Final Recommendation to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board 2020

Recommendation lication of Louisiana Connections Academ

School Information School Louisiana Connections Home District East Baton Rouge

Academy (LACA) Type Districts

Type 1 Served/Specific School East Baton Rouge CMO/EMO Year Opening 2012-2022 Grade Configuration at Grade Configuration at Start K-12 Scale K-12 Enrollment at Start 500 Enrollment at Scale 3100

Reasons for Recommendation

• Louisiana Connections Academy seeks to open a K-12 full-time virtual academic charter school that, according to the application, will set a new standard for virtual education excellence in Louisiana.

• Louisiana Connections Academy's target population includes: o Student whose families seek direct involvement in their education o Homeschooled families o Students who are medically homebound o Exceptional students who are far ahead or behind their peers o Students pursuing artistic or athletic careers o Students involved in extracurricular activities o Students looking for more electives or foreign languages o Students who require flexible school schedules o Students with special needs o Students in group homes o Students who have been bullied o Students at risk of academic failure o Students who have been suspended or expelled

There are some concerns in the application, however:

• Curriculum is not Tier 1; however, assessments are Tier 1.

• It is estimated that 10% of students may qualify for an internet stipend although the proposed school seeks to enroll 44% disadvantaged students which is well below the district average and what is required by law. The law requires that 85% of the charter school's population should mirror the district demographic composition.

Past school performance regarding English/Language arts and mathematics is of concern:

• Regarding the past school performance information submitted by LACA in the application, only 17 out of 34 schools reported scoring higher than the district in English/Language arts. In that same document, zero schools out of 34 schools reporting scored higher than the district in mathematics.

Past school performance regarding graduation rate is of concern:

• Past school performance indicates that out of twelve schools reporting, LACA schools had no schools with a higher graduation rate than the district.

• Past school performance also indicated that out of 13 schools reporting, LACA had no schools outperform the state in graduation rate.

• Composition of the board is of concern:

Section 2101 of Bulletin 126 states, "Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, at least 60% of the governing or management board of each charter school other than a Type 2 charter school, located in a parish with a population of between 325,000 and 375,000 persons census, shall be resident of the parish in which the charter school is located. According to the application, only 3 out of 8 board members reside in EBR (37.5%)

• The location of the school will be determined after the charter is approved according to a request for this information following the interview.

• "LACA's obligation to provide transportation services will be limited to those students whose IEP and/or 504 Plan requires services to be provided that are typically provided outside the home."

• The East Baton Rouge Parish School System currently supports the EBR Virtual Academy. There are two additional Type 2, state authorized virtual academies based in Baton Rouge who draw students from all over the state. They are University View and Louisiana Virtual Academy.

Section Executive Summary

CHARTER PROPOSAL REVIEW SUMMARY (Rubric) NEW OPERATOR APPLICATION 2020

Louisiana Connections Academy Evidence

The charter school proposal should discuss the According to the application, "The extent to which the leadership team possesses mission ofLACA will be to help the ability to: each student maximize his or her **Create a mission statement that identifies potential and meet the highest the role of the proposed school in addressing performance standards through a the problem or demand that the school seeks uniquely individualized learning to address in the location in which it seeks to program." serve. **Create a vision that describes what success The vision of LA CA is "to offer an for students beyond school looks like if the innovative virtual school, meet all applicant group fulfills the role described in its statutory requirements and address IlllSSlOn. family demand within EBR to **Propose a school that solves a problem serve students where a full-time related to student outcomes that is either online education is the best shown to exist with data or is in response to educational fit for their unique demonstrated demand for a particular school needs. Students who attend model. LACA will maximize their

potential academically, as well as graduating both college and career ready."

According to the application, 11 % of the state's youth ages 16-19 are not attending school or working.

Regarding the ESP Track Record (past school performance) submitted by LACA in the application, only 17 out of 34 schools reporting scored higher than the district in English/Language Arts.

According to the same report, zero schools out of 34 schools reported scoring higher than the district in mathematics.

Students The charter school proposal should discuss the According to Connections extent to which the leadership team possesses Academy, there have been 6,213 the ability to: requests for a Connections **Recruit a student population that is shown Academy in Louisiana over a nine-to exist with current data. year period. It is unclear how the **Recruit a student population that includes a data was collected. percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students and Students with Disabilities that LACA plans to serve: meets or exceeds the minimum legal • Students whose families percentages. seek direct involvement in **Provide a legal and logical plan to gamer their education interest in the school and subsequently enroll • Homeschooled families students. who seek the **Demonstrate with data that they have accountability of a public-identified pools from which to recruit students school setting that will enable them to meet their enrollment • Students who are medically targets. homebound due to illness **Provide a logical plan for enrolling students or disability that includes a plan for collecting applications, • Exceptional students who reviewing applications for eligibility and are far ahead or far behind communicating decisions on those their peers applications to families. • Students pursuing artistic **Identify the individual or entity who will or athletic careers conduct the lottery in the event that it is • Students involved in necessary, the method that will be used to extracurricular activities conduct the lottery, the preferences that will • Students looking for a be used to rank students in the lottery and the more extensive list of process for managing the waitlist if the school electives/foreign languages chooses to have one. • Students who require a **Create and supervise an enrollment process

flexible school schedule that ensures equitable access for families of all

• Students with special needs backgrounds and needs. **(Applicable to schools with admissions

and exceptionalities

requirements) Establish admission • Students in group homes

requirements that comply with R.S • Students who have been

17:3991(8)(3). bullied

• Students at risk of academic failure

• Suspended or expelled students

The proposed school anticipates a student population of 40% minority, 44.1 % free/reduced lunch, 24% ESS. A contingency plan in case those levels are not

reached is not included in the application.

Enrollment is scheduled to begin March 1st each year. If a lottery is needed, it will be determined by April 2nd and held on April 12th.

LACA will use an electronically generated random lottery number to determine who can attend the school. The lottery will be open to the public.

According to the application recruiting will be through:

• Direct mail

• Informational sessions

• Website

• Telephone/email

• Media outreach

• Referrals

• Digital Media

Academics The charter school proposal should discuss the According to the application, the extent to which the leadership team possesses proposed school will use data the ability to: regarding attendance, retention, **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed course passing rates, state testing, school has accurate estimates of baseline formative assessments, graduation performance for all core content areas for the rates and parent surveys to student population that they propose to serve. determine baseline data and track **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed growth. school provides a logical plan to establish student performance goals that relies on Strategic events focused on diagnostic data that uses the same metrics as improving learner outcomes the performance goals themselves include: **Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed • Weekly data reviews school has a plan to establish performance • SMART goal focused goals for all student achievement data Professional Leaming considered in calculating schools' Community meetings performance scores. • Staff meetings that focus **Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed on key processes school provides a plan to improve student • Response to Intervention performance at a rate that they show is reasonable and ambitious and takes into consideration the renewal and extension

performance standards of the Charter School Perf onnance Compact. The LACA board proposes using **(If applicable) Ensure that ifthe applicant Pearson's Online Blended for the proposed school additionally names Leaming for curriculum and goals related to their specialized focus, the assessments. Pearson's Online goals are measurable, ambitious and feasible. Blended Leaming is not Tier 1 **Ensure that for English/Language Arts and rated. mathematics, the applicant for the proposed school has selected curricula that are either Language Arts 1 A/B for first rated Tier 1 by the Louisiana Department of grade is the only Pearson Online Education (LDOE) OR, if the LDOE has not Blended Leaming course approved yet rated the selected curricula, the applicant by LDOE as Tier 1. correctly demonstrates using the LDOE'S Instructional Materials Review Rubric to meet Additional information submitted the standards of a Tier 1 rating. For all other following the interview states that core content subject areas, ensure that the LACA plans to partner with applicant has identified the curriculum they Achievement Network will use and correctly demonstrates how these (AN et) for assessments. ANet is curricula will prepare students for the Tier 1. Louisiana State Standards. **Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed The application further states that school has selected assessments that are rated course offerings will meet TOPS either Tier 1 for the Louisiana Department of criteria. Education (LDOE), are produced as a part of a Tier 1 rated curriculum, are part of Professional development will Louisiana's Comprehensive Assessment consist of a 2-day face-to-face pre-System (LEAP 360) OR, if the LDOE has not service, implementation of yet rated the selected assessments, the Professional Leaming applicant correctly demonstrates using the Communities, weekly updates via LDOE'S Instructional Materials Review The Scoop (a weekly electronic Rubric to meet the standards of a Tier 1 rating. newsletter for the teaching faculty **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed and staff) and new teacher school demonstrates that the professional training. development plan for teachers corresponds with and supports both the proposed curricula and the proposed school's needs based on student performance. According to the application, **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed professional development will be school provides a process by which teachers intensive, on-going and connected will receive differentiated coaching that is data to practice. driven. **Plan professional development that ensures PD will be designed to support the teachers are trained to use targeted supports in school's goal that students pass addition to, rather than in place of, high 80% of completed core courses quality instruction to sunnort Students with with PD such as:

Disabilities, English Learners (EL's) and academically struggling students. **Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed school plans to off er time for teachers to collaborate around academics and the needs of individual students on a routine basis. **Ensure that collaborative time is primarily focused on preparing teachers to deliver high quality instruction or meeting the needs of individual students. **Ensure that the applicant group for the proposed school presents a logical ~roce~s by which they will screen all students, identify students requiring additional supports and consult with a decision-making team to plan supports and interventions for those students. **Describe a process by which core content teachers will set goals for their students that are connected to the overall school goals. **Create systems or structures for observing teachers and identifying teachers that may need additional supports. **Include a plan to provide additional supports to teachers that are identified as in need of additional support. **(If applicable) Demonstrate that the selected structures, policies and practices are aligned to the specialized focus of the school. **(If applicable) Demonstrate that the selected structures, policies and practices are shown to be effective by sound research. **(If applicable) Demonstrate that the selected structures, policies and practices help support the school's student performance goals. **Allocate time daily and throughout the year in such a way that all students will complete all courses required to graduate on time. **Commit to ensuring that students have access to at least one high wage or high demandIBC.

• Modifications for students with IEP's

• Essentials of Response to Intervention and Multi­tiered Support Systems

• Leaming differences in the classroom

• Progress monitoring • Understanding data • Defining the gifted student • Creating gifted

experiences.

EL teachers will receive SIOP training.

The administration will evaluate teachers two times per year followed by a discussion and a detailed report to the teacher.

Administration plans to review data frequently, i.e., teachers' grade books, completion rates, homeroom participation, number of assignments yet to be graded and number of phone calls made by the teacher.

Administrators will evaluate teachers two times per year followed by a review and discussion. The evaluation tool is not included in the application.

A daily student schedule and yearly calendar are provided in the application.

K-5: 15-30% online Grades 6-8: 50-75% online/

interactive Grades 9-12 75% online/

interactive (High school schedule is flexible)

Special Student Populations

The charter school proposal should discuss the extent to which the leadership team possesses the ability to: **Provide a logical plan to screen all students and to ensure that struggling students are evaluated for special education services early and accurately as defined by the LDOE's Special Education Guidebook. **Present a plan for developing IEPs that contain rigorous goals and instructional plans that are suitable to meet those student's goals. **Present a monitoring plan that will enable relevant staff to track the progress of all students with IEPs towards the goals articulated in their respective plans. **Demonstrate that they will be able to provide all special education and related services needed either by the staff listed on their organizational chart or identified external groups with whom they can contract to provide needed services. **Ensure that the plan for Students with Disabilities must identify the staff members who will lead student evaluations, IEP development and provisions for on-going services. In addition, ensure that relevant job descriptions require the expertise and/or credentials relevant to the services. **Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed school intends to use the same grade-level curricula for Students with Disabilities taking the LEAP 2025 assessment that will be used for the general student population. **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed school shows that they have a protocol for identifying students whose primary or home language is not English and for administering the Louisiana English Language Proficiency Screener to potential English Learners.

Complete schedule is in the appendix of the application.

Leaming can continue during non­school times.

To identify ESS students: 1. Parents will be asked to

submit most current IEP during registration

2. School will review documents

3. School will convene IEP or 504 team meeting.

Child Find will be enacted.

The 504 Coordinator and general education teachers will work closely to ensure students receive accommodations and modifications.

The student's path toward graduation will be monitored by the students, parents and the counselor.

The proposed school will off er one Jump Start pathway.

Funds for ESS direct services and a 504 Coordinator are both in the budget.

According to the application, "The curricula in the academic question 2a will be used to instruct and support students with disabilities' using SIOP."

LACA will screen prospective students using the Louisiana English Language Proficiency Screener.

**Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed school has a plan to provide The proposed school plans to hire translation/interpretation services for families certified EL teachers. of English Learners and to translate application/enrollment materials if these services are needed. **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed school identifies the staff member(s) who will serve ELs or include a plan to hire staff member(s) who will serve ELs. In addition, ensure that relevant job desc1iptions require the expertise and/or credentials relevant to the services. Monthly professional development **Ensure that the applicant for the proposed is planned led by the EL Lead school provides a plan for the professional Teacher. development necessary to build content-area teachers' capacity for teaching ELs. LACA'sEL teachers will work **Ensure that the applicant forthe proposed with teachers, Learning Coaches school intends to use the same grade-level and students to adapt core curricula for English Learners that will be materials for EL' s. used for the general oooulation.

School Staff The charter school proposal should discuss the extent to which the leadership team possesses the ability to: **Create an organizational chart and An organizational chart for the corresponding job descriptions that include all proposed school is included in essential responsibilities and positions Appendix C, figure 12. (academic, operational and financial) necessary to implement the proposed school's The Human Resources department plans. of OBL will identify a pool of **Identify sources for teacher recruitment and candidates for teaching positions. provide evidence that enough teachers will be This will be followed by a series available for hire from those sources to fill of interviews and professional recruitment needs. background checks. **Identify sources for administrator recruitment and provide evidence that enough administrators will be available for hire from The background check system will those sources to fill recruitment needs. be managed through OBL's **Provide a plan and timeline for ensuring Human Resources department. that all staff who work with children including third-party contracted staff, will have appropriate background checks before working with children. The plan should include, at a minimum, the individual or position responsible for managing the process, the timeline bv which the orocess will occur

for all employees and contracted employees, both prior to the opening of the school and on an ongoing basis and an assurance that background checks will be acquired from the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations.

Culture The charter school proposal should discuss the extent to which the leadership team possesses The application for the proposed the ability to: school indicates LACA will strive **Establish a culture that is designed to to provide a full-time school promote a positive, rigorous and inclusive experience for students including academic environment that enables the school clubs, activities and field trip. to maintain a suspension rate that is consistent with the highest expectations in the Charter The application further states that School Performance CotnQact. targeted learning sessions that **Describe and implement a logical system of promote engagement minimize policies and practices for setting and off-task behavior. maintaining positive student norms that is supported by sound research. Levels of intervention include: **Establish a disciplinary system that is • Private chats with the aligned with the law, reflective of best student or phone calls to practices and aligned with the proposed parent/guardian school's culture plan. • Follow-up with Leaming

Coach

• Remove student from Live Lesson

No other contingency plans are included.

Partner The charter school proposal should discuss the Organizations extent to which the leadership team possesses NIA (If the ability to: applicable) **Identify partners with demonstrated

expertise in the needed areas if the proposed school requires expertise that goes beyond what is included in the proposed school's organization charts. **Demonstrate that all necessary partnerships are evidenced through a letter from partners that includes the intended period of the partnership, the scope of services they will provide and an approximate cost for the services. **Demonstrate that the applicant for the proposed school has an unbiased system for

setting goals for the partner and holding the partner accountable.

Board The charter school proposal should discuss the Readiness extent to which the leadership team possesses Section 2101 of Bulletin 126

the ability to: states, "Beginning with the 2019-**Ensure that each board member's described 20 school year, at least 60% of the role on the board matches their professional governing or management board skill set. of each charter school other than a **Ensure that for each of the following areas, Type 2 charter school, located in a there is at least one board member able to parish with a population of provide expertise: academics, finances, legal between 325,000 and 375,000 issues, management and operations and person census, shall be a resident community relations. of the parish in which the charter **Ensure that the responsibilities enumerated school is located." According to for each role enables a clear division of roles the application, only 3 out of 8 among the board members. board members reside in EBR **Ensure that the board is representative of (37.5%). the community in which the charter school is located. The LACA board will consist of a **Ensure that the board articulates a set of president, vice-president, treasurer metrics by which they will monitor and gauge and five additional board members the school's academic, operational and with expertise in education, financial effectiveness. These metrics should, administration, business and at a minimum, include the expectations of the budgeting, technology, Charter School Perf om1ance Comgact. principalship, health, finance and **Ensure that the board has a clear decision- legal matters. making process for how they will respond to information they gather in monitoring the The Monthly School Report will school's effectiveness. This process guide monthly board discussion on demonstrates that there are clear roles and enrollment, grades, attendance, responsibilities among board members in contacts, participation and considering information that facilitates finances for the proposed school. informed board decision-making. **Ensure that the board articulates a set of standards that the school leader must satisfy in Leaders of the proposed school order to keep the school on track to achieve its will create a School Improvement ..

Plan to address challenges VlSlOn. **Ensure that the board will provide logical identified through a Needs evidence that the school will achieve its vision Assessment. if the school leader satisfies the standards set forth by the board for the school leader. **Ensure that the board identifies the information that will be used to determine if The School Leader evaluation tool the school leader has satisfied each standard is located in Appendix K and is

and the process by which they will collect that similar to the tool used in EBR, information. COMPASS. **Ensure that the board has a logical decision-making framework and process to support and Competencies measured in the hold the school leader accountable according School Leader's evaluation tool to a set of standards that will further the measure: school's mission. • School Development and **Ensure that the applicant describes the steps Leadership the board and school leader will take in the • Team Development and event the leader does not meet accountability Leadership measures. There must be clear metrics that • Personal and Professional trigger different courses of action and the Skills board must have specific metrics it will use to • Student Achievement and make personnel decisions. Data Management **Ensure that the board articulates a logical process by which they identify conflicts of According to the application, the interest as described in the Louisiana Code of board will adopt a Conflict of Ethics and ensure that they do not impact Interest policy when chartered. board decisions. **Ensure that the board articulates a logical If approved by EBR, the proposed process by which they will assess their own school's board will undergo strengths and weaknesses as well as a training governance training by a third-plan that corresponds with lacking areas of party governance training expertise. professional. **Ensure that the board articulates a logical new member recruitment plan that prioritizes the required areas of expertise as well as a logical new member on-boarding plan that ensures that all new members are familiar with board bylaws and requirement.

Financial The charter school proposal should discuss the Readiness extent to which the leadership team possesses LACA will contract with Online

the ability to: Blended Leaming (OBL) for **Make projections that are based on accurate, business, accounting and back-conservative and legally compliant office services through a assumptions. Statement of Agreement. **Ensure that all funds from external sources are demonstrated to be reasonably expected. OBL will report directly to the **Ensure that no essential services are funded board. at amounts that would preclude the applicant from implementing the plan for the proposed The board of the proposed school school. will evaluate financial reports **Ensure that the school will never become monthly. insolvent or lack access to the necessary amount of liquidity. **Ensure that there are no material findings in Internal financial controls include: the non-profits organization's most recent • Segregation of duties audited financial statements. • Authorization and **Ensure that assumptions about facilities in processing of all financial statements correspond to a disbursements conservative facility plan and account for • Safeguard assets possible contingencies. • Banking reconciliation **Ensure that the proposed school has a plan • Financial policies and to hire a financial manager who has at least a procedures. bachelor's degree in finance and/or accounting or the school has partnered with an organization staffed by individuals with the necessary expertise that will provide financial management services. **Ensure that the applicant has metrics they will use to assess the performance of the financial manager or back-office service provider and commits to reviewing those metrics on an annual basis. **Ensure that the metrics used to assess the performance of the financial manager or back-office service provider include, at a minimum, the financial metrics in the Charter School Performance Compact. **Ensure that the applicant protects mission-critical expenses when faced with budget cuts. **Ensure there is appropriate segregation of financial duties. **Establish control systems that ensure that only allowable expenses will be made and that all expenses will be coded appropriately.

A tracking system for the proposed school so that only students who reside in East Baton Rouge parish are enrolled as students, is not in place

Educational The charter school proposal should discuss the Services extent to which the leadership team possesses The proposed school anticipates Provider the ability to: contracting with Connections (ESP) **Ensure that the board maintains Education LLC, DBA Pearson (If independence from the ESP by articulating Online and Blended Leaming applicable) strong accountability provisions and avoiding K-12 USA (OBL) for curriculum,

opportunities for the ESP to gain leverage over technology and other services. the board. **Ensure that the ESP cannot control board Pearson OBL has 19 years of membership. experience in virtual learning and **Ensure that the ESP contract does not allow serves 72,000 students in 28 states for any form of leverage including but not via 42 virtual statewide public limited to severance fees and facilities schools. ownership by which the ESP can ensure renewal of their contract. According to the application, **Ensure there are no material findings in the schools supported by OBL have ESP's most recent audited financial had successful charter renewals statements. twenty separate times in 19 states. **(Applicable to ESP's currently operating in schools in Louisiana) Ensure that all schools managed by the ESP meet the expectations for operators according to BESE Bulletin 126. **(Applicable to ESP's not operating in schools in Louisiana) Ensure that the applicant demonstrates that, at the time of their application, the schools managed by the ESP would meet the renewal standards of each state in which thev ooerate.

**(Applicable to ESP'S not operating schools Regarding the ESP Track Record in Louisiana) Ensure that using data collected (past school performance) from nationally normed testing, the applicant submitted by LACA in the demonstrates that the ESP's schools are high application, only 17 out of 34 perf orrning and that they outperform their peer schools reported scoring higher schools by meeting one of the standards than the district in below: English/Language Arts. ****In tested subject areas, the ESP's schools' consistently have a higher level of proficiency In that same document, zero than their peer schools with an equal or higher schools out of 34 schools reporting percentage of their target student population scored higher than the district in OR in tested subject areas, the ESP's schools' mathematics. student performance growth consistently outpaces that of their peer schools with an equal or higher percentage of their target student population. **(Applicable to ESP's not operating schools in Louisiana that serve grades 9-12) ****Ensure that over multiple years, the ESP 's schools have a consistently higher Past school performance indicates graduation rate than peer schools with an that out of twelve schools equal or higher percentage of their target reporting, LACA schools had no student population OR over multiple years, the schools with a higher graduation ESP's schools have consistently higher growth rate than the district. in their graduation rate than peer schools with an equal or higher percentage of their target student population. **(Applicable to ESP's not operating schools in Louisiana that serve grades 9-12) NIA ****Ensure that over multiple years, the Past school performance also ESP'S schools have a consistently higher indicates that out of 13 schools college matriculation rate than peer schools reporting, LACA had zero schools with an equal or higher percentage of their outperform the state in graduation target student population OR over multiple rate. years, the ESP's schools have consistently higher growth in their graduation rate than peer schools with an equal or higher percentage of their target student population. **(Applicable to ESP's not operating schools in Louisiana) Ensure that the ESP's schools consistently academically outperform surrounding schools with an equal or higher percentage of their target student population OR the ESP's schools' student performance growth consistently outpaces that of

surrounding schools with an equal or higher percentage of their target student population.

Returning The charter school proposal should discuss the Applicant extent to which the leadership team possesses The application for 2019 raised Groups the ability to: concerns in the following areas: (If **Ensure that, since their last application, they • Past school performance applicable) have participated in enough formal training to • The concept of a Leaming Applicant develop the capacities previously found Coach who was a member groups that lacking. If the applicant had unmet standards of the family may/may not have related to their school leadership and/or board be successful submitted membership, the applicant has either • Curriculum in charter demonstrated changes to their school English/Language arts and applications leadership and/or board membership since the mathematics was not Tier 1 previously previous application cycle that are relevant to are required the standards previously found lacking OR has To date, these concerns have not to complete had formal school leadership and/or board been addressed in this application. this section membership training in best practices in order

to develop the capacities previously found lacking.

School The charter school proposal should discuss the Leadership extent to which the school leadership team Ms. Solesby has been names Capacity possesses the ability to: LACA School Leader for the Tasks **Demonstrate that the identified leadership proposed school and brings many

team has managed a school, team of teachers varied experiences to the table. or an academic program that showed an appropriate level of growth or success under According to the application, their responsibility. "Between 2016-17 and 2017-18, **Demonstrate that the proposed school all but one LACA school showed leadership team has held past leadership increases in graduation rate .... " positions in which they held a high level of responsibility for the operations and/or finances of a given organization. **Demonstrate that the proposed leadership team has established a track record of improving student achievement and/or provides enough data to demonstrate the leadership team's ability to develop a high perf orrning team of teachers across multiple years. **Demonstrate that the leadership team has established a track record of leading operationally and/or financially viable organizations.

The charter school proposal should discuss the Virtual extent to which the leadership team possesses The proposed school will have in-School (If the ability to: person and virtual orientation for applicable) **Present a logical plan for orienting new students and family.

students and parents to the school such that both students and parents are given clear LACA relies on a Leaming Coach expectations on student participation and to assist the student with performance at the beginning of the student's attendance and course completion. enrollment. The Leaming Coach will receive **Demonstrate that the applicant has clear training; however, this concept expectations for student participation that may or may not be successful. differentiates between what it means for a student to be engaged in learning, in attendance and truant in the virtual setting. **Ensure that the applicant has a plan for If student's work completion rates clearly communicating expectations regarding are not on track, the student's student participation in the virtual setting to status will be flagged as teachers, students and their families. "Approaching Alarm" or "Alarm." **Ensure that the applicant has a plan in place for measuring, monitoring and reporting student participation in the virtual setting. This plan must include, at a minimum, OBL uses a technology support monitoring how often students are logging on, staff to assist parents and students how long students are staying logged on and when technology fails. what amount of time logged on is spent actively engaging in curriculum and It is estimated that 10% of students instruction. may qualify for an internet stipend **Demonstrate that the applicant has an although the proposed school actionable intervention plan for students who seeks to enroll 44% disadvantaged are not meeting the school's expectations for students. engaging and participating in the virtual setting. The intervention plan must involve teachers, students and parents in increasing student engagement and preventing truancy. **Demonstrate that the applicant has a plan to ensure that all enrolled students have access to the online learning environment within a reasonable amount of time once they enroll at the virtual school. **Show that the applicant has a logical plan for how they will provide timely support in the event of technical difficulties that minimize the loss of instructional time. **Ensure that the applicant provides a plan that outlines the nature, frequency and location of all required and optional in-person meetings

and interactions between parents and school staff, including but not limited to parent/teacher conferences, open houses and school community meetings. According to the application, **Ensure that the applicant has a plan for Health Screening as outlined in complying with BESE policy on Health Bulletin 135 will begin afterthe Screening outlined in Bulletin 135 as part of application is approved. enrollment and the ongoing functioning of the school. **Detail a plan for how struggling students will be evaluated by the virtual school on an LACA 'S transportation services on-going basis, the tools that will be used for will be limited to those students this evaluation and the frequency of the whose IEP and/or 504 Plan evaluation. requires services to be provided **Detail a logical and feasible plan for how that are typically provided outside struggling students at the virtual school will the home. receive at least twenty percent of instruction in person. **Detail a plan for how no-cost transportation services will be provided to struggling students at the virtual school for in-person instruction.

Strengths Requested information or essential pieces of the school's plan are provided in the proposal.

Information provided is backed with data.

All pieces of the plan are working towards the same purpose and are integrated with each other.

The school leader evaluation models COMPASS, the tool EBR currently uses for evaluation.

Areas in Curriculum is not Tier l; however, Need of assessments are Tier 1. Improvement

It is estimated that 10% of students may qualify for an internet stipend although the proposed school seeks to enroll 44% disadvantaged students. The stipend is calculated at a rate of $18.95 per month. This would be distributed every 3 months at the rate of $56.85 for a total of9 months.

Past school performance regarding English/Language arts and mathematics is of concern:

• Regarding the ESP Track Record (past school performance) submitted by LACA in the application, only 17 out of 34 schools reported scoring higher than the district in English/Language arts.

• In that same document, zero schools out of 34 schools reporting scored higher than the district in mathematics.

Past school performance regarding graduation rate is of concern:

• Past school performance indicates that out of twelve schools reporting, LACA schools had no schools with a higher graduation rate than the district.

• Past school performance also indicated that out of 13 schools reporting, LACA had no schools outperform the state in graduation rate.

Composition of the board is of concern:

• Section 2101 of Bulletin 126 states, "Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, at least 60% of the governing or management board of each charter school other than a Type 2 charter school, located in a parish with a population of between 325,000 and 375,000 persons census, shall be resident of the parish in which the charter school is located. According to the application, only 3 out of 8 board members reside in EBR (37.5%)

The location of the school will be determined after the charter is approved according to a request for this information following the interview.

"LACA's obligation to provide transportation services will be limited to those students whose IEP and/or 504 Plan requires services to be provided that are typically provided outside the home."

A tracking system so that only students who reside within East Baton Rouge Parish may attend the proposed school is not apparent.

APPLICATION SCORING SHEET 2020

New Operator

Name of Proposed Charter School: Louisiana Connections Academy

Reviewer's Name: Katie Blunschi Date: July 9, 2020

Section Maximum Reviewer's Points Score

Executive Summary 3 3 Students 7 7 Academics 17 16 Special Student Population 11 11 School Staff 4 4 Culture 3 2 Partner Organizations NIA NIA Board Readiness 14 13 Financial Readiness 11 11 ESP (Educational Services Provider) 8 5 Returning Applicant Groups 1 0 School Leadership Capacity 4 3 Virtual School 15 9

Total Score 95 84 (88.4%)