EC Section 52052(e)(4) was comprehensive. Further, the CDE has determined that LACOE considered increases in pupil academic achievement for all groups of pupils served by GCS as the most important factor in determining whether to grant GCS’s renewal appeal. CDE’s Review and Analysis of Alternative Measures In addition to considering the review and analysis conducted by PSD and LACOE, the CDE completed its own review of alternative measures for GCS. CDE selected the following comparable schools: Palmdale Aerospace, Cactus Middle, David G. Millen, Desert Willow, Shadow Hills, and Palmdale Learning Plaza. These six schools are the schools where pupils would otherwise be required to attend and are comparable in that they have similar enrollment for similar significant subgroups of African American, Hispanic/Latino, White, socioeconomically disadvantaged, English learner, and pupils with disabilities. The seven schools serve a variety of grade spans from either kindergarten through grade twelve, kindergarten through grade eight, or grade six through grade eight. GCS included Academic Performance Index (API) scores from 2011, 2012, and 2013 and CAASPP scores from 2015, 2016, and 2017. The CDE reviewed the materials and determined that GCS has not met the applicable renewal criteria pursuant to EC Section 47607. The following table reflects the CAASPP data from 2014–17 in ELA and mathematics for GCS and the schools that pupils would otherwise attend. CAASPP Results (Percent Meets/Exceeds Standards) School 2014-15 ELA 2014-15 Math 2015–16 ELA 2015–16 Math 2016–17 ELA 2016–17 Math GCS 21 10 27 12 30.16 11.34 Desert Willow 27 14 29 14 26.77 12.48 Palmdale Aerospace Academy 35 20 45 18 46.41 20.5 David G. Millen 32 18 31 14 29.09 14.83 Cactus Middle 27 11 24 11 24.26 10.93 Palmdale Learning Plaza 43 35 46 35 41.72 34.14 Shadow Hills Middle 30 24 36 26 33.38 21.14
11. Teachers’ and Public Employees’ Retirement System, and Social Security Coverage California State Teachers’ Retirement System, California Public Employees’ Retirement System, and Social Security Coverage EC Section 47605(b)(5)(K) 5 CCR Section 11967.5.1(f)(11) Evaluation Criteria The manner by which staff members of the charter schools will be covered by California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), or federal social security, as required by EC Section 47605(b)(5)(K), at a minimum, specifies the positions to be covered under each system and the staff who will be responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements for that coverage have been made. The petition does present a reasonably comprehensive description of CalSTRS, CalPERS, and social security coverage. Comments The GCS petition presents a reasonably comprehensive description of CalSTRS, CalPERS, and social security coverage. The petition states that the full-time staff at GCS may participate in the federal social security system and CalPERS; and certificated staff in CalSTRS. The petition states that the Executive Director shall be responsible for ensuring that the required deductions and contributions are made. Additionally, GCS has made 403(b) participation available to all employees (Attachment 3, p. 98). 12. Public School Attendance Alternatives EC Section 47605(b)(5)(L) 5 CCR Section 11967.5.1(f)(12) Evaluation Criteria The public school attendance alternatives for pupils residing within the school district who choose not to attend charter schools, as required by EC Section 47605(b)(5)(L), at
priorities, the goals for the school priorities, and the specific annual actions to achieve those goals. The petition does not address this requirement. Comments The GCS petition does not present a reasonably comprehensive description of MPOs. The petition does not provide MPOs for all groups of pupils served by GCS. The petition states that GCS’s annual goals, actions, and MPOs, both schoolwide and for each subgroup of pupils, which address and align with the eight state priorities can be found in GCS’s LCAP (Attachment 3, p. 61). However, the LCAP does not provide MPOs for all groups of pupils served by GCS (Attachment 16, pp. 1–104). The GCS 2017 Dashboard Student Group Report shows that all pupils schoolwide, socioeconomically disadvantaged, African Americans, and Hispanic/Latino are in the yellow performance level in both ELA and mathematics (Attachment 19, pp. 1–2). Transferability of Secondary Courses EC Section 47605(b)(5)(A)(iii) Evaluation Criteria If the proposed school will serve high school pupils, a description of the manner in which the charter school will inform parents about the transferability of courses to other public high schools and the eligibility of courses to meet college entrance requirements. Courses offered by the charter school that are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) may be considered transferable and courses approved by the University of California (UC) or the California State University as creditable under the “A” to “G” admissions criteria may be considered to meet college entrance requirements. The petition does address this requirement. Comments The GCS petition addresses this requirement. The petition states that GCS will notify parents of the transferability of courses to other public schools, and the eligibility of courses to meet college entrance requirements in the GCS pupil handbook, which is distributed annually. GCS has earned a six year WASC Accreditation in 2014 for kindergarten through grade twelve, which is valid until June 30, 2020. All grade nine