Keystone Central and Sugar Valley Road Charter agree to revise testing, goal language; enrollment request deferred to charter board

Keystone Central SD administrators and leaders of Sugar Valley Road Charter School met Feb. 26 to negotiate revisions to the charter agreement focused on student assessment, measurable goals and process for annual reporting and enrollment increases.

The host district's representatives said they will revise the agreement to require that the charter school maintain assessment practices supporting a Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS): a universal screener, diagnostic assessments to place students in tier 2 or tier 3, and short-cycle progress monitoring. Keystone Central SD also proposed language that the charter school include measurable growth and achievement targets in its state comprehensive plan but not a numerically binding penalty in the agreement itself. Keystone Central SD staff indicated they would not prescribe specific assessment products; the charter school would choose appropriate, research‑based tools.

Why it matters: the revisions clarify how the district will monitor performance while preserving some flexibility for the charter school to select assessment tools. The discussion also addresses administrative burden (time for assessments), state graduation pathways, and timelines for board review and renewal.

In discussion, Keystone Central SD staff described the district's approach: using MAP testing as a universal screener, then diagnostic instruments and brief in‑class progress monitoring for tiers 2 and 3. Charter representatives said they already use progress monitoring tools but described differences in format and timing. Keystone Central SD recommended separating assessment language in the contract into screening, diagnostic and progress monitoring rather than a single unidentified "second assessment."

Both sides agreed that students in grade 12 who have successfully completed an Act 158 graduation pathway should not be required to take additional assessments tied to the agreement. The parties agreed to insert wording to that effect into the testing section of the draft agreement.

On measurable goals, Keystone Central SD staff suggested language similar to the district's prior comprehensive‑plan target of about 5% growth per year (15% over three years) as an example of a measurable target. Charter leaders objected to having a fixed numeric target embedded in the agreement, saying the comprehensive plan is the school's to set and that binding numbers could create a future legal "trap." The parties reached a compromise: the agreement will state that the charter school must set measurable growth and achievement targets in its comprehensive plan (SMART goals), but the agreement will not itself prescribe a specific percentage.

The charter school asked to increase enrollment from 475 to 495 students; both sides agreed that the enrollment decision is for the charter school's board to consider and was not resolved in the meeting. The parties also discussed the annual appearance before the Keystone Central SD board: the agreed process is that the charter school will submit the annual report by an agreed date; district staff will email questions if necessary and request an in‑person appearance only if questions remain unresolved.

Timing and next steps: the charter agreed to send a complete assessment presentation and the package of requested documents by March 1 if possible. Keystone Central SD said if questions remain, the charter would appear at the April board meeting; otherwise the March timeline could be used. The host district noted a 30‑day notice requirement for the board's final renewal vote and discussed scheduling to meet that statutory timeline.

No formal motions or votes were taken at the negotiation session; staff agreed to draft the revised contract language and exchange edits by email before presenting a draft to each party's board for final action.

The meeting closed with agreement on the four substantive drafting points (assessment structure supporting MTSS; growth and achievement targets to be set in the comprehensive plan; Act 158 graduates excused from extra testing; annual reporting via written report with conditional appearance) and a schedule for drafting and board review.