School Oversight and Evaluation

Institute Visit and Renewal Reports

A central component of the Institute’s evaluative oversight system is a schedule of periodic visits to, and inspections of, charter schools, resulting in letters and reports to the school’s board of trustees.

Generally toward the conclusion of the first through third academic years, school visits are
performed by two- to four-member inspection teams comprising Institute staff, and, in some cases, outside experts.  Visit teams seek evidence of effectiveness in key areas:teaching and learning (curriculum, instruction and assessment); climate (environment and discipline); facility (building or physical plant); and, fidelity to the school's charter, including its mission. The visits include meetings with the principals/directors, classroom visitations, meetings

with staff and students and reviews of student work. See the Guidance for Charter School Inspectors for a more detailed overview of the process.  The reports resulting from these visits convey to the schools the inspectors' observations, findings and discussions. These reports also help to inform parents and other members of the public about the school's progress. The School Visits At-A-Glance summary provides a general overview of the visit format.

Renewal visit reports build on the findings of the existing visit reports; they serve as the primary vehicles by which the Charter Schools Institute transmits to the State University Trustees its findings and recommendations regarding the renewal of a school’s charter (original charter awards are for 5 years, at the end of the five year term the school must apply for—and demonstrate that it has earned—the right to be renewed). The renewal visit report assists the State University Trustees in evaluating the merits of a school's renewal application and more broadly the merits of a school's case for renewal. The report has been created and is issued pursuant to the State University Renewal Practices, Policies and Procedures. Note too that these reports also provide a wealth of information to parents and the public at large about each school’s progress.

(Please note that both the school visit and renewal reports also appear in each school’s respective School Profile).