LAC 28:CXXXIX.1505. Eligibility for Renewal for BESE-Authorized Charter Schools (Formerly §1503.B)

A. For initial renewals during the 2018 and beyond renewal processes, a BESE-authorized charter school receiving a letter grade of “F” in the prior academic year will not be eligible for renewal, unless one of these conditions are met: 1. the charter school is a school approved by BESE to be evaluated using alternate renewal standards pursuant to §1103 of this bulletin and has met such alternate standards; or 2. the school growth is in the top quartile of the state in the most recent year and for more than half of the years in which the school received a growth score during the charter term; or 3. the school falls within the top quartile of the state in at least three of the following categories: a. total SPS; b. growth score; c. English learner proficiency growth; d. growth for economically disadvantaged students; or e. growth for students with disabilities. B. For subsequent renewals, a BESE-authorized charter school receiving a letter grade of “D” or “F” in the prior academic year will not be eligible for renewal, unless one of these conditions are met: 1. the charter school is a school approved by BESE to be evaluated using alternate renewal standards pursuant to §1103 of this bulletin and has met such alternate standards; or 2. the charter school has a current letter grade of “D,” or an equivalent SPS and: a. has received a letter grade of “C” or an equivalent SPS for more than half of the letter grades received during the charter’s current term and the final letter grade received in charter school’s prior term; or b. the school growth is in the top quartile of the state in the most recent year and for more than half of the years in which the school received a growth score during the charter term; or c. the school falls within the top quartile of the state in at least three of the following categories: i. total SPS; ii. growth score; iii. English learner proficiency growth; iv. growth for economically disadvantaged students; or v. growth for students with disabilities. C. When a charter school does not meet the criteria for renewal in the initial or subsequent charter term, BESE may renew the charter based upon the recommendation of the state superintendent. Such renewal may include conditions to be incorporated in the charter school contract and may require the charter operator to phase out operation of the school over the course of the renewal term. Prior to recommending such renewal, the following must be considered: 1. nonrenewal may require students to attend lower-performing schools; 2. available academic data, including student performance data and/or student growth data of neighboring and comparable schools, has been reviewed; and 3. efforts to find a new, high-quality operator for the charter school have failed. D. For the 2017 renewal process, in addition to the 2017 school performance score and letter grade, the department shall calculate a school performance score and letter grade for each charter school being considered for renewal based on the formula that will be utilized for the 2018 school performance score and letter grade formula. The school performance score and letter grade that result in the better outcome for the charter school shall be considered by the department and BESE for renewal purposes. E. The state superintendent of education may recommend a corrective action plan as a condition for renewal for any charter school that is eligible for renewal, but fails to fully meet any performance expectations of the charter school performance compact. The board may make the execution of the renewal charter contract contingent upon the completion of all or some of the actions required by the corrective action plan. The board may also direct the department to include all or some of the actions required by the corrective action plan to be incorporated into the charter contract so that failure to complete corrective actions may serve as grounds for revocation. F. A recommendation for non-renewal may also include a recommendation that a new charter provider operate the school or that the charter governing board be reconstituted in accordance with §2105 of this Part.