allowed to finish its fifth year and, following that, if the charter will be renewed further.

If a charter is approved for renewal, state law requires that the new term cannot be less than three nor more than 10 years. The academic score for the most recent year is a guideline for minimum and maximum terms offered.

• F: 3  years
• D: 3 years
• C: 4-6 years
• B: 5-7 years
• A: 6-10 years

Narechania said non-academic factors have determined the length of a renewal, but nonrenewal for other reasons is exceedingly rare.

What happens if it's not renewed?

The DOE, Narechania said, looks at surrounding schools before choosing to close a charter. A portion of the policy states that if failing to renew a charter would send children to a lower-performing school, that charter will be approved. She said that hasn't been an issue yet, but it could be in the future as more rural areas of the state add charter schools.

If the DOE has control of the building, as it does for a Type 5 charter, Narechania said a request for proposal could be made seeking a new group.

A nonrenewed Type 2 charter, however, would shutter. Narechania said the building for Type 2 in Baton Rouge that was not renewed likely will be used for another school.

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