November 2020 Emergency Order gives schools the okay to continue to offer choice to students
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis released Emergency Order 07 on November 30, 2020. EO-07 calls for all Florida public schools to remain open for in-person instruction in 2021. All schools are required to complete a Spring 2021 Education Plan. More here.
Charter schools must submit a Spring 2021 Education Plan to their sponsoring district by Dec. 15, 2020
The plan is similar to the one developed in the fall to comply with Emergency Order 06, however, you must also address Key Areas and Assurances in the Spring 2021 Education Plan.
If you need a progress monitoring tool (to meet Assurance #3), you may use Cambium, a free progress monitoring tool that was initially offered to you in August 2020. Cambium is available through your district. School leaders may also contact Jenny Black, Director of Test Administration in the Bureau of K–12 Student at Jenny.Black@fldoe.org if it is not available through your district.
Successful Start to the 20-21 School Year: Advice from Florida Charter School Leaders
The FCSA hosts a weekly Principals Chat Session. At a recent meeting, Erika Rains, Principal and Founder of Somerset College Prep in St. Lucie, discussed the reopening at two campuses. Check out Erika’s best practices and solutions here: Watch the conversation here.
Some South Florida schools are already open. Take a look inside. — Sun-Sentinel, September 18, 2020 — While most Palm Beach County schools will open their campuses Monday, Renaissance Charter School at Wellington got a head start, giving a preview of what parents might expect at schools opening in a pandemic — assuming everything goes as planned. Continue reading.
The first day of school at Miami Charter Community School in Florida City – Miami Herald – On the first day of class, Miami Community Charter School in Florida City, Fla. is one of the few schools accommodating students who do not have Internet access at home or whose parents cannot stay home with them for remote learning. Continue reading.
Teacher Salary Increase – FCSA Intervenes on Behalf of Charter School Teachers
October 9, 2020 — When the Florida Charter School Alliance team learned that some districts were planning to withhold a percentage of the teacher salary allocation, as an administrative fee, from charter schools, Ralph Arza, our Director of Governmental Affairs, took immediate action. More here.
School Reopening Advice for Charter School Leaders
Guidance regarding Public Meetings
While charter schools, for the most part, do not have to comply with District Policy regarding public meetings, we wanted to share this is a best practice — courtesy of Tiffanie Pauline, Assistant Superintendent, Charter School Compliance and Support at Miami-Dade County Public Schools — as a way to deal with the expiration of the executive order and still maintain public safety and access. Click here to see the document.
Guidance regarding Telemedicine Flexibilities for Districts, Private, and Charter Schools During COVID-19
October 2020 — The Agency for Health Care Administration issued additional clarification on consents for school-based telemedicine services when a child is learning remotely.
Does each child need written consent to receive services using telemedicine?
Consent is not necessary when telemedicine is utilized by students who are learning remotely. Schools should refer to the Florida Department of Education for any other consent requirements.
To see the entire FAQ, click here: Updated MSBS FAQs 10-2-20
What the FLDOE Emergency Order means for charter schools
In a time of uncertainty, one thing charter school parents can count on is their school to address their needs and the learning needs of their child. “Charter schools have a responsibility to respond to the parents and children they serve,” said Lynn Norman Teck, executive director of the Florida Charter School Alliance, a statewide non-profit charter school support and advocacy organization. “Charter Schools were founded on the premise of providing quality choice to parents and underserved communities. Our member school principals and governing board members overwhelmingly support the idea that if parents believe a brick and mortar learning environment is best for their child, they have the right to make that choice and we are going to support that decision.” Charter school reopening plans follow the Florida Department of Education reopening Emergency Order and Health Department guidelines.
Highlights from the Emergency Order:
- All reopening decisions are being made with careful consideration and based on safe operating protocols and will be modified as guidance and advice from FLDOE, CDC, and the Health Department are released.
- Student Funding: School boards and charter school governing boards will receive funding based on pre-COVID-19 FTE student membership forecasts. Rule 6A-l .0452, Florida Administrative Code, is waived to the extent that the Depa1tment of Education will not reduce the distribution of funds based on the July and October 2020 student surveys.
- Districts and charter school governing boards with an approved reopening plan are authorized to report approved innovative learning students for full FTE credit. However, students receiving virtual education will continue to receive FTE credit as provided in section 101 l.61(1)(c)l.b.(III)-(IV), Florida Statutes.
Emergency Order UPDATE November 17, 2020:
District-run schools and charter schools got the green light to continue to provide distance learning and remote learning options to students at the November 17th State Board Meeting. “Florida students will be able to continue to learn remotely through the second half of the school year,” said Richard Corcoran, Commissioner of Education. However, the funding model for the second semester has not finalized. Currently, the funding is the same whether a student attends class in person or has opted for the remote option. According to Commissioner Corcoran, the Florida Department of Education will release more details about funding and will also address students who may be falling behind academically because of the pandemic.
U.S. Department of Education Confirms There Will be State Assessments in 20-21
In early September 2020, the U.S. Department of Education announced that they would NOT WAIVE federal testing requirements, which are outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA. Testing data is a critical tool that allows educators — and parents — to understanding where students are academically and what support is needed to address learning gaps that exist. The decision to suspend testing requirements in March and April was the right call given the limited information available about the virus at the time and the need to stop its spread, as well as the practical realities limiting the administration of assessment,” said Ed Secretary DeVos in a letter to superintendents. However, states are expected to carry out the assessments required under the Every Student Succeeds Act, S. 1177 (114), in the 20-21 school year.
Facilities Maintenance and Cleaning 
Property Works offers schools cleaning and facilities maintenance services — from fogging to deep cleaning — to keep your students and staff safe. More here.
Six Steps to Clean and Disinfect Your School
Click here to download the CDC’s guidelines.
Resources from the Florida Department of Education
Developing a COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan
Communicating with students, families, and staff members about a quarantine – Templates from the Brooklyn Lab Charter School. Click here for details.
CDC: Why is it important to open schools for in-person instruction?
While opening schools – like opening any building or facility—does pose a risk for the spread of COVID-19, there are many reasons why opening schools in the fall of 2020 for in-person instruction is important.
Schools play a critical role in the wellbeing of communities
Schools are a fundamental part of the infrastructure of communities. Schools provide safe and supportive environments, structure, and routines for children, as well as other needed support services to children and families. Schools play a vital role in the economic health of communities by employing teachers and other staff and helping parents, guardians, and caregivers work.
CDC: Preparing K-12 School Administrators for a Safe Return to School in Fall 2020
This guidance is for K-12 school administrators who are preparing for students, teachers, and staff to return to school in fall 2020. School administrators are individuals who oversee the daily operations of K-12 schools, and may include school district superintendents, school principals, and assistant principals. Click here for more.
Providing Services to Children with Disabilities during the Coronavirus Outbreak
This Questions and Answers from the US Department of Education document outlines states’ responsibilities to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities and their families, and to the staff serving these children. Click here for more.
Exceptional Student Education Instructional Continuity Plan During COVID-19 School Closure – Sample ESE Instruction Plan developed by Lake Wales Charter Schools. Click here.
Operating schools during COVID-19: CDC’s Considerations
Updates have been made to align with the new school resources and tools that were released on July 23rd and 24th and the latest COVID-19 information. Click here for more details.
8 Strategies to Improve Participation in Your Virtual Classroom
Educators share their best synchronous and asynchronous strategies to boost student participation during online learning. Learn more here.
New Resources for Charter Schools
A new resource from Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School and Donovan Group provides a guide to transparent and public health-informed communication for schools in response to COVID-19 resurgence and incidence in the Engage Equitably toolkit.
The National Charter School Resource Center, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program, released three new resources on school improvement:
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- Four Domains for Significant and Sustainable Charter School Improvement: A Systems Framework for the Charter Context
- A Strategic Approach to School Improvement Using the Four Domains: A Webinar for Charter School Leaders
- Don’t Stop Improving: A Strategic Approach to School Improvement Using the Four Domains: A Webinar for SEAs and Independent Chartering Board