District Staff Recommendation / Findings regarding the Connect Community Charter School Renewal Charter Petition

District staff reviewed and analyzed the petition for renewal of the Connect Community Charter School’s charter and determined that the Charter School meets the applicable legal standards and criteria for renewal. Therefore, staff will recommend that the Board approve the renewal of the Charter School’s Charter at the March 26, 2025 Board meeting.

A copy of the DRAFT Board Resolution approving renewal of the Connect Community Charter School’s charter follows below:
 

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
RESOLUTION NO: 21 2024-2025 School Year

RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PETITION FOR RENEWAL OF
THE CHARTER FOR CONNECT COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL

WHEREAS, pursuant to Education Code Section 47605 et seq., the Governing Board (“Board”) of the Redwood City School District (“District”) is required to review charter petitions and authorize the establishment and/or renewal of charter schools;

WHEREAS, the Board previously approved the Charter for the Connect Community Charter School (“Charter School”) with its current term running through and including June 30, 2025, as it was automatically extended by Education Code section 47607.4;

WHEREAS, a petition was submitted to the District requesting that the Board renew the Charter School’s Charter for a five year term from July 1, 2025, through and including June 30, 2030 (“renewal petition”);

WHEREAS, a public hearing regarding the renewal petition was conducted on January 15, 2025, pursuant to the Education Code, at which time the Board considered the level of support for the renewal petition by teachers and other employees of the District, and parents/guardians;

WHEREAS, District staff, in consultation with legal counsel, conducted a comprehensive review of the renewal petition, and identified multiple items needing clarification and/or revision, and the Charter School worked cooperatively with the District to provide clarification and implement revisions to the renewal petition to address the identified items. The revised renewal petition is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”;

WHEREAS, charter renewals are governed by the standards and criteria set forth in Education Code sections 47605, 47607, and 47607.2;

WHEREAS, Education Code sections 47607 and 47607.2 require a determination of whether a charter school seeking renewal is in the high, middle, or low academic performance category or is a Dashboard Alternative Status school, and Charter School has been designated by the California Department of Education as a “middle-performing” charter school;

WHEREAS, the District considered the Charter School’s performance on a schoolwide basis and among all subgroups served by the Charter School as identified on the California Dashboard, giving greater weight to the Charter School’s performance on measurements of academic performance, and determined that the Charter School meets the minimum eligibility requirements for renewal as a middle-performing charter school;

WHEREAS, the District has determined that the Charter School meets the applicable legal standards and criteria for renewal, and recommends that the Board adopt this Resolution approving the Renewal of the Charter School’s Charter for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2025;

WHEREAS, the Board has fully considered the renewal charter petition and the recommendation for renewal.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1. The Board finds the above-listed recitals to be true and correct and incorporates them herein by this reference.

2. The Board hereby renews the Connect Community Charter School’s Charter for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2025, and running through and including June 30, 2030. The Superintendent or designee is hereby authorized and directed to notify the California Department of Education regarding the renewal approval.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 26th day of March, 2025, by the following vote: AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

______________________
President, Board of Trustees


ATTEST:

______________________
Clerk, Board of Trustees

EXHIBIT A

CONNECT COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL CHARTER

(Renewal Term 7/1/25 - 6/30/30)