Leadership magazine Sept/Oct 2017 V47 No. 1 | Page 23

study offers an attractive delivery mechanism for nonclassroom-based education .
School leaders must weigh the benefits of charter vs . non-charter nonclassroom-based options . Non-charter independent study may provide administrators with more direct , hands-on control over the scope and structure of a nonclassroom-based program . California ’ s independent study statutes permit many iterations of nonclassroom-based programs , including skills-based learning , volunteer community service activities , work-study , and specialized assignments outside the school ’ s normal curriculum .
Charter schools further enjoy a “ megawaiver ” from most provisions of the Education Code . This means charter schools are exempt from most aspects of the laws governing school districts , including those related to employees , facilities and instruction . Instead , charter schools are bound only by the promises made in their charter petitions , the Charter Schools Act and , for nonclassroom-based programs , certain aspects of the independent study laws . Charter schools , thus , provide school leaders with increased autonomy and flexibility in the nonclassroom-based arena .
Under either a charter or non-charter model , nonclassroom programs of the future will implement creative educational approaches . For example , nonclassroom-based independent study programs are a prime candidate for project-based education . Recent years have seen steady growth in the maker movement – and application of this model to nonclassroom-based programs may foster creativity and offer students opportunities to grow in key areas of science , technology , math , art and engineering .
Another innovative model might involve “ flipping ” the traditional classwork and homework paradigm . Schools have reported notable successes , where students watch teachers ’ lessons at home , and then come to the school site to engage in “ homework ” and problem solving with teachers and classmates . This approach was the subject of a TEDx talk , and some educators have found measurable student success in this model , particularly in schools with high poverty and below average student achievement .
The possibilities for nonclassroom-based education are many , and may be customized to meet a variety of goals . But the flexibility afforded nonclassroom-based schools should be paired with quality oversight marked by clear expectations and systems of support .
Forward-thinking school administrators are now collaborating with nonclassroombased experts to develop partnerships and establish a “ systems ” approach to administration . Systems can vary , but might focus on shared central services , resource allocation , joint advocacy efforts , facilities utilization , student support and professional development . Research suggests that collaborative partnerships directly benefit students and families and leverage shared resources for a greater impact on educational outcomes . At the same time , strong partnerships attract students to a district and can positively impact the financial bottom line .
The following practical tips may be considered by school administrators evaluating nonclassroom-based options :
• Engage in a stakeholder analysis to determine how nonclassroom-based programs might target areas of unmet need .
• Perform due diligence to understand the operational model and background of entities requesting charter petition approval .
• Develop comprehensive policies for oversight of charter schools contemplating the full programmatic scope , including educational outcomes , employment , admissions , facilities and other relevant areas .
• When operating nonclassroom-based programs or overseeing a nonclassroombased charter school , remember that all special education obligations continue to exist .
Following Anderson , the prominent place of nonclassroom-based education in the school choice landscape is clear . Public school administrators will play a key role in fulfilling the promise of nonclassroombased education by developing innovative programs and ensuring accountability through high-quality oversight .
Resources
• Anderson Union High School District v . Shasta Secondary Home School , ( 2016 ) 4 Cal . App . 5th 262 .
• Burke , L . and Sheffield , R . ( 2011 ).
“ School Choice in America 2011 : Educational Opportunity Reaches New Heights .” The Heritage Foundation .
• Booker , K ., Zimmer , R . and Buddin R . ( 2005 ). “ The Effect of Charter Schools on School Peer Composition .” RAND .
• Brame , C . ( 2013 ). “ Flipping the classroom .” Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching , at http :// cft . vanderbilt . edu / guides-sub-pages / flipping-the-classroom .
• California Education Code : The Charter Schools Act , § 47600 , et seq .; Independent Study Statutes , § 51745 , et seq .
• Gallego , J . and Alegria , I . ( 2016 ). “ New Report Reveals Illegal Admissions Policies at Charter Schools .” American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California .
• Goldhaber , D . ( 2002 ). “ School Choice as Education Reform : What Do We Know ?” ERIC Digest .
• “ Independent Study Operations Manual .” California Department of Education ( 2002 ).
• Lake , R . Yatsko , S . et al . ( 2017 ). “ Bridging the District-Charter Divide to Help More Students Succeed .” Center on Reinventing Public Education .
• “ Open Enrollment : 50 State Report ,” Education Commission of the States ( 2011 ), at http :// mb2 . ecs . org / reports / Report . aspx ? id = 268 ( July 26 , 2011 ).
• Strauss , V . ( September 28 , 2016 ). “ Why California ’ s charter school sector is called ‘ the Wild West .’” The Washington Post .
• Williams , Jenn ( 2013 ). “ Flipping the classroom – my journey to the other side .” TEDxRockyViewSchoolsED : www . youtube . com / watch ? v = Y3b9tCmUmA4 .
• Zimmer , R . and Buddin , R . ( 2006 ). “ Making Sense of Charter Schools : Evidence from California .” RAND .
Megan Macy is the managing partner of Lozano Smith ’ s Sacramento office . She is an expert in charter school law and a lead litigator in the Anderson case . Reach her at mmacy @ lozanosmith . com . Erin Hamor is an associate in Lozano Smith ’ s Sacramento office . She is experienced in all aspects of charter school law . Reach her at ehamor @ lozanosmith . com .
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