Wisconsin+Charter+School+Conference

= **Wisconsin Charter School Conference Culminating Notes:** = = = =March 2012:= =DAY 1= =General Session:= Tony Evers-Welcome to the Conference -shared the educational philosophy of Wisconsin-every child graduates -shared statistics of high school dropouts-dependent on social services -school accountability from the state Sarah Toce-Executive Director-WCSA -welcome to a great conference -through her visits throughout the state-remarks of observations -WCSA-reorganization for the association-go back to our mission and core-increase student achievement -focus on advocacy-member lead-stand up for each other -leaving Wisconsin

=Al Brant-Kaleidoscope Academy Appleton, WI= email Al about Appleton Charter School Handbook, one page handout [] Charter Characteristics-6-8 two teacher teams-websites flexible scheduling-18 choices- -introductions of all members- Laura Fitzsimmons-goverance board president [|http://ideacharterschool.com] -relationships build the school between everyone -teachers as facilitators of learning

=**Sustainability**= -need kids, retaining staff-trained, goverance board-strong-targeting individuals strengths -resources development over the district alocations, charter contract, schools within traditional schools

-don't hold back on advertising first years $20 to 30K -show visually traditional scope vs charter scope side by side -families trust you-track record tests WCKE, MAPS, targeted growth-data supported -family base in recruitment-representative -serving families-relationships -make visible-projects electronically, projects within classroom invite people in-raises $6 to 8K in event, food vendors, parent desserts, 11 to 2 on a Sat. raffles, silent auction -tax deductible donation -entrance to school is huge made it welcoming-LCD tv with photo presentations donated -web presence-70% electronically application, videos and multimedia -meet with families-showing the school, face to face marketing (Red Robin Adventure) -communication and parent presence -letter sending out -name of school and location-advertising in planning stages-web designer hired, public service announcements-free, press releases, -applications Dec through Feb-drawings -under performing students-truancy students - waiting list students -recruit really good teachers -training-staff development-professional development-include other teachers that may not start in the school -free resources for training-visiting Hi Tech Hi in San Diego -visit Valley New School [] gates/edvisions organization -retaining teachers-if teachers are not failing-they are not challenging themselves -looking for people-every other month 2 hour meeting -board president runs the meetings -goals for school and long term vision -partnership between governance board and person running the school -training of governance board and administration together -define roles, etc.spell it out -structure-6 to 11 members, subcommittees-communication -board member demographics on a spreadsheet to cover all aspects of community -raised $14K to add two classrooms -develop a resource committee-make needs known forcasting needs for future years -groom community partnerships -accept tax deductible contributions-one fundraising event a month-car wash, vendor fair -endowment fund on website Appleton Education foundation -local grants and funding and beyond -using current resources differently -donating time, skills, and materials-graphic arts gone and bring someone in -staffing ratio in the contract -exact formula for FTE -same rate as other schools in district and state aid with open enrolled students -calendar flexibility, staff development, consulting, school district fundraisers one per year vs more, transportation -which is better -balancing act-no elitists-booster club for building, students eat together, special classes together-goal is to make school charter school, transforming into Middle Level project based school
 * Need kids**
 * Staffing**
 * Governance Board**
 * Resource Development**
 * -**maximizing federal grant $s up front
 * Charter Contract**
 * School within a School**

=Dave Risch Promoting Students to be Architects and Advocates of Their Own Learning-Hartland, WI= [] [|www.hartlake.org] -community inside building and outside of building -video-design-kids like to work anywhere-hard furniture soft, outside -teachers-ask students what you needed-learning at own pace, flexibility, individual and creativity, do not get rushed, teams of two conference and individual conferences -parent-best thing about school-technology knowing what to find on their own-anywhere and time of homework, consistent online access -community-internal motiviation, all students work together and help each other, risks are taken and not felt forced -proposal-paid a salary or have health benefits-lost money going to the health room -being successful feels great-reading and writing more than she ever has been reading-using test scores to help students understand levels and help to set goals -students are taking on learning Grades 3 through 5 -students developed comments with commands that are understand "hey guys" or "aflac" response "quack" -student activities-circle name and action activity, ball with electric-working together as a community if one dropped out, then things are lost-build community everyday and all day -curriculum and assessment-mission statement-reflective learners-why and what? -school sleepover-they planned everything-made the calls to police, nurse -students doing writing and then selling to other kids to produce movies from the writings -kids directing own learning why? kids learn how to know how they learn, student become more responsible, students prefer to do things how they prefer, and they will probably learn better -tradition school target and ask question "how can I hit the target?', goals for improving individual struggles, be aware of a concept or skill we need to know, the class plans on how to meet the understanding, teachers guide the students learning

Differences between traditional and charter schools
-sit in desks vs learning anywhere, individual learning vs large group, learning at own pace, design own learning, cozy environments, energy room to get the energy out, action packed, not just about learning, we do the learning, movement rooms and a kitchen -use science math and social studies throughout the day with wetlands =Whitney Spalding Defining the Authorizer's Role in the Autonomy/Accountability Tradeoff, Association of Charter School Authorizers NACSA= [] Authorizers and Schools role -characteristics of sound contract -Maintain high standards, Protect student and public interests, Uphold School automony -create models to have a common authorizor format -four guiding questions: Application Decision Making, Monitoring Operations, Performance-Based Accountability, School Autonomy Material-relevant and significant to the outcome Applicable: Relevant; suitable, appropriate Best practices: Draw on existing models, Use legal guidance, Align Compliance language with applicable law, reference applicable law, focus on results Performance Frameworks academic, financial indicators, organizational, outcomes Substance-educational, financial organizational performances, service agreements Process-template, timeline, negotiate with school, revision/amendment Common topics Pitfalls:too loose vague expectations, undefined limits, insufficient hooks-too restrictive, too many external references Avoid the pitfalls:clear, limit applicable laws, less is more-focus on results Emerging Issues-Renewal Multiple campuses =DAY 2= =General Session-Panel Discussion= =Senator Luther Olson, Robert Soldner, DPI, Al Brant Kaleidoscope Academy= -expalined the growth of charter schools in WI -charter schools should be bi partisan, but not this year because of recall efforts and other state issues -we are stuck in the traditional industrial style education that will sufficate education -DPI will work with both parties with charter school and the school choice and the voucher system -the DPI and the state needs to find common ground -Senate Bill 22-discussion and explanation-lessons have been learned through this reform-charter schools are being effective -most are in favor of the bill,but needed to be done differently and as a team -enrollment caps-caps are not good-technology use in the school and at home -read to lead-by third grade what works with students and what does not work according to research-reading teacher network-individual plans to help students succeed -teacher licensing is in the works with flexible licensing

Edvision-check out website []

=Lynn Brown Jacob Shapiro Brain Based Instructional Lab Neuroscience-Foundation for Learning= [] powerpoint slides will be connected -skills set vs problem solving -environment and experience equals the whole child -Eric Jensen conference [] -mind-brain-education--MBE -six years as a changed school -uniqueness is the rule-30% ready at the grade level -candy bar demonstration-more and more and more -Wed night food example-memories can be remembered if properties are connected-properties are key -Becky Baily-conscious discipline [] -brain research-born with brain online-breathing, swerving, math book page 20, attacking wolf, kids run away from you -brain is pattern seeking, best exercise-on handouts -30 minutes of excerise equal to prozac for brain -30 minutes of tumble play equals a dose of ritilan -genuine greatings physical contact -patterning is important for students that are not pattern in the morning -stressful relief exercises -Welcome back wall and wish well wall -thinking skills balance with academic skills' -thinking skills-handout -thinking skills Instrumental Enrichment-planning, logical reasoning, ....... slide included -grocery stores are systematic, so can be math and literature and history -Instrumental Enrichment IE Organization of Dots -learning from errors -growth for all-not closing the gap -using data to move education forward =April 2011:=

Link to story in Milwaukee Journal Sentinal about Gov. Walker's keynote address: [] Link to videos of Gov. Walker's address recorded by audience member: [] Walker starts talking at about 2:55.

Session on Goverance:
[] K-8 Kenosha School of Technology Enhanced Curriculum-focus on science, math and technology

In presentation with Mead Elem. School Wi Rapids on Goverance

[]

Marathon MS is using the Expenditionary School starting 2011 Jeff Reiche administrator Little Chute HS is starting a Career Academy starting 2011-Dan Valentyn administrator

Sheboygan Schools:Washington School for Comprehensive Literacy Elementary School The school focuses on school-wide literacy even through science and social studies. The school is filled with literacy charts and graphs. Student data is kept on the literacy wall with levels and interventions. The school is a traditional school with a literacy model within the school.

Literacy model website: [|www.ar**literacy**model.com]

Teacher for America:

Recruiting college graduates for teaching in low SES schools: 70%

[|www.**teachforamerica**.org]

__**Marcy's notes:**__
1) Visit to Warriner High School: [] 2) 3) Assessment in Project Based Learning: 4)

__ Leigh's notes: __
Thursday I spent the whole day listening to schools talk about Project Based Learning (PBL) [] [] [] [] --- they did not talk but very similar to the model that we are looking at

Friday I took a tour of a 4th-5th grade charter school. []

** __Ashley's Notes:__ **
Energizing Your Educational Environment Project Based Learning Assessment Intervening with Students to Decrease Dropouts Appleton Career Academy Elementary School for the Arts and Academics