It wasn’t too long ago that we were debating with a few legislators and individuals about the issues regarding HB1375 and the impacts that the new law will not have, even though they were intended. We were told it’ll be so simple to follow up and take no time at all to go through the list to see which schools are doing a great job and which aren’t. We disagreed but waited to see what would happen. As of July 8th (7 days after the requirements were to be met), we did a review that took a really long time.
On July 1st, all charter schools were required to post their waivers on their website. Not when they got around to it and not when they felt like it, the law states July 1st, 2017. Next July 1st, they’ll be required to post their 990’s.
Some of our Jeffco charters have done a great job and posted complete information that was easy to find, huge thanks to them! Some clearly just threw something up on their site and didn’t put much effort into it, still, that’s compliance. Unfortunately, others have done absolutely nothing to comply. If you find a link that we were not able to, please let us know and we’ll be happy to update this! If you’re a charter and update your website to comply with the law, let us know!
Here’s a quick review of what’s available for Jeffco Charters, blue is good!
Addenbrooke Classical Academy:
- http://www.addenbrooke.org/Financial
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3cVlGj3cwRqTVB4Uk1EQTc2eUU/view
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B61aNPFhLSNvWGtla1BsLW9ybUk/view
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B61aNPFhLSNvcUF4U3UyVGtpR1E/view
Collegiate Academy:
- http://www.collegiateacademy.net/financial-transparency
- http://www.collegiateacademy.net/pdfs/Transparency/CAC_State_Waivers.pdf
- http://www.collegiateacademy.net/pdfs/Transparency/CAC_District_Waivers.pdf
- http://www.collegiateacademy.net/pdfs/Transparency/Salary_Policy_15.pdf
Compass Montessori (both Golden and Wheat Ridge):
Doral Academy of Colorado:
- Unable to find any list of waivers on the website, http://www.doralcolorado.org/
- Additional concern – special education under academics is still “coming soon.”
Excel Academy:
Free Horizon Montessori:
- The topic was initially listed without a link are on website containing information. Free Horizon contacted us immediately on July 8th to let us know this had been corrected and the link added to the website! http://freehorizonmontessori.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=b001f452b33d3a3652a15fe171efbbbc&pageid=336036&b32626&b32626
- http://freehorizonmontessori.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1623374/File/Board%20of%20Directors/2017-07_Free_Horizon_Montessori_State_Waivers_for_Website_Posting(1).pdf?sessionid=b001f452b33d3a3652a15fe171efbbbc
Golden View Classical Academy:
- Unable to find any list of waivers on the website 7/8/17. Link added to website for CDE listing and another on 7/11/17. https://www.goldenviewclassical.org/financial-transparency/
- https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/report-waiversbycharterschool-0
- https://www.goldenviewclassical.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GVCA-Waiver-Replacement-Plans-Final.pdf
Great Work Montessori:
Jefferson Academy:
- http://www.jajags.com/charter-school-waivers
- They do need to update their links to sexual harassment and reporting notices but this is due to Jeffco’s website changes.
Lincoln Academy:
- Unable to find any list of waivers on the website 7/8/17. Page Updated to include waivers. http://lincoln1.schoolwires.net//site/Default.aspx?PageID=392
- https://www.lincolnacademy.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=651
Montessori Peaks Academy:
- Initially unable to find any list of waivers on the website. https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/montessori-peaks-academy/home
- Update, new link provided to us on 7/11/17 – https://docs.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=amVmZmNvc2Nob29scy51c3xtb250ZXNzb3JpLXBlYWtzLWFjYWRlbXl8Z3g6NmFhZGM3ODljOTAwMzUyNA
Mount Phoenix
New America School
- Unable to find any list of waivers on the website 7/8/17. Page updated to include link. http://newamericaschool.org/about/
- http://colorado.newamericaschool.org/board-of-directors/financial-transparency/financial-transparency-list-of-waivers/
Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen
- http://www.rmae.org/school-info/rmae-board-of-directors2/financial-transparency/
- http://www.rmae.org/wp-content/uploads/RMAE_CharterContractStateWaivers2013-2018.pdf
- http://www.rmae.org/wp-content/uploads/RMAE_ReplacementPlanStateWaivers2013-18.pdf
Rocky Mountain Deaf School
- Unable to find any list of waivers on website. http://www.rmds.co/about/
Two Roads Charter School
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=amVmZmNvc2Nob29scy51c3x0d28tcm9hZHMtY2hhcnRlcnxneDo0ODdkYTkzMDdhZDg1OTc
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=amVmZmNvc2Nob29scy51c3x0d28tcm9hZHMtY2hhcnRlcnxneDo2NmQ0Y2E5MDBiNGZiYWVm
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=amVmZmNvc2Nob29scy51c3x0d28tcm9hZHMtY2hhcnRlcnxneDo0NDJhZWM3MDE0Njg5YjBj
Woodrow Wilson Academy
- Initially the link on the website that goes to a Google doc was blocked requiring permission to view; this has been corrected. Oops, not quite compliant. http://www.wwacademy.org/board-of-directors/financial-transparency/
- Website updated 7/11/17 – https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Ar1G41GDe8VE9SSmpKVzJuZVE/view
- Website updated 7/11/17 – https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Ar1G41GDe8YUc0NzRpX2hTVDA/view
So, now what? What do our Legislators who approved this law intend to do about those that are not compliant and who will take the time to ensure that the information there is also correct and lists complete information? Who will take the time to review all the others in the state?
This feels a little like the board members we had to recall, there was no one to turn to when the repeated violations occurred. Are we supposed to hire attorneys to make it happen?
