Aurora 5353315 Office of the Superintendent Phone 303?365-7800 15701 E. First Ave, Suite 206 Fox 303?326?1 280 Aurora, CO 8001 1 Web ourorok12.org SENT VIA EMAIL April 3, 2019 HOPE Online Board of Directors c/o Heather O?Mara Chief Executive Of?cer HOPE Online Learning Academy 373 Inverness Parkway, Suite 205 Englewood, CO 80112 Heather.Omarat?Ehopeonlineorg Dear Ms. O?Mara, We would like to thank you for your patience as we reviewed HOPE Online?s request to enter into an MOU. Unfortunately, after having reviewed the relevant information, we have signi?cant concerns about the best interest of our pupils, parents, community and our school district in continuing the current agreement with HOPE Online. Speci?cally, based on School Performance Frameworks for elementary students, as well as, concerns and conditions expressed by Charter Authorizer and the State Board of Education, the District ?nds that a continued MOU for HOPE Learning Centers within APS is not in the best interests of pupils, parents, the community and the District. In considering HOPE Online?s MOU, APS has sought and reviewed the following information: Performance Data. APS reviewed School Performance Frameworks since 2015. This review showed the following mixed changes in performance: a The Elementary School continues to remain on Performance Watch and is on Year 8 of the State?s Performance Watch timeline. After 8 years of Performance Watch, the Elementary school is still receiving only the minimum points on the SPF. There have been only minor improvements at the elementary level with a small improvement in growth. Additionally, the structure of the SPF and inclusion of data from grades 3?5 for pro?ciency and grades 4-5 for growth have historically led to elementary schools moving plan types more rapidly than other levels. HOPE is the first and only Elementary school in the State to reach Year 8 on the State?s Performance Watch timeline. The Middle School showed improved performance by coming off Performance Watch after 6 years on the State?s Accountability Clock by earning Improvement ratings in 2016-17 and sustaining that SPF rating for 2017-18, as a result of improved growth. However, the Achievement still receives the minimum points on the SPF. The High School, which is considered an Alternative Education Campus, showed declining performance since 2015 by falling from Performance ratings in 2016 and 2017 to an Improvement rating in 2018, as a result of declines in achievement, growth, and post-workforce readiness. Comparison to Other APS Schools. APS also compared performance data to performance for schools in close proximity to HOPE Learning Centers. For the purposes of this review, APS speci?cally compared the data for Elementary school, and did not have the data to disaggregate for the results speci?c to students who attend a Learning Center within the boundaries of APS. Comparison between HOPE Online Elementary School and APS Elementary Schools in Close Proximity School Distance (mi) 201-8 SPF 2018 2018 Growth to HOPE Achievement (Median Growth Learning (Scale Scores) Percentile) Center Plan Type Overall ELA Math ELA Math HOPE ES - Pm 38.9 713.7 709.2 41.0 41.0 Impairment t. 83131 Wheeling1 1.7/1.6 56.8 723.5 720.9 51.5 57.0 Tollgate 1.7 Improvement 48.1 725.2 718.0 48.0 48.0 Clyde Miller1 1.0 54.0 724.3 713.5 52.0 33.0 JewellI 1.3 62.4 727.2 715.1 65.5 58.0 Knoll12 1.5 Improvement 45.3 724.8 716.4 56.0 26.0 Bostonl 0.7 52.6 705.1 712.0 36.0 46.0 Crawfordl 0.2 Improvement 48.6 708.8 715.0 48.0 51.5 Virginia Court2 1.2 27.2 713.6 704.2 90.0 27.5 Fletcher Comm] 1.1 Improvement 46.4 708.1 710.0 46.0 55.0 Notes: 1 These six schools (Wheeling, Clyde Miller, Knoll, Boston, Crawford, and Fletcher) were identi?ed on the State?s Performance Watch timelinc at some point over the past five years. However, they have all since come off of Performance Watch as a resalt of improved performance. 2 Knoll and Virginia Court are in close proximity to the Action Learning Center which is not located within APS boundaries, but within Cherry Creek School District. State Board Directed Action. APS reviewed documents from the State Board of Education hearing in 2017 related to HOPE Online?s Elementary School being beyond Year 5 on the State?s Performance Watch timeline, as well as the Colorado Department of Education?s Progress Monitoring Reports on implementation of this directed action. In May 2017, the State Board of Education directed HOPE to reconstitute its governing board and retain a management partner to lead implementation of components of its Pathways Plan. According to most recent monitoring report and memo to the State Board ?om March 14, 2019, while many components of the Pathways Plan were implemented, such as reconstituting the board, providing professional development for HOPE teachers, mentors and Learning Center Directors and implementing new tools for accountability and monitoring, HOPE struggled to implement some of the key components around ensuring higher quality mentors who work with students at the Learning Centers. HOPE will be required to appear before the State Board in the Fall of 2019 if it does not earn an SPF rating of Performance or Improvement for the Elementary School. Douglas County Charter Renewal. APS reviewed documents related to the Douglas County Board?s review and renewal of HOPE Online?s charter, including a presentation by HOPE Online, staff review and recommendation regarding HOPE Online?s charter renewal application, and the Board resolution granting the renewal. In January 2019, the Douglas County Board of Education renewed HOPE Online?s Charter for two years consistent with staff recommendations. As a result of academic performance concerns, Douglas County?s renewal imposed a condition requiring the school to earn ratings of Performance or Improvement at all levels based on the 2019-2020 school year or be subject to revocation. Additionally, APS requested the Douglas County Board of Education present to the APS Board of Education regarding the reauthorization of HOPE Online?s charter. The Douglas County Board of Education indicated that they were unavailable to appear. As we indicated in our invitation to the Douglas County Board of Education, this presentation would be a vital part of review of HOPE Online?s MOU request. Unfortunately, we do not have that information to consider. Site Visit to Power Academy. I conducted a site visit to Power Academy, a HOPE Online Learning Center located within boundaries. While the visit was a limited period of time, I noted a signi?cant amount of direct instruction by mentors. This reinforces the importance of concern about struggle to implement some of the key components of its Pathways Plan around ensuring higher quality mentors who work with students at the Learning Centers. Meeting with Executive Director of OPE Online. I met with HOPE Online Founder and CEO Heather O?Mara regarding the MOU. Public Hearing. On April 2, 2019, a public hearing was held to allow HOPE Online representatives and members of the community to provide comment and information related to the HOPE Online MOU. From these comments, it is clear that HOPE Online staff and families value the community HOPE provides, however this does not translate to improved academic performance. Based on the sum of the information available as set forth above, the District believes there is a legitimate concern that HOPE Online Learning Centers do not offer an educational opportunity that is in the best interests of the students of Aurora. As such, the APS District has determined not to enter into an MOU to allow HOPE Online to operate Learning Centers within APS boundaries. Sincerely, yg/MW? D. Rico Munn Superintendent Aurora Public Schools Cc: Colorado Department of Education Of?ce of Blended and Online learning Services Colorado State Board of Education