Oracle Charter School Non-Renewal RecommendationJanuary 25, 2018

Oracle Charter School - Application submitted October 1, 2003- Charter approved January 27, 2004- Opened August 2005- Initial Short Term Renewal January 2010 - Full Term Renewal February 2013

Oracle Charter School

Oracle Charter School Oracle failed to fulfill its promise to provide a college preparatory high school education to students in Buffalo.

Promised But Not in Evidence at Oracle:

- Focus schoolwide around a yearly theme- Integrate 1:1 technology across all subjects- Require upper-level students to engage in

internship programs- Two-week interdisciplinary schoolwide projects- Arts integration across all subjects - Adopt an honor code- All students perform community service- All students pass U.S. citizenship exam

New York Charter Schools Act Required Findings for Renewal

- The school must operate in aneducationally & fiscally sound manner

- Granting the renewal is likely to improve student learning and achievement

SUNY Renewal Benchmarks

-Framework for Evidence Gathering

-Mixed Methodology

-Four Questions- Is the School an Academic Success?- Is the School an Effective, Viable

Organization?- Is the School Fiscally Sound?- Are the School’s Future Plans

Reasonable, Feasible & Achievable?

2015-2016Visit & Report

“Oracle failed to meet its Accountability Plan goals.”

2016-2017Performance Report

“Renewal is in jeopardy.”

2016-2017Visit & Report

“Does not have systems. Failed to meet its

Accountability Plan Goals.”

9th grade

Matriculate to college: 1 out of 5 students

Accountability Plan

• English• Mathematics• Science• Social Studies• High School Graduation• College Preparation

ELA Performance2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

1. 65% of students in the AccountabilityCohort will meet or exceed the College and Career Readiness Standard.

NO NO NO NO NO

2. 65% of 8th graders scoring below proficiency on the state’s 8th grade ELA exam will meet or exceed the College and Career Readiness Standard.

NO NO NO NO NO

3. Oracle’s Accountability Performance Level will exceed the state’s Annual Measurable Objective.

NO NO NO NO NO

4. Oracle’s Accountability Performance Level will exceed the district’s APL. NO YES NO YES NO

Mathematics Performance

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

1. 65% of students in the Accountability Cohort will meet or exceed the College and Career Readiness Standard.

NO NO NO NO NO2. 65% of 8th graders scoring below proficiency on the state’s 8th grade mathematics exam will meet or exceed the College and CareerReadiness Standard.

NO NO NO NO NO

3. Oracle’s Accountability Performance Level will exceed the state’s Annual Measurable Objective.

NO NO NO NO NO4. Oracle’s Accountability Performance Level will exceed the district’s APL.

NO YES NO YES NO

High School Graduation

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

1. 75% of students in the 1st and 2nd

year cohorts at Oracle will matriculate to the next grade level.

NO NO NO NO NO2. 75% of students in their 2nd year will be proficient on 3 Regents exams required for graduation.

NO NO NO NO NO3. Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate will meet or exceed 75%. NO YES NO YES NO4. Oracle’s 5 year graduation rate will meet or exceed 95%. NO NO NO NO NO5. Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate will exceed the district’s. YES YES YES YES

Oracle did not meet its 4 year graduation goal

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

…and its results are generally trending down.

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

Oracle’s graduation rate trend

More time does not improve the program’s outcomes

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

Oracle’s 5 year graduation rate

More time does not improve the program’s outcomes

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

Oracle’s 5 year graduation rate

More time does not improve the program’s outcomes

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

Oracle’s 5 year graduation rate

More time does not improve the program’s outcomes

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

Oracle’s 5 year graduation rate

More time does not improve the program’s outcomes

Oracle’s 4 year graduation rate

Oracle’s 5 year graduation rate

College Preparation

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

1. The average performance of students in 10th grade will exceed the state

average on the PSAT tests in reading and mathematics.

NO NO NO NO NO2. The average performance of students

in 12th grade will exceed the state average on the SAT or ACT tests in

reading and mathematics.NO NO NO NO NO

3. Percent of students graduating with an Advanced Regents Diploma will

exceed that of the district.NO NO NO NO NO

4. The percent of students graduating who meet the state’s APM will exceed

the state average.NO NO NO

Oracle has not met its college preparation goal during the charter term.

Percentage of Oracle grads attaining an Advanced Regents Diploma

The district consistently graduates a higher proportion of students with an Advanced Regents diploma.

Oracle

District

Oracle’s African American males graduated in higher proportions than the district’s.

Oracle’s African American males graduated in higher proportions than the district’s.

Oracle students do not follow through at SUNY colleges.

SUNYSchools Cohort

Still Enrolled +1 Years

Still Enrolled +2 Years

Still Enrolled +3 Years

Fall 2013 24 6 2 0

Fall 2014 20 8 2 0

Fall 2015 18 11 6 N/A

Oracle’s Course Offerings Regent’s Requirements to Earn a Diploma

Advanced Courses

English• 4 course sequence

Math• Algebra I and II• Geometry• Financial Math• Statistics

Social Studies• 3 required courses and

psychology

Science• 3 required courses

Language• Spanish 1-3

English• 4 credits and exam

Math• 3 credits and exam in any

course

Social Studies• 3 credits• 2 Regents or 1+1 Regents

Science• 3 credits and exam in any

course

Language• 2 credits

• AP English Language and Composition

• ELA 11 Honors

• Honors Participation in Government

• Honors Economics

Oracle University Prep Albany Leadership

• AP English Language & Composition

• AP English Language & Composition

• AP English Literature• AP Government• AP Biology• AP Spanish Language• AP Computer Science

• AP English Language & Composition

• AP Biology• AP US History• AP Computer Science• 7 courses at local

community colleges

Oracle University Prep Albany Leadership

• AP English Language & Composition

• AP English Language & Composition

• AP English Literature• AP Government• AP Biology• AP Spanish Language• AP Computer Science

• AP English Language & Composition

• AP Biology• AP US History• AP Computer Science• 7 courses at local

community colleges

Misleading academic data

Misleading academic data

• 75 classroom observations• 40+ interviews of staff

members, teachers, leaders, the board

• Hundreds of documents

Are the following systems in place at the school? 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

Assessment administration YES YES YESData collection and analysis NO NO NOCurriculum review and development NO NO NOHigh-quality lesson plans and curriculum NO NO NOHigh-quality instruction NO NO NOCoaching and professional development NO NO NOCompliant program for students with disabilities and ELLs YES NO NOEffective programming for students with disabilities and ELLs NO NO NO

Key Benchmark Indicators

Teacher Turnover 75%

Source: Oracle Charter School’s 2015-16 and 2016-17 Accountability Plan Progress Report

School Culture 2014-15 through 2016-17

1,405 in-school suspensions

613 out-of-school suspensions

32 expulsions

Institute Findings

“In its 13th year, and at the conclusion of its third charter term, Oracle has failed to demonstrate the school is meeting its mission, the SUNY Renewal Benchmarks, or the requirements of New York’s Charter Schools Act.”