Capitol Collegiate Academy

LEGAL ASSURANCES
Charter schools are schools of choice and admissions policies will reflect this compliance with state and federal requirements. In accordance with Education Code Section 47605 (d)(2)(A), Capitol Collegiate will admit all students who wish to attend, up to the school’s enrollment capacity.
Capitol Collegiate will:

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  be non-sectarian in all areas of operations, including student admission
  
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  not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other perceived characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.5 of the Penal Code
  
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  not charge tuition
  
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  accept all students who are California residents, regardless of their place of residence within the state
  
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  not require any pupil to attend the charter school
  
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  not enroll pupils over 19 years of age unless continuously enrolled in public school and making satisfactory progress toward high school diploma requirements
  
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  comply with all laws establishing minimum age for public school attendance
  
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  adhere to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children
  
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  not determine admission to the charter school based upon the place of residence of the student or that student’s parents or guardians, within this state, except as allowed under Education Code section 47605(d)(2)
  

Capitol Collegiate will adhere to all provisions of No Child Left Behind regarding:

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  receiving students from Program Improvement schools as part of Public School Choice.
  
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  providing the Principal's attestation of highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals.
  
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  meeting the needs of "at-risk" students if the school is designated a targeted assistance school.
  

APPLICATION PROCESS
All families interested in enrolling their child(ren) in Capitol Collegiate will be required to complete the following steps and participate in the following application process:

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  Submit an application during the Open Enrollment Period (first business day after January 1 through the first Thursday of April at 5:00 PM).
  
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  Random Public Drawing (occurring on the third Thursday of April at 7:00 PM)
  
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  Complete and submit Intent to Enroll paperwork within two weeks of the lottery date (including a signed acceptance letter and all required paperwork – proof of age, immunization records, home language survey, and emergency medical information)
  
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  Attend a parent and student orientation during one of the dates between May and August
  
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  Parents and students sign the Commitment to Excellence
  

OPEN ENROLLMENT
All students interested in attending Capitol Collegiate will be required to complete an application form and submit this application directly to the school before the annual deadline.¹²⁵ Applications will be available during a publicly advertised open enrollment period each year, generally beginning the first business day after January 1 and continuing through 5:00 PM on the first Thursday of April. Submitted applications will be date- and time-stamped and student names added to an application roster to track receipt.
Following the open enrollment period, applications will be counted to determine if any grade level has received a number of applications which exceed available seats. In this event, the school will hold a public random lottery to determine enrollment for the impacted grade level.

ADMISSION PREFERENCES
If the school receives a number of applications that exceeds the number of available spaces, a public random lottery will be hosted, with preference for available spaces given to students in the following order:

1. 
   Current Capitol Collegiate students
   
2. 
   Siblings of currently enrolled Capitol Collegiate students
   
3. 
   Children of the Capitol Collegiate staff and Board of Directors (up to 10% of total enrollment)
   
4. 
   Students residing within the borders of Sacramento City Unified School District
   
5. 
   Other California residents (out-of-district)
   

PUBLIC RANDOM LOTTERY
Should the number of students applying for school admission exceed the number of spaces available in any given grade, a random public lottery will be held to determine admission, per the requirements of Education Code 47605(d)(2)(B). In the event that a lottery is required, families intending to enroll their children who submitted completed application packets by the deadline of 5:00 PM the first Thursday of April will be notified in writing regarding the date, time, and location of the public lottery, and rules for the lottery process. If needed, the lottery will be held on the third Thursday of April at 7:00 PM. The lottery will be held at the school each year, except the first year when it may be hosted at another location near the school’s facility.
Before beginning the drawing, rules for the lottery will be explained. Each grade’s lottery will be conducted separately, beginning with kindergarten, and will be further subdivided into groups that represent each of the school’s identified preference categories.
The lottery itself will be conducted by pulling slips of paper identified with applicant numbers out of a container, beginning with the students who receive preference as allowed by law and specified in our charter. Slips will be pulled until all openings are filled and then all remaining slips will be drawn to create a waiting list.
The lottery will be facilitated by an uninterested third party and fair execution of the lottery will be verified by an officer of the Capitol Collegiate Board of Directors.
Copies of all application packets, lottery results, and waiting lists will be readily available for inspection at the school office.
Acceptance letters will be distributed to families whose students earn space through the lottery. All families, including those whose children are admitted through the lottery but are not present at the time of the drawing, will be notified by mail. All admitted students must return acceptance letters within two weeks of the lottery to secure their seat.

WAITING LIST
The waiting list will be established from the applications that do not receive admission and shall be used to fill enrollment vacancies that occur during the year. If a position opens during the school year, the school will contact the family at the top of the wait list to offer their student admission to the school. Should the family decline the seat or fail to respond within 48 hours, the next family on the list will be contacted until the open position is filled.
Students who submit applications after the deadline will be added to the end of the waiting list in the order received.

ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING
Capitol Collegiate will utilize an appropriate student information system for attendance tracking and reporting purposes and will utilize attendance accounting procedures that satisfy requirements for SCUSD, SCDOE, and CDE. Required reports will be completed regarding daily attendance and submitted to the requesting agencies. This includes reporting enrollment and attendance figures to SCUSD as required by the District.
Capitol Collegiate shall provide to the SCUSD the following information for each academic year:

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  Norm Day Classification
  
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  List of all highly qualified Certificated Personnel in core subjects as defined in No Child Left Behind and State policy and regulations
  
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  Total School Enrollment
  
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  List of Emergency Credentialed Teachers in non-core subjects
  
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  Number of Students by Grade Level
  
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  Unfilled Classroom Teacher Positions
  
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  Number of Students by Ethnicity & Grade Level
  
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  Fiscal Year-End Financial Report
  
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  Number of Students Living Outside SCUSD Attendance Area
  
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  List of Register-Carrying Teachers
  

ELEMENT 9 - Annual Financial Audits

“The manner in which annual, independent, financial audits shall be conducted, which shall employ generally accepted accounting principles, and the manner in which audit exceptions and deficiencies shall be resolved to the satisfaction of the chartering authority.” Education Code § 47605(b)(5)(I)

INDEPENDENT CHARTER STATUS
Capitol Collegiate will be a fiscally independent, directly funded charter school.

BUDGETS
Each spring Capitol Collegiate will establish an annual budget, monthly cash flow projections, and a three-year financial projection. The Head of School and Business Manager will prepare the budget and work with the Finance Committee of the Board to ensure the budget meets the programmatic needs of the school within the anticipated revenue. The annual budget will include all estimated revenues and expenditures for the year and will also include ample reserves to accommodate cash flow challenges. At this time, a number of contingency budgets will be prepared to provide a framework in the case of an unexpected increase in expenses or cut in revenue.
The budget development process will begin in March of the preceding fiscal year and continue through the May revisions of the State budget. The budget and three-year projections will then be presented to the Capitol Collegiate Board of Directors for discussion and approval.
The Head of School and Finance Committee will review monthly cash flow statements and will present comprehensive budget updates to the Board at least four times each fiscal year. The Head of School and Board of Directors will also recommend formal budget revisions as needed to ensure financial stability and adequate cash flow.
The Capitol Collegiate Board will create formal policies regarding the deposit of funds, investment procedures, and internal financial controls.
Capitol Collegiate will develop and regularly update a first year operational budget, as well as cash flow and financial projections for the first five years.


BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
The Head of School of Capitol Collegiate will assume the lead responsibility for financial matters at the school under the policies adopted and oversight provided by the school’s Board of Directors. The Head of School will work with the Business Manager to manage the day-to-day financial management needs of the school. We anticipate contracting with a vendor for back office support. The school will select a firm based on experience, comparative cost analysis with organizations that offer similar services, and customer satisfaction.
The Head of School and/or Business Manager will work with the back office support provider to manage the school’s financial operations. Contracted services may include, but are not limited to, budgeting, fiscal planning, vendor services, personnel and payroll, accounts payable, attendance tracking systems, completion and submission of compliance reports, and monitoring adherence to the charter process and laws.
Capitol Collegiate and their contracted business services provider will employ all Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

ANNUAL AUDIT
Capitol Collegiate will develop and implement controls necessary to gather and prepare information for all jurisdictional and financial reporting requirements. The Head of School, Business Manager, and Finance Committee of the Board will be knowledgeable about the audit guide “Standards and Procedures for Audits of California K-12 Local Educational Agencies” and, as required under Education Code § 47605 (b)(5)(I), the school will hire an independent auditor to conduct a complete fiscal audit of the books and records of Capitol Collegiate.
The Finance Committee will select an independent auditor through a request for proposal format. The auditor will have, at minimum, a CPA and experience working with educational institutions (preferably charter schools) and approved by the State Controller on its published list as an educational audit provider.
At the conclusion of the audit, the Head of School and Business Manager, along with the Finance Committee, will review any audit exceptions or deficiencies, and report them to the Capitol Collegiate Board of Directors with recommendations on how to resolve them. The Board will submit a report to the District describing how the exceptions or deficiencies have been or will be resolved to the satisfaction of the District along with an anticipated timeline.The annual audit should be completed within four months of the close of the fiscal year and a copy of the auditor’s findings will be forwarded to the District, the County Superintendent of Schools, the State Controller, the CDE, and any other required agencies by the 15^th of December each year.
The independent fiscal audit of the Charter School is public record to be provided to the public upon request.

REQUIREMENTS

Capitol Collegiate will submit the following reports to SCUSD:





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  Provisional Budget – July 1 prior to operating budget
  
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  Annual Certification - August 1
  

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  First Interim Projections - December 15 of Operating Fiscal Year
  
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  Second Interim Projections - March 15 of Operating Fiscal Year
  
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  Final Report – September 15 of Operating Fiscal Year
  
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  Audited Financial Statements - December 15 (also to State Controller, State Department of Education and County Superintendent of Schools)
  
  • 
    Other reports requested by the District
    

Capitol Collegiate will promptly respond to all reasonable inquiries from the District, including but not limited to inquiries regarding financial records, and will consult with the District regarding any inquiries.

DISTRICT OVERSIGHT COSTS
The District may charge for the actual costs of supervisory oversight of Capitol Collegiate not to exceed 1% of the charter school’s revenue, or the District may charge for the actual costs of supervisory oversight of the Charter School not to exceed 3% if the school is able to obtain substantially rent free facilities from the District. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the District may charge the maximum supervisory oversight fee allow under the law as it may change from time to time.
The District may charge for the actual costs of supervisory oversight of Capitol Collegiate, not to exceed 1% of the revenue of the charter school as defined by Ed Code 47613 (f). If the charter school is able to obtain substantially rent-free facilities from the District, the District may charge for the actual cost of supervisory oversight of the charter school not to exceed 3% of the revenue of the charter schools as defined by 47613 (f). The District may charge indirect costs for grants processed for Capitol Collegiate, not to exceed the rate allowed by the grant.
The District may, at its discretion, provide services to Capitol Collegiate on a fee-for-service basis, if requested by the charter school to do so. In such a case, the District will determine the cost of providing such services including the overhead cost associated with such service incurred by the office providing the service.

ELEMENT 10 - Suspensions and Expulsions

"The procedures by which students can be suspended or expelled.” Ed. Code § 47605 (b)(5)(J)

DISCIPLINE POLICY
Cause for Suspension and Expulsion
A student may be recommended for suspension or expulsion for any of the following reasons, as specified in the Education Code Section 48900-48900.7:

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  Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person
  
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  Willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self-defense
  
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  Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object, unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the student had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, which is concurred in by the Head of School or the designee of the Head of School
  
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  Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of, any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind
  
• 
  Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, and either sold, delivered, or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid, substance, or material and represented the liquid, substance, or material as a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant
  
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  Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion
  
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  Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property (includes, but is not limited to, electronic files and databases)
  
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  Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property (includes, but is not limited to, electronic files and databases)
  
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  Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel (exception made for use or possession by a student of his or her own prescription products)
  
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  Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity
  
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  Unlawfully possessed or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Section 11014.5 of the Health and Safety Code
  
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  Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties
  
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  Knowingly received stolen school property or private property (includes, but is not limited to, electronic files and databases)
  
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  Possessed an imitation firearm
  
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  Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as defined in Section 261, 266c, 286, 288, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code or committed a sexual battery as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code
  
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  Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a student who is a complaining witness or a witness in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of either preventing that student from being a witness or retaliating against that student for being a witness, or both
  
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  Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing as defined in Section 32050
  
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  Aided or abetted, as defined in Section 31 of the Penal Code, the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person (suspension only)
  
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  Committed sexual harassment
  
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  Caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in the act of hate violence
  
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  Engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation directed against school District personnel or students, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the actual and reasonably expected effect of materially disrupting class work, creating substantial disorder, and invading the rights of either school personnel or students by creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment
  
• 
  Made terrorist threats against school officials, school property, or both
  

Students may be expelled for any of the following reasons, as specified in the Education Code Section 48915:

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  Causing serious physical injury to another person
  
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  Possession of any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object
  
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  Unlawful possession of any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind
  
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  Robbery or extortion
  
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  Assault or battery upon any school employee
  
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  Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault or sexual battery as defined Section 48900-48900.7 of the Education Code
  

Process for Suspension and/or Expulsion
The Head of School will use the criteria outlined in Education Code 48900-48900.7 for suspensions and criteria outlined in Education Code 48915 for expulsions. We endeavor to follow the letter and the spirit of the law.
Step 1: Informal Conference
Suspension shall be preceded by an informal conference conducted by the Head of School, with the student and the student’s parents. The conference may be omitted if the Head of School determines that an emergency situation exists. An “emergency situation” involves a clear and present danger to the lives, safety or health of students or school personnel. If the student is suspended without a conference, the parents will be notified of the suspension and a conference will be conducted as soon as possible.
Step 2: Notice to Parents
Parents and students have due process rights with regards to suspensions and expulsions. At the time of a student’s suspension, a school employee shall make a reasonable effort to contact the parents by telephone or in person. Initial contact will be followed by a written notice. This notice will state the specific offense committed by the student. In addition, the notice may also state the date and time the student may return to school. If the school officials wish to confer with the parents regarding matters pertinent to the suspension, the notice may note that the parents are required to respond without delay, and that violation of school rules can result in expulsion from the school.
Step 3: Determination of Length of Suspension
The length of a suspension, when not including a recommendation for expulsion, shall not exceed five (5) consecutive school days per suspension.
Step 4: Recommendations for Expulsion
If the Head of School’s recommendation is for expulsion, the student and the student’s parents will be invited to a conference to determine if the suspension for the student should be extended pending an expulsion hearing. This determination will be made by the Head of School upon either of the following findings:

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  The student’s presence will likely be disruptive to the educational process
  
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  The student poses a threat or danger to others
  

Upon this determination, the student’s suspension will be extended pending the results of an expulsion hearing.

Students will be recommended for expulsion if the school leader finds that at least one of the following findings may be substantiated:

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  Other means of correction are not feasible or have repeatedly failed to bring about proper conduct
  
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  Due to the nature of the violation, the presence of the student causes a continuing danger to the physical safety of the student or others
  

Step 5: Expulsion Hearing
Students recommended for expulsion are entitled to a hearing to determine whether the student should be expelled. The hearing will be held within 30 days after the school Head of School determines that an act subject to expulsion has occurred. The hearing may be presided over by the governing Board or an administrative panel appointed by the Board.
Written notice of the hearing will be forwarded to the student and the student’s parents at least 10 calendar days before the date of the hearing. This notice will include:

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  The date and place of the hearing
  
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  Statement of the specific facts, charges and offense upon which the proposed expulsion is based
  
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  Copy of the disciplinary rules that relate to the alleged violation
  
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  Opportunity for the student or the student’s parents to appear in person at the hearing
  
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  Opportunity for the student to be represented by counsel
  
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  Right to examine and acquire copies of all documents to be used at the hearing
  
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  Opportunity to cross-examine all witnesses that testify at the hearing
  
• 
  Opportunity to present evidence and witnesses on behalf of the student
  

Upon expulsion, written notice will be sent by the Head of School to the parents of any student who is expelled. This notice will include the following:

• 
  The specific offense committed by the student for any of the acts listed in “Reasons for Suspension and/or Expulsion.”
  
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  Notice of the student or parent obligation to inform any new district in which the student seeks to enroll of the student’s status with Capitol Collegiate.
  

In the event of a decision to expel a student, the school will work cooperatively with the district of residence, county and/or private schools to assist with the appropriate educational placement of the student who has been expelled. Any incident of violent and/or serious student behavior shall be communicated to the district/school to which the student matriculates.