City of Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School Chartering Processes: Academic Accountability Issues   by Alex Molnar   Center for Education Research, Analysis, and Innovation School of Education University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI 53201 414-229-2716   May 3, 1999     CERAI-99-9

City of Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School Chartering Processes: Academic Accountability Issues* (CERAI-99-9) Alex Molnar Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3 May 1999   Table of Contents Introduction Charter School Reform Overview Charter School Accountability Charter School Accountability Under Wisconsin Law University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Charter School Accountability City of Milwaukee Charter School Accountability Discussion Conclusion Recommendations Endnotes Tables 1-5 Tables 6 and 7 Appendices   Table 6 Accountability Aspects of the Chartering Process for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee   ACCOUNTABILITY: PHASE I - THE PROSPECTUS Describe how the charter school will improve outcomes for students. ACCOUNTABILITY: PHASE II - GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION The charter school must meet Wisconsin Assessment Guidelines. The charter school must establish a comparative basis for performance with results from standardized assessment results as reported by MPS. Each charter school program will undergo an intensive review during the third year of operation. Program planners should confer with Staff from the CCS prior to designing this element of the program. ACCOUNTABILITY: PHASE III - POST CHARTER DESIGNATION AND PLANNING Upon successful completion and review of the application, the application will be recommended for charter designation status, to be approved by the UW-System Board of Regents Once a charter school application has been approved, UWM will work with the school to develop an accountability effort as part of the final contract. ACCOUNTABILITY: PHASE IV - THE CONTRACT On behalf of UWM, the Charter School shall administer the examinations under ss. 118.30(1m) and 121.02(1)(1r) to pupils enrolled in the Charter School and shall transmit testing data É to UWM. The Charter School shall administer other examinations to pupils as UWM may, from time to time, prescribe and shall transmit testing data to UWM. Back to Report Table 7 Accountability Aspects of the Chartering Process for the City of Milwaukee   ACCOUNTABILITY: THE APPLICATION The application describes the specific measures the school will use to measure academic progress and determine whether the school attains its educational goals. If the charter applicant is an existing school, it must submit data from required standardized assessments (i.e., WSAS, etc.), as well as data from other required assessments (graduation rates, attendance, etc.). ACCOUNTABILITY: REVIEW PROCESS The Charter School Review Committee reviews and approves the charter according to the criteria in the Charter School Application Guidelines and Procedures. ACCOUNTABILITY: CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS Charter School "shall administer such examinations as may be required under sec. 118.40(2r)(d), Stats." The contract specifies the methods by which student progress will be measured. ACCOUNTABILITY: IMPLEMENTATION The charter school works with the CSRC "to develop an accountability plan by which pupilsÕ progress in attaining educational goals will be measured." Back to Report     Table of Contents Introduction Charter School Reform Overview Charter School Accountability Charter School Accountability Under Wisconsin Law University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Charter School Accountability City of Milwaukee Charter School Accountability Discussion Conclusion Recommendations Endnotes Tables 1-5 Tables 6 and 7 Appendices   Return to Projects and Publications "City of Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School Chartering Processes: Academic Accountability Issues" (CERAI-99-9) was produced for the Institute for Excellence in Urban Education, UW-Milwaukee.