• CS: Renewal, Nonrenewal, and Termination of Community School Sponsorship Contract

    Policy

    Renewal of Community School Sponsorship Contracts

    Upon the expiration of a community school sponsorship contract between the Board and a community school, the Board may renew the contract for a period of time determined by the Board but not ending earlier than the end of any school year. The Board shall renew a sponsorship contract only if the Board finds that the community school's compliance with applicable laws and terms of the contract and the school's progress in meeting the academic goals prescribed in the contract have been satisfactory.

    The Board shall base the community school sponsorship contract renewal process and renewal decisions on thorough analysis of a comprehensive body of objective evidence defined by the Performance Framework incorporated into the sponsorship contract. Such evidence shall include at least all of the following:

    • Multiple years of student achievement and multiple measures of student achievement;
    • Financial audits;
    • Site visit reports and/or other compliance reports; and
    • Status reports on corrective action plans or other required interventions, if necessary.

    The Board shall grant renewal only to community schools that:

    • Are fiscally and organizationally viable based on criteria in the Performance Framework with rigorous, specific goals and targets;
    • Achieve their contractual academic standards and targets; and
    • Are faithful to the terms of their contract.

    Renewal Application Process

    The Board shall have a publicized renewal application process that requires all community schools seeking contract renewal to complete and submit a renewal application. The requirements for renewal shall be publicly available and shall include written guidance regarding the process, the content and format for renewal applications, criteria or standards used to evaluate the applicant, and a timeline.

    As part of the renewal application process, the District shall provide each community school, in advance of the renewal decision, a cumulative Renewal Performance Report that summarizes the school’s performance record over the contract term and states the District’s summative findings concerning the school’s performance and its prospects for renewal. The renewal application process shall provide each community school an opportunity and reasonable time to respond to its cumulative Renewal Performance Report; to correct the record, if needed; and to present additional evidence regarding its performance.

    The Board shall make renewal decisions in a public meeting and shall promptly notify each community school of its renewal (or nonrenewal) decision, providing a written explanation of the reasons for the decision.

    Nonrenewal and Termination of Community School Sponsorship Contracts

    The Board may choose not to renew a community school sponsorship contract at its expiration or may choose to terminate a contract prior to its expiration for any of the following reasons:

    • Failure to meet student performance requirements stated in the contract;
    • Failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management;
    • Violation of any provision of the contract or applicable state or federal law; or
    • Other good cause.

    The Board may terminate a community school’s contract during the contract term when there is clear evidence of some or all of following:

    • Extreme underperformance;
    • An egregious violation of law;
    • Violation of the public trust that imperils students’ health and well-being or public funds; or
    • Unfaithfulness to the terms of the contract.

    In addition, the Board may choose to terminate a contract prior to its expiration if the Board has suspended the operation of the contract under state law.

    The Board shall base any decision not to renew a community school contract on thorough analysis of a comprehensive body of objective evidence defined by the Performance Framework in the contract. Such evidence shall include at least all of the following:

    • Multiple years of student achievement and multiple measures of student achievement;
    • Financial audits;
    • Site visit reports and/or other compliance reports; and
    • Status reports on corrective action plans or other required interventions, if necessary.

    Notification Timeline

    In the event of a decision not to renew a community school sponsorship contract, the Board shall notify the school of the proposed action in writing no later than January 15 in the year in which the Board intends not to renew the contract. In the event of a decision to terminate a community school sponsorship contract, the Board shall notify the school of the proposed action in writing no later than January 15 in the year in which the Board intends terminate the contract unless exigent circumstances at the community school require that a decision on termination be made after that date and be effective by the end of that school year.

    Closing Procedures

    In the event of closing any community school sponsored by the District, the District shall follow closure procedures maintained by the District’s Charter School Office. These procedures shall conform to the most recent guidance from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) on community school closing procedures. The District shall oversee and work with the school’s governing authority and leadership in carrying out a detailed Closure Protocol as set forth in ODE guidance, which among other things shall ensure:

    • Timely notification to parents and assistance in finding new placements;
    • Orderly transition of students records to home school districts;
    • Disposition of school funds, property, and assets in accordance with law; and
    • Submission to ODE of required closing assurances.

    The District shall have the capacity and commitment to carry out a closure to the extent possible if the school’s governing authority fails to fulfill its own responsibilities under the Closure Protocol.

    Parents and students shall have ample time and information to make informed choices for the coming school year when a school’s contract is non-renewed. Children attending a District-sponsored community school that is suspended or closes for any reason shall be admitted to District schools the children are entitled to attend under state law, and admission deadlines shall be waived for such students in accordance with state law.

    Any community school whose contract is terminated or not renewed shall close permanently at the end of the current school year or on a date specified in the notification of termination or nonrenewal. In the event that a closure is necessary prior to the end of the current school year, the District shall implement such provisions of the Closure Protocol on an expedited basis, and shall take such additional measures, as may be necessary to facilitate the orderly mid-year transitions of students to new schools and to secure student records and public assets.

    Revised Notification Timeline

    In the event of a decision not to renew a community school sponsorship contract, the Board shall notify the school of the proposed action in writing no later than January 15 in the year in which the Board intends not to renew the contract. In the event of a decision to terminate a community school sponsorship contract, the Board shall notify the school of the proposed action in writing no later than January 15 in the year in which the Board intends terminate the contract unless exigent circumstances at the community school require that a decision on termination be made after that date and be effective by the end of that school year.

    History

    • Adopted: October 25, 2016
    • Amended: May 1, 2018, October 22, 2019

    Legal References