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Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School:A Fenton Charter Public SchoolCharter Renewal PetitionSubmitted on February 24, 2012
AMENDMENT TO GOVERNANCE STRUCTUREThe Fenton Charter Public Schools (“FCPS”) Board of Directors has approved a motion to placeSanta Monica Boulevard Community Charter School (“SMBCCS” or the “Charter School”)under the FCPS umbrella. This renewal petition seeks to maintain the rich heritage of SantaMonica Boulevard Community Charter School while incorporating the field tested best practicesthat have led to the success of the Fenton Charter Public Schools. FCPS and SMBCCS servicevery similar students and had been working collaboratively together to increase student learningprior to SMBCCS being placed under the FCPS umbrella. FCPS will continue to give preferenceto students residing in the former Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter attendance area,with any remaining spaces allocated through a public random drawing.The changes that FCPS will implement at SMBCCS include the changes described in theEducational Program, as well as the governance structure, operations, and employmentprovisions. All changes are captured in the corresponding charter elements. For example, in the‘How Learning Best Occurs” section on pages 33 and 34, the addition of Discipline with Dignityis detailed, demonstrating a revised philosophical basis for SMBCCS. FCPS strongly believesthat the changes to the Educational Program will lead to improved student achievement. Theattached three-year budget demonstrates that the curricular and instructional changes will befunded by state revenue (general purpose block grant, categorical block grant, and lottery), andappropriate federal funds. The transfer of operations of SMBCCS to the Fenton Charter PublicSchools Charter Management Organization will include, but not be limited to, theimplementation of the following policies: The existing governance structure of SMBCCS will transfer to FCPS and effective July 1,2012, as described in element 4 of the charter, all policies and practices pertaining toSMBCCS will be reviewed by the Fenton Charter Public Schools Board of Directorsbeginning on July 1, 2012. Immediately following LAUSD Board approval, the Executive Director of the FCPS willmeet with the Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School Board of Directors tobegin planning for the transition of leadership, interviewing and hiring of staff, transfer offunds, and closeout and inventory to determine the materials which belong to the District(as distinct from those belonging to SMBCCS). The Board of Directors and Executive Director of the Fenton Charter Public Schools willassume and oversee all aspects of the operations of Santa Monica Boulevard CommunityCharter School beginning on July 1, 2012. All aspects of the transfer will be conducted by, and will be the responsibility of, VaheMarkarian, current Director of Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School;Irene Sumida, Executive Director of the Fenton Charter Public Schools; and Joe Lucente,Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fenton Charter Public Schools.1Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
Table of ContentsAFFIRMATIONS AND ASSURANCES 5INTRODUCTION .8Introduction .8Background of the Fenton Charter Public Schools . . .8SMBCCS Accomplishments . 13FCPS Accomplishments . .15Terms of SMBCCS as a Fenton Charter Public School . .27Commitment .28ELEMENT 1 – THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM .29School Information 29Mission and Vision 30An Educated Person of the 21st Century 33How Learning Best Occurs 33Expected School-wide Learning Results and Goals of the Charter School .34Students to be Served .36A Typical Day 38Curriculum and Instructional Design .42Cohesive Instructional Program . . .54Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners .61English Learners 61Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students . 63Plan for Serving Academically High-Achieving Students 64Plan for Serving Academically Low-Achieving Students .64Special Education .65Parent Center . .67ELEMENT 2 – MEASURABLE STUDENT OUTCOMES .69Measurable Student Outcomes .69ELEMENT 3 – METHODS BY WHICH STUDENT OUTCOMES WILL BE MEASURED .73Methods of Measurement .73Benchmarks .78Testing .78Use of Assessment Data .78WASC Accreditation . .79Preschool Accreditation by NAEYC . . .80ELEMENT 4 – GOVERNANCE .82Non Profit Public Benefit Corporation .82Board of Directors .82Board Meetings and Duties . 832Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
Advisory Committees . . .86Parent Involvement in Governance 88Public Laws .88Grievance Procedure for Parents and Students .89LAUSD Charter Policy .89Responding to Inquiries .89Notifications .89Organizational Chart .90ELEMENT 5 – EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS .92Equal Employment Opportunity 92Qualifications of School Employees .92Selection of Highly Qualified Personnel .93A High Quality Work Environment .94Professional Responsibilities and Evaluation . .96ELEMENT 6 – HEALTH AND SAFETY 98Safety of Pupils and Staff . .98Insurance . 101Insurance Requirements . 102Evidence of Insurance . 103Hold Harmless/Indemnification Provision . 103ELEMENT 7 – RACIAL AND ETHNIC BALANCE . . 105Means to Achieve Racial and Ethnic Balance . .105Court-Ordered Integration . 105No Child Left Behind – Public School Choice (NCLB-PSC) Traveling Students . 106Federal Compliance . .106ELEMENT 8 – ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS .108McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 109ELEMENT 9 – FINANCIAL AUDITS . 111Financial Audits . 111District Oversight Costs . .112Balance Reserves . 112Special Education Revenue Adjustment/Payment for Services . . 112Audit and Inspection of Records . . 113ELEMENT 10 – STUDENT SUSPENSIONS/EXPULSIONS . . .114Student Suspension and Expulsion Policy . . 114General Discipline Policies . 115Enumerated Offenses . 116Gun Free Schools Act . 122Process for Suspension and/or Expulsion 123Outcome Data . 1303Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
Interim Placement 130Rehabilitation Plans . 130Readmission . 130Special Education Students . 130ELEMENT 11 – RETIREMENT PROGRAMS . 132State Teachers’ Retirement System . 132Public Employees’ Retirement System 132Public Agency Retirement System . 132ELEMENT 12 – ATTENDANCE ALTERNATIVES .133ELEMENT 13 – EMPLOYEE RIGHTS 134ELEMENT 14 – DISPUTE RESOLUTION . 135ELEMENT 15 – PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYER . 137ELEMENT 16 – PROCEDURES TO BE USED IF SMBCCS CLOSES .138Revocation . 138Closure Action . 138Closure Procedures . 139Facilities . . 143Health and Safety . 146MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS . . 147Budgets and Financial Reporting . 147Mandated Costs .148Transportation . 148Administrative Services . 149Facilities . 149Renewal Timeline and Process 149IMPACT ON CHARTER AUTHORIZER . 150CONCLUSION . 1514Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
AFFIRMATIONS AND ASSURANCESSanta Monica Boulevard Community Charter School, as governed by FCPS, will follow any andall federal, state, and local laws and regulations that apply to the Charter School, including, butnot limited to: Employment agreements made with Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter Schoolprior to being placed under the FCPS umbrella will be dissolved as of July 1st, 2012. All other contracts made with Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School priorto being placed under the FCPS umbrella will be dissolved or renegotiated as of July 1st,2012. All former employees of Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School desiringemployment beyond June 30th, 2012 with FCPS will reapply for employment under theterms and agreements of the Board of Directors for the Fenton Charter Public Schools, acorporate Board of Directors (“Board” or “Board of Directors”) in accordance with itsadopted corporate bylaws, which shall be consistent with the terms of this charter. All SMBCCS rehires and new hires will begin at probationary status consistent withFCPS personnel and evaluation policies. The Charter School shall meet all statewide standards and conduct the studentassessments required, pursuant to Education Code Section 60605, and any otherstatewide standards authorized in statute, or student assessments applicable to students innon-charter public schools. [Ref. Education Code Section 47605(c)(1)] FCPS shall be deemed the exclusive public school employer of the employees of SantaMonica Boulevard Community Charter School for purposes of the EducationalEmployment Relations Act. [Ref. Education Code Section 47605(b)(5)(O)] The Charter School shall be non-sectarian in its programs, admissions policies,employment practices, and all other operations. [Ref. Education Code Section47605(d)(1)] The Charter School shall not charge tuition. [Ref. Education Code Section 47605(d)(1)] The Charter School shall admit all students who wish to attend the Charter School. The Charter School shall determine admission by a public random drawing, and if thenumber of pupils who wish to attend the school exceeds the school capacity, preferenceshall be extended to pupils who currently attend the Charter School and pupils who residein the District EC 47605(d)(2)(B).5Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
The Charter School shall not discriminate on the basis of the characteristics listed inEducation Code Section 220 (actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race orethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in thedefinition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code or association withan individual who has any of the aforementioned characteristics). [Ref. Education CodeSection 47605(d)(1)] The Charter School shall adhere to all provisions of federal law related to students withdisabilities including, but not limited to, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Individuals withDisabilities in Education Improvement Act of 2004. The Charter School shall meet all requirements for employment set forth in applicableprovisions of law, including, but not limited to, credentials, as necessary. [Ref. Title 5California Code of Regulations Section 11967.5.1(f)(5)(C)] The Charter School shall ensure that teachers in the Charter School hold a Commissionon Teacher Credentialing certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which ateacher in other public schools is required to hold. As allowed by statute, flexibility willbe given to noncore, noncollege preparatory teachers. [Ref. California Education CodeSection 47605(l)] The Charter School shall at all times maintain all necessary and appropriate insurancecoverage. The Charter School shall, for each fiscal year, offer at a minimum, the number of minutesof instruction per grade level as required by Education Code Section 47612.5(a)(1)(A)(D). If a pupil is expelled or leaves the Charter School without graduating or completing theschool year for any reason, the Charter School shall notify the superintendent of theschool district of the pupil’s last known address within 30 days, and shall, upon request,provide that school district with a copy of the cumulative record of the pupil, including atranscript of grades or report card and health information. [Ref. California EducationCode Section 47605(d)(3)] The Charter School shall maintain accurate and contemporaneous written records thatdocument all pupil attendance and make these records available for audit and inspection.[Ref. California Education Code Section 47612.5(a)] The Charter School shall, on a regular basis, consult with its parents and teachersregarding the Charter School's education programs. [Ref. California Education CodeSection 47605(c)] The Charter School shall comply with any jurisdictional limitations to locations of itsfacilities. [Ref. California Education Code Section 47605-47605.1]6Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
The Charter School shall comply with all laws establishing the minimum and maximumage for public school enrollment. [Ref. California Education Code Section 47612(b),47610] The Charter School shall not enroll pupils over nineteen (19) years of age unlesscontinuously enrolled in public school, the student is not over the age of twenty-two (22)years, and making satisfactory progress toward high school diploma requirements. The Charter School shall not require any child to attend the Charter School nor anyemployee to work at the Charter School. The Charter School shall comply with all applicable portions of the No Child Left BehindAct. The Charter School shall comply with the Public Records Act. The Charter School shall comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The Charter School shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act. The Charter School shall meet or exceed the legally required minimum of school days.[Ref. Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11960]Irene Sumida, Executive DirectorDate7Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORYIntroductionOn January 17, 2012, nine parents delivered a petition signed by 320 parents to the Los AngelesUnified School District in support of a charter petition for SMBCCS to become a Fenton CharterPublic School. This Charter Renewal Petition reaffirms the commitment of the Santa MonicaBoulevard Community Charter School staff, students, parents and school community to continuethe efforts that began in 1910 as a public school in Hollywood that was wholly committed toservicing neighborhood children.In 2002, Santa Monica Boulevard Elementary School became the largest conversion charterschool within the Los Angeles Unified School District (“LAUSD” or the “District”). Beforeconverting to charter status, SMBCCS was placed on LAUSD’s one hundred worst schools list.Since its conversion, the school has made a 235 API point gain; has received NationalAssociation for the Education of Young Children accreditation for its pre-school program;developed strong ties with the local community; established relationships with ParamountStudios; and has become a professional development school for Pepperdine University’s StudentTeacher program.Upon conversion to charter status, the school was committed to changing the school name toSanta Monica Boulevard Community Charter School to use its charter status as a mechanism tobecome the center of the community. SMBCCS developed full-time parent programs to create astrong, visible link with the surrounding community.In order to maintain the strong ties with the community, FCPS will rehire SMBCCS staffmembers who share a common belief and commitment to replicate the best practices that haveled to the success of the Fenton Charter Public Schools. FCPS believes maintaining the highlyqualified current SMBCCS staff members, who are united behind the systematic approach ofFCPS to meet student need, will preserve the rich heritage of SMBCCS while strategicallyimproving student achievement.The purpose of this charter petition includes, but is not limited to: detailing the terms of placingSMBCCS under the umbrella of FCPS, defining the goals of the Santa Monica BoulevardCommunity Charter School: A Fenton Charter Public School, describing the instructionalprogram, identifying the desired academic and social outcomes anticipated for all students, anddelineating the roles and responsibilities of each member of the SMBCCS community.Background on the Fenton Charter Public SchoolsFenton Avenue Charter School (FACS) is the first of the Fenton Charter Public Schools, locatedin the northeast San Fernando Valley in the city of Lake View Terrace. The school opened in1958 as Fenton Avenue Elementary, a kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school builtto accommodate 450 students. As the surrounding neighborhood transitioned from a rural areaoverlooking Hansen Dam Lake, to a densely populated community with multiple families livingin single dwellings, Fenton Avenue Elementary became a highly diverse, multi-track, year round8Submitted on February 24, 2012 by Fenton Charter Public Schools
school. Similar to many urban schools in the District, Fenton Avenue Elementary struggled withlow student performance reflected by single-digit test scores, and aggravated by poor attendance,high student transiency, vandalism, overcrowding and low staff morale. Prior to converting to acharter school, Fenton Avenue Elementary was considered one of the worst elementary schoolsin the District.With the passage of the Charter Schools Act, the Fenton Avenue Elementary school communityrecognized the opportunity that independent charter status offered, and in June 1993, FentonAvenue Charter School became the District’s seventh charter school and the thirtieth charterschool in the state of California.Since original charter approval and conversion, Fenton Avenue Charter School has continued toeducate a student population that is clearly reflective of the surrounding community and, inaccordance with Education Code Section 47605(d), has given enrollment priority to studentsliving within Fenton Avenue Elementary School's former attendance area. As space is available,students from outside the attendance area have been enrolled, and a public random drawing isheld if necessary.On November 15, 2006, the Fenton Avenue Charter S
Irene Sumida, Executive Director of the Fenton Charter Public Schools; and Joe Lucente, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fenton Charter Public Schools. Submit
