Compliance
Our Community School complies with regulations from the state of California (CDE), Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Charter School Division as our authorizer. Many of these compliance documents are easily accessible for all to learn more about our school.
Charter Renewal Petition
In order to continue operating, every charter must be re-authorized (or renewed) every five years. Our current charter is below and is valid from 2020 to 2025.
California School Dashboard is an online tool that shows how local educational agencies and schools are performing on the state and local indicators included in California's school accountability system. The Dashboard is a key part of major shifts in California K-12 schools, changes that have raised the bar for student learning, transformed testing, and placed the focus on equity for all students. The Dashboard provides information that schools can use to improve.
Please click here to access information about OCS on the CA Dashboard.
OCS also adopted our Local Indicators for 2021-22 on June 28, 2022. You can see this in the minutes of that meeting. See below for the details of the Local Indicators 2021-22.
Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is completed annually and approved by our Board of Directors. The LCAP is focused on eight priority areas:
1. Student Achievement - improving student achievement and outcomes
2. Student Engagement - improving student engagement, including attendance
3. Other Student Outcomes - measuring other student outcomes, including physical education and the arts
4. Parental Involvement - involving parents and guardians so the community is engaged in decision-making
5. School Climate - highlighting school climate and "connectedness"
6. Basic Services - providing all students with high-quality teachers, instructional materials, and safe learning environments.
7. Common Core - support the implementation of new, rigorous academic standards in California schools
8. Course Access - ensuring every student has access to courses that prepare them for college and career
2023-24 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) can be read in full below. The three main goals for this year are:
1. OCS will maintain a positive school culture where stakeholder participation is encouraged and valued.
2. All students will have access to an academically rigorous, social-emotionally focused, Common Core State Standards-aligned educational program taught by highly qualified and appropriately credentialed teaching staff.
3. OCS will use various tools and resources to monitor and support student learning and growth.
2. All students will have access to an academically rigorous, social-emotionally focused, Common Core State Standards-aligned educational program taught by highly qualified and appropriately credentialed teaching staff.
3. OCS will use various tools and resources to monitor and support student learning and growth.
COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP)
During the 2020-21 school year, OCS has maintained a mostly distance learning instructional model while bringing students on campus when safe for one-to-one individual special education assessments. OCS is preparing for students to be able to return to campus for in-person instruction. While the numbers in LA County do not allow us many options at this time, when the time comes, OCS will be reviewing our plans attached here with our staff and families and making any necessary changes to ensure a safe rollout of in-person instruction.
Please see below for OCS's COVID-19 School Guidance Checklist and OCS's COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP).
In the 2021-2022 school year, the COVID-19 Prevention Program was amended to include pertinent information for the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (aka CPP). See below for this plan.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) Plan
In response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the U.S. Congress passed American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021, which included the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III). This federal stimulus funding is the third act of federal relief in response to COVID-19, following the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act) signed into law on December 27, 2020. The ARP Act requires LEAs that receive ESSER III funds to complete a Safe Return to In-person Instruction and Continuity of Services plan (see above). The US Department of Education has issued requirements for this plan, and has also required LEAs to complete an Expenditure Plan for the use of ESSER III funds. See below for our ESSER III plan.
Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Grant Expenditure Plan
OCS's Board of Directors approved the expenditure plan for the ELO Grant on May 26, 2021. This funding came to OCS as part of the AB 86 money to help the school reopen from the COVID-19 school closure. You can read the details of how OCS plans to spend the money in the plan below.
Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) Plan
The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) provides funding for afterschool and summer school enrichment programs for transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. This plan was adopted by the OCS Board of Directors on June 28, 2022. You can read the details of our initial program below.
School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
California state law requires all public schools to distribute an annual School Accountability Report Card. The SARC is an effective way to provide parents with important information about a school’s academic and demographic data, class sizes, and information about the school’s curriculum. Our Community School’s most recent 2022-23 SARC is below.
Resolution of OCS's Commitment to Anti-Racism
Please see the attached OCS Board of Directors resolution and commitment to anti-racism that was signed on June 24, 2020.
Uniformed Complaint Policy and Procedures (UCP)
OCS's UCP is part of our governance documentation. A complaint is a written and signed statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, which may include an allegation of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying. UCP complaints are regarding the violation of specific federal and state programs that use categorical funds. OCS's updated UCP is below and within our Parent/Student Handbook.
Title IX, Harassment, Discrimination, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy
Discrimination, sexual harassment, harassment, intimidation, and bullying are all disruptive behaviors, which interfere with students’ ability to learn and negatively affect student engagement, diminish school safety, and contribute to a hostile school environment. As such, Our Community School prohibits any acts of discrimination, sexual harassment, harassment, intimidation, and bullying altogether. This policy is inclusive of instances that occur on any area of the school campus, at school-sponsored events and activities, regardless of location, through school-owned technology, and through other electronic means. For details, please see our Title IX Harassment, Discrimination, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy below. It is also included in our Parent/Student Handbook.
Suicide Prevention Policy (TK-8th Grade)
Our Community School recognizes that suicide is a major cause of death among youth and should be taken seriously. To attempt to reduce suicidal behavior and its impact on students and families, the Board of Directors has developed prevention strategies and intervention procedures in compliance with Education Code section 215, AB2246, and AB1767. Please see below for a copy of the TK-8th Grade Suicide Prevention Policy. It is also included in our Parent/Student Handbook.
Education Protection Account (EPA)
With the November 2012 passage of Proposition 30, which temporarily increases the personal income tax rates for upper‐income taxpayers and the sales tax rate for all taxpayers, the state established the Education Protection Account (EPA). Revenue generated from the increased taxes are deposited into the EPA and distributed to districts and charter schools on a quarterly basis. While funds from the EPA are part of a district’s or charter school’s general purpose funding, Proposition 30 specifies that EPA funds may not be used for administrative salaries or benefits or any other administrative costs. From an accounting perspective, EPA revenue and expenditures must be coded separately (under resource code 1400, created specifically for EPA funds) and from an operational perspective, governing boards must determine the use of EPA funds at an open public meeting. This determination must occur annually.
Please see below for the 22-23 EPA Actuals and the 23-24 EPA Plan.
Wellness Policy
A local school wellness policy is a written document of official policies that guide a local educational agency (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. OCS's Wellness Policy (adopted 16-17) is a part of our Parent/Student Handbook. Also, you can access it below.