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Board ratifies charter MOUs but urges tighter enrollment timelines
Summary
The board ratified memoranda of understanding with multiple charter schools for 2013–14 while several commissioners said the district and charter leaders must resolve misaligned enrollment timelines to protect equity and access.
The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education ratified memoranda of understanding negotiated with a list of charter schools for the 2013–14 school year, but commissioners and charter representatives agreed to continue talks on enrollment timelines and other operational details.
Michael Davis read the recommended action to ratify MOUs negotiated with charter operators including City Arts & Technology High School, Creative Arts Charter School, Thomas Edison Charter Academy, several 5 Keys schools, Gateway High School and various KIPP campuses. "The requested action is that the Board of Education ... ratify the memorandum of understanding for the 2013–14 school year negotiated with the charter schools by the superintendent or his designee," a staff presentation said.
Hilary Harmson, managing regional director for the Bay Area for the California Charter Schools Association, told the board the charter leaders asked for ratification "as is" tonight while committing to continued dialogue about enrollment processes and timelines. "Given that these MOUs were negotiated in good faith last spring, I ask that you ratify them tonight as is and then we can continue this conversation for next year," she said.
Several commissioners said they would support ratification for the current year but emphasized reform is needed. One commissioner described a proposal by a charter school to start an earlier enrollment schedule and said it raised "access issues" and potential equity concerns because families with earlier information could be advantaged. Commissioner comments urged staff and charter leaders to tighten alignment of timelines before the next school year.
The board voted in favor of ratification by roll call (6 ayes). Commissioners said the vote preserves operations for the current year while directing staff to follow up with charter leaders about enrollment alignment and process improvements.
The district listed the charter schools covered by the MOUs and said staff would continue engagement with charter leaders and the Charter Schools Association on enrollment timelines and other areas of concern.
