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Toolbox Guide Toolbox Academics & Blended LearningA National Primer on K-12 Online Learning
A Right Denied: The Critical Need for Genuine School Reform (Big 20MB file but worth the wait!) A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning - This iNACOL publication provides a good overview for people just getting started with online learning. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL  A Right Denied: The Critical Need for Genuine School Reform. It is meant to be a collection of data and arguments that forcefully advances an urgent school reform agenda. Submitted By: Whitney Tilson  Always Carry Dry Socks - Survival Lessons for Schools I Learned as a US Marine
Brian Carpenter provides six survival lessons for charter school leaders. This article provides lessons about school leadership. Submitted By: Brian Carpenter Charter Leader Curriculum Standards
The charter leader curriculum standards developed based on standards for advanced programs in educational leadership. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy Charter Schools Leading the Special Education Revolution
Charter Schools Leading the Special Education Revolution - California is committed to increased options for charter schools when serving students with special needs. Innovative models offer an infrastructure to serve increased numbers of students across a broader range of services. Presenters will discuss funding, governance and service delivery models designed to support high quality options for all. Submitted By: Vicki Barber El Dorado County Office of Education Common ELL Terms and Definitions
This glossary is a resource for professionals involved in English language learner (ELL) education, and represents a first step toward developing a comprehensive catalogue of terms and definitions to aid educators in their work with increasing population of ELLs across the country. Submitted By: Libia Gil PhD, Senior Fellow American Institutes for Research Components of Effective Teaching Observation Report
The Components of Effective Teaching Observation Report is used as a teacher evaluation. It is an observation report that includes the teacher's name, school, date, grade level, and subject taught. The evaluation is based on 9 different criteria. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools  DC Prep - Implementation of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)
This case study examines how DC Prep decided to implement the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), in an effort to improve its professional development for teachers. NewSchools Venture Fund Florida School Accountability Systems Update
Florida School Accountability Systems Update - This presentation provides an overview of Florida School Grades, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reporting, and school improvement ratings for alternative schools, with emphasis on the new high school grading components. Submitted By: Edward Croft Florida Department of Education Funding & Policy Frameworks: Virtual Learning
The Funding & Policy Frameworks: Virtual Learning covers what promise and potential online learning, blended learning and cyber learning holds. This tool will use examples from the landscape of online learning as a basis to bring to life questions on the transformation of learning, teaching and authorizing in a cyber age. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Goals, Guidelines, and Standards for Student Scientific Investigations
The Goals, Guidelines, and Standards for Student Scientific Investigations publication provides guidance on how to design online science content so that the scientific inquiry process can be superior to what most students experience in a traditional science classroom. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL How Do We Know if a Charter School is Really Succeeding? – Various Approaches to Investigating School Effectiveness
How Do We Know if a Charter School is Really Succeeding? – Various Approaches to Investigating School Effectiveness tool is a presentation from the 2012 Missouri Charter School Conference. This tool provides various approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of charter schools. It focuses on rigorous research designs that will help establish an evidence base, including randomized controlled trial and well-matched comparison group designs. Alternative designs that may better fit the unique circumstances of each constituency and address individual needs will also be presented. All research designs will be illustrated with empirical examples of charter school evaluations using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Submitted By: Otoniel Lopez Metis Associates How Pre-K Multiplies Education Reform Efforts
How Pre-K Multiplies Education Reform Efforts - A vast body of research demonstrates that high-quality pre-k raises literacy and math achievement, lowers grade retention, reduces remedial and special education needs and increases high school graduation rates. The evidence is clear and compelling: like a child's developing brain, the most successful school reform plans begin in the earliest years. Learn what you can do as an authorizer to ensure successful charter schools are supporting high-quality pre-kindergarten to prepare and motivate students to achieve at higher levels, multiplying the impact of other reforms. Submitted By: Jack McCarthy AppleTree Institute How Progressive Can You Really Be?
How Progressive Can You Really Be? This tool is from the 2012 National Charter School Conference. Both private and charter schools are highly accountable to their student and parent clients. Progressive private schools in particular have the ability to create a highly student-centered and innovative culture. In this session, led by a school leader from one of New York City's most elite private schools, we will identify the key qualities of a "progressive" private high school and discuss which of those qualities can inform practice at a charter high school. Submitted By: John Love Fieldstone School Leading Change in Challenging Times: Florida's Exceptional Student Education
This Leading Change in Challenging Times: Florida's Exceptional Student Education presentation from the 2010 Florida Charter Schools conference provides an overview of exceptional student education (ESE) initiatives, including Florida's General Supervision System under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Response-to-Intervention (RtI) in the identification of students with disabilities, assessment, and other related topics. Submitted By: Bambi Lockman Florida Department of Education Management and Operations of Online Programs
Measuring Success in the Transition to Common Core The Management and Operations of Online Programs includes relevant initial decisions of the stages of starting an online program. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Measuring Success in the Transition to Common Core is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. This session will provide specific, actionable tools and examples of how high performing charter schools are holistically measuring success. To support a successful transition to Common Core, participants will break into small groups to experience first-hand the kinds of high quality information schools are using to guide instruction and to share with parents, authorizers, and the public. Submitted By: Elizabeth Robitaille California Charter Schools Association National Standards for Quality Online Teaching
National Standards of Quality for Online Courses The National Standards for Quality Online Teaching tool teaches about the national quality standards addressing online teaching and instructional design. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses tool covers quality standards specific to online course content. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Online Teacher Support Programs: Mentoring and Coaching Models
The Online Teacher Support Programs: Mentoring and Coaching Models publication provides information about how to provide support for your online teachers. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Policy & Funding Frameworks for Online Learning
Policy & Funding Frameworks for Online Learning - This tool describes online learning within K-12 education is increasing access and equity by making high quality courses and highly qualified teachers available to students. Online learning programs offer courses, academic credits and support toward a diploma. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Policy & Funding Frameworks for Online Learning
Policy & Funding Frameworks for Online Learning - This tool describes online learning within K-12 education is increasing access and equity by making high quality courses and highly qualified teachers available to students. Online learning programs offer courses, academic credits and support toward a diploma. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Quality School Standards
The Quality School Standards features the standard and objectives on academic achievement, standard and objectives on governance and school leadership, standard and objectives on fiscal responsibility, standard operations, resources, and support systems, standard and objectives on legal & regulatory requirements, standard and objectives for safety and risk management, standard and objective culture, community, and relationship building Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy The High-Wire Job of Charter School Leadership
The High-Wire Job of Charter School Leadership - As it turns out, running a charter school poses different challenges from those of running a traditional public school. Some of the challenges, of course, are the same. Both charter and regular public school leaders are responsible for shaping a school's vision; fostering trust between adults and students, managing resources well, and balancing the inevitable pressures inside and outside the school's environment. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy Top Ten Test-Taking Tips for Students
Using Online Learning for At-Risk Students and Credit Recovery The Top Ten Test-Taking Tips for Students offers students the top ten tips to successful test taking. Submitted By: TeacherVision Pearson The Using Online Learning for At-Risk Students and Credit Recovery provides information regarding credit recovery. Credit recovery refers to a student passing, and receiving credit for, a course that the student previously attempted but was unsuccessful in earning academic credit towards graduation. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Walk Through Teacher Observation
Walk Through Teacher Observation - This tool is used to observe and evaluate your teachers. The form includes the teacher's name, time, course, and date. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Board GovernanceA Right Denied: The Critical Need for Genuine School Reform (Big 20MB file but worth the wait!)A Right Denied: The Critical Need for Genuine School Reform. It is meant to be a collection of data and arguments that forcefully advances an urgent school reform agenda. Submitted By: Whitney Tilson Adding New Board Members: The Steps You Are Required to Take and The Risks of Getting it Wrong
Adding New Board Members: The Steps You Are Required to Take and The Risks of Getting it Wrong tool is part of a three-part series from an Education Law & Governance Update newsletter. The Adding New Board Members: The Steps You Are Required to Take and The Risks of Getting it Wrong tool describes the process and risks of adding new board members. Cohen Schneider LLP Aspire Public Schools: Board Management
Aspire Public Schools: Board Management - A highly qualified board that is managed and engaged appropriately can be a significant contributor to organizational success. Aspire Public Schools puts considerable effort into developing and managing its board, and has created structures and systems to ensure that the work of the board is informed, relevant, and meaningful. Submitted By: NewSchools Venture Fund NewSchools Venture Fund Avoiding the Break-up: Preparing for Renewal and Avoiding Revocation
Avoiding the Death Spiral Got a good thing going that you want to protect? We want to help you avoid non-renewal and revocation. We have 18 years of experience in defending charter schools against revocations and supporting charter schools through renewal. We will outline the top 15 reasons charter schools are revoked or non-renewed and discuss real-life examples, taking the lessons from each. We will also discuss the legal steps for renewal of the charter and critical tips for submitting a renewal petition. Submitted By: Lisa Corr Middleton, Young & Minney, LLP Avoiding the Death Spiral is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. When charter schools struggle, patterns of financial mismanagement, low performance, and poor planning can manifest in a loss of enrollment, and ultimately, a loss of funding. These patterns produce an identifiable "Death Spiral" that sets the school on an inescapable and unrecoverable path to demise. Come to this workshop to identify the warning signs and learn how to make timely corrections. Submitted By: Jennifer Dauzvardis Peak to Peak Charter School Board Chairs: The Top 10 Tips for Being a Great Board Chair The Board Chairs: The Top 10 Tips for Being a Great Board Chair tool covers the top 10 tips for being a great board chair. Submitted By: Kate Williamson Charter Board Partners Board Engagement 2.0: Money, Power, Respect Board Engagement 2.0: Money, Power, Respect is a presentation from the 2015 National Charter School Conference. The difference between making the playoffs and winning the championship is board caliber. Status quo says school leaders prefer a hands-off approach. This session disrupts that notion by revealing the secret sauce of creating focus-driven boards that work in tandem with school leadership. Using an asset-based framework and the relational leadership model, strategies to cultivate and maintain a winning board culture that creates a chance for every child will be discussed. Submitted By: Makiyah Moody Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Board Governance for Charter Schools
Board Governance for Charter Schools - This presentation by Stefanie Allweiss refers to board governance policies. Submitted By: Stefanie Allweiss, Mediation/Arbitration Stefanie Allweiss Board Member: Your Fiscal Responsibility
Building and Sustaining a Supportive Relationship between the Board and School Administrator The Board Member: Your Fiscal Responsibility helps you know what questions to ask when reviewing your school's financial position. You are ultimately responsible if your school is financially mismanaged. This interactive, hands-on session will provide you with unique facts about school finance and the skills needed to identify potential problems. This workshop will also include group discussion and review of sample school financial statements. Submitted By: Tammy Stanton ExEd Building and Sustaining a Supportive Relationship between the Board and School Administrator tool is from the 2013 Colorado Charter School Conference. Charter school boards and school leaders need to work together to provide effective and sound leadership at charter schools. Having well-defined and understood roles and responsibilities, a fair evaluation system, and clear policies that are used in practice are a few steps schools can take to support strong relationships between the board and administration. Submitted By: Nora Flood Colorado League of Charter Schools Characteristics of the Nation's Most Successful Schools
Charter School Board Service 101: What to Do and How to Do it Well The Characteristics of the Nation's Most Successful Schools tool is a presentation from the 2012 National Charter School Conference. What do the nation’s most successful schools do differently than other schools? Dr. Bill Daggett has led a five-year study to answer that critical question. In this tool, Dr. Daggett will lay out the most important findings and how they have served as the foundation of the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Assessments. Submitted By: William Daggett ICLE, Inc. Charter School Board Service 101: What to Do and How to Do it Well is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter School Conference. Charter school governance experts from Charter Board Partners will share their Standards for Highly Effective Charter School Boards that answer the question "Now that I’m on the board, what do I DO?" This interactive, case-based session will dive into the standards, share strategies for creating and sustaining effective boards, and help board members learn how to play their role well. Submitted By: Carrie Irvin Charter Board Partners Charter School CEO/Executive Director Evaluation Rubric
Charter School Support Initiative: Colorado Standars and Indicators for Continuous School Improvement CEO Evaluation - The charter school CEO/Executive Director evaluation tool allow you to evaluate your school CEO or Executive Director. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Avoiding the Death Spiral is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. When charter schools struggle, patterns of financial mismanagement, low performance, and poor planning can manifest in a loss of enrollment, and ultimately, a loss of funding. These patterns produce an identifiable "Death Spiral" that sets the school on an inescapable and unrecoverable path to demise. Come to this workshop to identify the warning signs and learn how to make timely corrections. Submitted By: Nora Flood Colorado League of Charter Schools Committee Charges for Charter School Boards The Committee Charges for Charter School Boards tool covers six different committee charges. Submitted By: Kate Williamson Charter Board Partners Creating an Effective Governing Board Guidebook
Creating an Effective Governing Board Guidebook - Like other organizations, charter schools often face challenges in building effective boards of directors. Many charter schools report serious difficulty in creating and operating good working boards. Tensions among board directors, conflict between board and staff, and non-functioning boards are among the problems that have plagued charter schools in many places. The nonprofit world is rich with workshop opportunities and guides on nonprofit board effectiveness. Local district boards of education usually are able to draw upon state and national school board associations for consultation and instruction. However, there is little specific guidance on the development and effectiveness of charter school boards. Submitted By: Frank Martinelli The Center for Public Skills Training Creating an Internally Accountable School
Creating an Internally Accountable School presentation is from the 2012 National Charter school conference. This tool focuses on how schools can stay ahead of the external accountability curve by creating a culture of achievement that leads to strong internal accountability. Presenters will share how the school leaders of Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Washington, DC, developed an instructional culture of achievement that supports strong internal accountability to improve academic achievement for all students. Submitted By: Sheila Polk TEACH the POSSIBILITY Creating Instructional Cultures of Achievement that Lead to Strong Internal Accountability and Close the Achievement Gap: What to Do When the Challenges Seem to Outweigh the Benefits?
Cultivating Leadership: Strategic Board Composition The Creating Instructional Cultures of Achievement that Lead to Strong Internal Accountability and Close the Achievement Gap: What to Do When the Challenges Seem to Outweigh the Benefits tool discusses system academic plans and internal accountability. Submitted By: Sheila Polk TEACH the POSSIBILITY Cultivating Leadership: Strategic Board Composition is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. Getting the right people on your school board is essential, and planning board composition strategically is critical to success. Learn how to design and use effective on-boarding and “off-boarding” processes that will establish a culture of high expectations and ensure that your board is composed entirely of highly competent individuals who are committed to serving as champions for your work. Submitted By: Makiyah Moody Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Data-Driven Governance Based on the analogous principals of data-driven instruction, this session will provide an overview on how boards should use interim and summative data – academic, financial, and operational – to ensure effective governance. Examples of effective board reporting from school leaders and finance directors will be highlighted, and participants will share their own experience with data-driven governance. Focus will also be on the role of the board in responding to the data, and what to do when the early warning light starts blinking. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Does the Charter School Board Need to Vote on EVERYTHING? The article discusses some guidelines for board votes including charter contract amendments and by-laws, policies, resolutions, and major contracts or purchases. Submitted By: Joe Keeney and Michael Higgins Charter School Tools and The Higgins Law Firm EMO Disengagement Checklist
EMO Disengagement Checklist - The EMO disengagement checklist provides charter schools with the function area and the key transition issues when disengaging an EMO. This document is to be used when a charter school is disengaging from their current EMO. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools EMO/CMO/Contractor Evaluation Instrument
Five Reasons Why Most Charter School Boards Are Ineffective -- And What To Do About It EMO/CMO/Contractor Evaluation Instrument - This instrument should be used by charter school boards to perform annual evaluations of their EMOs, CMOs, school support organizations, or other contractors. You may use it as is, or we can customize and administer it for you (either remotely or with on-site support) - please email us at info@charterschooltools.org for more information. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Five Reasons Why Most Charter School Boards Are Ineffective -- And What To Do About It tool describes why most charter boards are ineffective. Submitted By: Brian Carpenter GOOD to GOVERN: Charter School Founding Board Diagnostic Tool
GOOD to GOVERN: Charter School Founding Board Diagnostic Tool - This tool discusses the standard preparation, capacity/composition, structure, and clarity for charter school founding boards. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar GOOD to GOVERN: Evaluating the Capacity of Charter School Founding Boards
GOOD to GOVERN: Evaluating the Capacity of Charter School Founding Boards - This tool is an article written by Marci Cornell-Feist and published by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers Issue Brief. The article discusses the ultimate success of a charter school hinges on the board’s ability to govern effectively. In fact, it can be argued that no other single factor is more important to the health and sustainability of a charter school than its board. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar How to Prepare for Your Charter School Authorizer Interview
The How to Prepare for Your Charter School Authorizer Interview tool will go over questions which should be addresses before your authorizer interview. Charter School Tools Improving Charter School Leadership
Improving Charter School Leadership - As the number of students attending charter schools continues to rise, state leaders have a growing interest in ensuring that this education sector is well-equipped to meet the goals of improving student achievement, especially for low-income and minority families who have been underserved by the traditional education system. Without strong leaders - namely school directors and members of the school's board of directors - charter schools will not be well positioned to meet their promise of raising student achievement. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy Is Your Charter School Board Effective?
Launching the Next Generation of Charter Management Organizations Is Your Charter School Board Effective? - This tool is a quiz for charter school boards. Take this quiz and see how you do! Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Launching the Next Generation of Charter Management Organizations tools is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. Many of the country’s large Charter Management Organizations were seeded from high quality individual charter schools. This generation of independent charter schools, having proven out their model, are now considering doing the same thing – replicating and/or launching their own CMOs. In this session you will hear from charter leaders who have or are preparing to scale their work. Panelists will discuss the big questions every organization must answer before considering replication. Submitted By: James Merriman New York City Charter School Center Leadership: The Keystone to Quality and Growth
Maximizing Effectiveness: Focusing the Microscope on Charter School Governing Boards Leadership: The Keystone to Quality and Growth - Charters are growing by a rate of approximately 10% annually...with the national attention, this rate could easily increase in the coming years. Critical need for groups to plan high quality charters to support the growth and success of the charter reform movement and to increase impact nationwide in student achievement. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy The Maximizing Effectiveness: Focusing the Microscope on Charter School Governing Boards tool discusses the functions of charter school boards, stages of board development, board membership, and board training. Submitted By: Priscilla Wohlstetter Columbia University Negotiating Contracts: Tips for Success
The Negotiating Contracts: Tips for Success tool is part of three-part series from the Education Law & Governance Update newsletter. The Negotiating Contracts: Tips for Success tool explains terms associated with school related contracts. Cohen Schneider LLP Primer on Board Minutes
Primer on Board Minutes is a template on how taking board minutes by Dr. Charles Speiker. Submitted By: Dr. Charles Speiker Ship's Wheel Consulting, LLC Sample Resolution - Unanimous Consent of Directors
Scaling Up Charter Management Organizations: Eight Key Lessons for Success The Sample Resolution - Unanimous Consent of Directors tool is a sample resolution to be adopted by the board of directors. Charter School Tools Scaling Up Charter Management Organizations: Eight Key Lessons for Success guidebook shares experiences and offers a variety of lessons about how to navigate the intricacies of CMO growth. Submitted By: Priscilla Wohlstetter Columbia University The Biggest Decisions You Will Ever Make The Biggest Decisions You Will Ever Make was a presentation given at the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. Charter boards often make big decisions that affect their organizations for years – e.g., hiring/firing a new school leader or CEO, adding a high school, replicating to a new location or market, adding facility debt. Our panel of experienced charter leaders will discuss lessons learned from making these decisions and offer guidance to help you make the best big decision possible. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions The Critical Challenge of Governance for Charter School Boards
The Hidden Power of Internal Accountability to Build Success That Endures: A Paradigm Shift! The Critical Challenge of Governance for Charter School Boards - A fundamental challenge of the charter school movement is populating boards with individuals schooled in the crucial components of nonprofit governance. This tool will explore the critical roles and responsibilities of both the individual board member and the collective board. Submitted By: Nancy J. Shoemaker Board Consultant The Hidden Power of Internal Accountability to Build Success That Endures: A Paradigm Shift article discusses the power of internal accountability, instructional school culture, and instructional principal leadership. Submitted By: Sheila Polk TEACH the POSSIBILITY The National Study of Charter Management Organization (CMO) Effectiveness
The National Study of CMO Effectiveness is a national, longitudinal research effort designed to measure how nonprofit charter school management organizations (CMOs) affect student achievement, and to examine the internal structures, practices, and policy contexts that may influence these outcomes. The Role of the Board in Strategic Planning
The State of Charter Authorizing: NACSA’s Annual Authorizer Survey Results The Role of the Board in Strategic Planning tools is a conference presentation from the 2012 Louisiana Charter School Conference. This tools covers strategic planning, techniques for assessment, and how your board and staff should be involved. Submitted By: Frank Martinelli The Center for Public Skills Training The State of Charter Authorizing: NACSA’s Annual Authorizer Survey Results - Since 2008, NACSA has annually surveyed our nation’s authorizers. NACSA documented its findings in six annual reports (see below). Survey findings provide an annual measuring stick for those in the field of authorizing, and they help education decision makers, foundations, legislators, and researchers inform their understanding of the field of charter school authorizing. NACSA The THB Charter School Board of Trustees Job Description
The THB Charter School Board of Trustees Job Description - This tool gives the general and specific responsibilities of the charter school board of trustees. The board of trustees are responsible for ensuring that the academic program of THB Charter School (THB) is successful, that the school's program and operation are faithful to the terms of its charter, and that the school is a viable organization. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Top 10 Characteristics of Highly Effective Charter School Governing Boards
The Top 10 Characteristics of Highly Effective Charter School Governing Boards was written by Marci Cornell-Feist discusses the top ten characteristics of highly effective charter school governing boards. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Top 10 Mistakes of Charter School Founding Boards
The Top 10 Mistakes of Charter School Founding Boards was written by Marci Cornell-Feist discussing the top ten mistakes of charter school founding boards. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Understanding the Requirements of Title I, Part A
The Understanding the Requirements of Title I, Part A tool was a presentation from the 2012 Florida Charter School Conference. This tool will go over the history of Title I, program models, allocations and set-asides, and parental involvement. Submitted By: Anna Moore Florida Department of Education What is Good Evaluation
What is Good Evaluation - Governing Boards have a responsibility for supporting school leaders, and one way is to ensure good evaluations. This tool contains a list of qualities of good evaluations. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy What To Include in Your Monthly Board Package
The What To Include in Your Monthly Board Package tool offers the best practices for your monthly charter school board meetings. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Why Good Authorizers Should Close Bad Schools
Why Good Authorizers Should Close Bad Schools - Charter schools serve a variety of purposes. They empower parents by giving them more educational options from which to choose; they provide opportunities for innovative educators to implement new approaches to teaching and learning; they create schools for specific student populations or neighborhoods that are underserved by local school systems; and they put competitive pressure on school districts to change and improve. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Working with your Authorizer to get from Approved to Open!
The Working with your Authorizer to get from Approved to Open tool is from the 2012 Florida Charter School Conference. Learn and understand how to work with your authorizer to get your school approved an open. Submitted By: Tiffanie Pauline Miami-Dade County Public Schools Your Job as a Board Member and How to Do it Well
Your Job as a Board Member and How to Do it Well presentation from the 2012 National Charter School conference. As public institutions committed to education reform, charter schools must perform well within a highly scrutinized environment where schools are held to higher levels of accountability. Working within this environment, it is imperative that board members fully understand their unique job, how it differes from traditional board service and how to do their jobs exceptionally well. Submitted By: John Tarvin and Marci Cornell-Feist The High Bar Financial Management2010 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape
2010 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape - The Educational Facilities Financing Center (EFFC) of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is pleased to announce publication of the "2010 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape," an updated mapping survey of private nonprofit and public financing programs for charter school facilities across the nation, including for the first time, information on charter school access to the tax-exempt bond market. The 2010 Landscape includes descriptions of private philanthropies and nonprofit organizations active in the sector and detailed data on all rated charter school bond issuances through 2009. Performance data is provided for both loans and tax-exempt bond issues, indicating strong performance for charter schools that have obtained financing to date. Public initiatives are also detailed, including federal programs supportive of charter school facilities and state policies in all 40 jurisdictions with a charter law. Securing adequate and affordable facilities remains a central challenge for charter school operators in 2010, hindering the growth of some of the country's highest performing schools and limiting the impact of charter schools in the nation's education reform efforts. Equitable public facilities funding remains an elusive goal. At the same time, the economic downturn and tightening of the credit markets have slowed charter school access to private sector financing. The result has been an expanding public charter school population held captive to the vagaries of the global economy. The 2010 Landscape will serve as a roadmap for individual charter schools as they strive to finance their buildings and as a policy guide for those interested in helping to rationalize the sector and develop more equitable funding for charter school facilities. The report includes all available website and statutory references, with active links in the electronic version. 8 Elements of Project Sustainability
The 8 Elements of Project Sustainability article highlights the eight essential elements that a school or district should consider when planning a project, school-wide or district-wide initiative or applying for grant funds to implement or expand a project. Submitted By: Sheila Fernley SAF Educational Solutions LLC Add/Change/Inactivate Vendor Information
Borrowing With Tax-Exempt Bonds The add/change/inactivate vendor information form tool can be used to add or update a vendor for your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Borrowing With Tax-Exempt Bonds tools discusses many great topics in regards to tax-exempt bonds including why to use tax-exempt bonds, timing of project acquisition, eligible uses of bond funds, and many other topics. Submitted By: Courtney Braganza Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Budget Management After Years of Cuts
Budget Management After Years of Cuts tool is from the 2012 National Charter school conference. This tool will discuss how charter schools can operate with extremely limited funds after repeated reductions. Participants will learn about a practical list of areas to review for cust and proven methods of doing more with less. The overall budget of an average charter school will also be reviewed, appropriate percentages for each function will be recommended, and some creative ideas for controlling costs will be examined. Submitted By: Kathleen Mone Elysian Charter School Budgeting & Scheduling for School Success
Charter Cash Borrowing Budgeting & Scheduling for School Success - This presentation discusses what drives teacher staffing, how many teachers does a school need, education and staffing efficiency, staffing other positions, and scenario with financial constraints. Submitted By: Glenn Turtel 4th Sector Solutions  Charter Cash Borrowing is from the 2013 California Charter School Conference. This tool covers the result of state deferrals, cash is a critical issue for charter schools in California. Legislation enacted in 2012 provides more opportunities for charters to borrow cash at competitive interest rates. Submitted By: Vicki L. Barber El Dorado County Office of Education Charter School Audits from Preparation to Resolution
Charter School Bond Issuance: A Complete History The Charter School Audits from Preparation to Resolution tool is from a presentation at the 2012 California Charter School conference. Audit season can be a stressful time. Learn tips to avoid pitfalls, proactively prepare before the auditors arrive, and respond to and resolve any audit exceptions or deficiencies. Does your school promote and maintain systems of accountability? Learn about the revised IRS Form 990 requirements now in effect. If you follow our guidelines properly, you can be sure to have happy auditors and stress-free field work. Submitted By: Tammy Stanton ExED Charter School Bond Issuance: A Complete History serves to provide greater transparency to the charter school sector of the municipal market for both investors and charter school borrowers. This data-rich compendium examines the 13-year history of the charter school tax-exempt bond sector, and for the first time. Submitted By: Reena Bhatia Local Initiatives Support Corporation Concession Sales Reconciliation Form
Core Principles for Managing Federal Grants The Concession Sales Reconciliation form is available in Excel or PDF (with calculations.) Use this form to keep track of and reconcile your concession stand sales for any school event. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Core Principles for Managing Federal Grants tools is from the 2013 National Charter conference. Charter schools receive federal grants to support education programs, but they must navigate a complex network of rules in order to spend funds. This presentation provides an overview of the grant rules charter schools must follow and the internal control systems needed to effectively manage federal programs. This presentation will also provide insight into ways charter schools can spend federal grants more effectively to achieve their goals. Submitted By: Melissa Junge Federal Education Group Cost Saving Success Stories
Cost Saving Success Stories is a presentation from the 2013 New Jersey Charter School Conference. This tool discusses cost saving success stories and how you can implement them at your school. Submitted By: Kathy Mone Elysian Charter School of Hoboken Direct Deposit Form
The direct deposit form allows employees to enroll in the companies direct deposit payment selection. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Donation Thank You Letter
E-Rate Program: 2015 Changes What the New E-Rate Rules Mean for Your Charter School The Donation Thank You Letter can be used when your school or organization receives a donation and you would like to send the donor a thank you response. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools E-Rate Program: 2015 Changes What the New E-Rate Rules Mean for Your Charter School tool discusses the changes to E-Rate for the year 2015. Submitted By: Ben Sniecinski E-Rate Advantage, LLC ExED's "Do's" and "Don'ts" of Charter School Fiscal Responsibility
Don't be surprised. Know what questions to ask when reviewing your school's financial position. You are ultimately responsible if your school is financially mismanaged. This interactive, hands-on session will provide you with unique facts about school finance and the skills needed to identify potential problems. This workshop will also include group discussion and review of sample school financial statements. Submitted By: Tammy Stanton ExEd Expense Report
Facilities Financing Overview and Best Practices: Tax-Exempt Bonds The expense report form automatically calculates your reimbursement based on expenses submitted. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Facilities Financing Overview and Best Practices: Tax-Exempt Bonds tool is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. Charter school finance officers will discuss best practices and lessons learned about tax-exempt bond financing for facilities in a panel presentation moderated by leading market professionals. Topics include: benefits of the bond market; credit and performance requirements; innovative solutions for startups, expansion and networks; real estate and project planning; and living through a bond deal. Submitted By: Eugene Clark-Herrera Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Federal Funding Opportunities for Charter Schools
This tool is a presentation from the 2012 National Charter School Conference. It covers potential funding opportunities for charter schools. While most schools are aware of the charter schools program grants and subgrants, this session will cover education programs and other funding sources, how to use www.grants.gov to search and apply for grants and the National Charter School Resource Center's grants database. Submitted By: Kate Meeley US Department of Education Finance 101 for Charter School Board Members
Finance, HR, and Operations Do's & Don'ts The Finance 101 for Charter School Board Members is a presentation from the 2012 National Charter School Conference. Learn what questions to ask when reviewing your school's financial position. This tool will provide participants with skills and unique facts about school finance, building on how to identify potential problems. Submitted By: Tammy Stanton ExED Finance, HR, and Operations Do's & Don'ts is a tool from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Conference. This tool covers all the do's and don'ts related to finance, HR, and school operations. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Financial Audit Checklist & Tracker Financial Audit Checklist & Tracker tool is to be used as a checklist and tracker during an audit. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Financial Concepts All Charter Board Members Need to Know Financial Concepts All Charter Board Members Need to Know tools is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. Charter board members bring a vast set of skills to board service. However, regardless of each member’s personal skill set, because charters are public institutions entrusted with stewarding millions of dollars of public funds, all board members must have a firm grasp of the financial health of their schools. It is not acceptable for board members to defer to the Treasurer on all things financial. This session will discuss how to ensure all board members have a firm grasp on their school’s finanancial health. Submitted By: John Tarvin Claremont Consulting Financing: Speed Date Your Lender Financing: Speed Date Your Lender tool is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. Which lender is right for your school? Never before at the conference has there been an opportunity to discuss your charter school financing questions and projects with multiple lenders all in the same room. This session will provide a brief summary of organizations, including bond financers and lenders. Then you’ll have an opportunity to speed date your potential lenders and ask them questions about your project. Submitted By: Stephanie DeVane Nonprofit Finance Fund Finding Facility Financing
This Finding Facility Financing article by Joe Keeney discusses the variety of forms facility financing can come. The article covers ways to fund your charter school and proposes solutions to charter school facility financing solutions. Charter Schools Insider Forming a Project Sustainability Plan
From Red to Black: Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis This Forming a Project Sustainability Plan article highlights the steps necessary to creating a sustainability plan when planning a project and/or applying for a grant. Submitted By: Sheila Fernley SAF Educational Solutions LLC From Red to Black: Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. Talking about finances isn’t sexy, but it’s a necessary conversation for all schools. In the early 2000s, ICEF Public Schools in South Los Angeles launched an aggressive growth campaign & fell into financial difficulties that nearly led to the network’s closure. Learn what led to the near disaster and how strong leadership, school-based budgeting and strategic planning have stabilized ICEF. Submitted By: Greg Brendel ICEF Public Schools Funding & Policy Frameworks: Virtual Learning
The Funding & Policy Frameworks: Virtual Learning covers what promise and potential online learning, blended learning and cyber learning holds. This tool will use examples from the landscape of online learning as a basis to bring to life questions on the transformation of learning, teaching and authorizing in a cyber age. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Fundraiser Financial Report
The Fundraiser Financial Report is a useful Excel spreadsheet that calculates the money raised and information regarding your school's fundraiser. It also includes sample spreadsheets on how to use the form. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Fundraiser Request Form
The Fundraiser Request Form can be utilized to request a school fundraiser. The excel spreadsheet includes the type of activity, date, estimated faculty time involvement, and cost of activity. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Grant Writing: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Grant Writing: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly will explain the difference between fundraising and grantwriting. Submitted By: Ginny Byrd Porter Research Associates Guidelines for Handling School Funds
Guidelines for Handling School Funds - As a teacher and/or sponsor of a particular extracurricular school club or activity, it may be necessary for you to collect and receive money from students in your class(es) or extracurricular club/activity. Before any money is solicited from students or parents, administration must give formal approval of the activity. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Invoice Approval Form
The invoice approval form is an excel spreadsheet to approval invoices submitted by vendors to your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools IRS Form 1023
IRS Form 1023 is used to apply for tax-exempt status with the IRS, mainly used for Non-Profits. Louisiana Charter School Budgeting Presentation
Louisiana Charter School Budgeting Presentation - This tool covers information regarding revenues, personnel, other than Personnel, start-up, cash flow, self-perform vs. outsource, and where to start on a budget. Submitted By: Glenn Turtel 4th Sector Solutions Massachusetts Charter School Recommended Fiscal Policies & Procedures Guide
Massachusetts Charter School Recommended Fiscal Policies & Procedures Guide was developed by the Massachusetts Department of Education to serve as a road map for schools to reference when developing the internal controls of their organization. Submitted By: Massachusetts Department of Education Massachusetts Department of Education Mileage Reimbursement Form
Navigating Charter School Finance The mileage reimbursement form automatically calculates your reimbursement amount based on miles. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Navigating Charter School Finance is a presentation which was conducted at the 2014 Florida Charter School Conference. From budget meetings to loans and lines of credit, audit preparation to grilling at the school picnic (yes, this happens), this will help you navigate through the waters of charter school finance. Submitted By: Joshua Moreau BoostEd Finance Payment Receipt Log
The Payment Receipt Log is used to keep track of funds received. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Payroll Calendar for 2011-2012
This excel spreadsheet is a payroll calendar for the year 2010-2011. It includes information such as the date documentation is due to Human Resources, date the timesheets are due, payroll summary due date, the processing date, the period covered for salaried employees, and much more. Charter School Tools Planning Proposals that Get Funded
Program-Related Investments & Facilities Financing The Planning Proposals that Get Funded article highlights the importance of advance planning in order to increase the chances of being awarded grants. Submitted By: Sheila Fernley SAF Educational Solutions LLC The Program-Related Investments & Facilities Financing is a Power-Point presentation from the National Charter School Conference 2010 regarding Program-Related Investments & Facilities Financing. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Purchase Order Form
The Purchase Order Form is an Excel document includes three spreadsheets: instructions on how to use, choices to select from, and the purchase order form. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools School Club Account Deposit Register Form
The School Club Account Register Form is an Excel tool is used to keep a record of your school's club accounts. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools School Club Account Register
The school club account register is used to keep track of all clubs at your school. Allows you to enter a receipt number, check number, date collected, date deposited, description of transaction, vendor name, the debit or credit amounts, and the balance. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Credit Card Policy
The Standard Credit Card Policy contains a corporate credit card policy, a policy acknowledgement form, and a credit card received policy acknowledgement form. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Petty Cash Request Form
The Standard Petty Cash Request Form is an Excel spreadsheet helps employees keep track of the petty cash spending account. The spreadsheet includes four sections which include the petty cash request form, policy and directions for use, voucher, and school choices. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Timesheet Form - 2010
The Standard Timesheet Form - 2010 is an Excel standard timesheet form includes six sections for your school employees to keep track of time worked. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standards and Procedures for Audits of California K-12 Local Education Agencies 2011-12
The Standards and Procedures for Audits of California K-12 Local Education Agencies 2011-12 tool is from a presentation at the 2012 California Charter School conference. Audit season can be a stressful time. Learn tips to avoid pitfalls, proactively prepare before the auditors arrive, and respond to and resolve any audit exceptions or deficiencies. Does your school promote and maintain systems of accountability? Learn about the revised IRS Form 990 requirements now in effect. If you follow our guidelines properly, you can be sure to have happy auditors and stress-free field work. Submitted By: Tammy Stanton ExED Sustainability... What Separates Good Grants from Great Programs
This Sustainability... What Separates Good Grants from Great Programs article addresses the importance of recognizing what sustainability means to getting grants and more important, developing great programs with long-term effects. Submitted By: Sheila Fernley SAF Educational Solutions LLC Ticket Sale Reconciliation Form
Use the Ticket Sale Reconciliation Form to reconcile money collected from an event where tickets were sold at your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Tips for Proper Segregation of Duties
Top Ten Financial Management Mistakes to Avoid, and Other Deadly Sins and Lesser Evils Don't be surprised. Know what questions to ask when reviewing your school's financial position. You are ultimately responsible if your school is financially mismanaged. This interactive, hands-on session will provide you with unique facts about school finance and the skills needed to identify potential problems. This workshop will also include group discussion and review of sample school financial statements. Submitted By: Tammy Stanton ExEd The Top Ten Financial Management Mistakes to Avoid, and Other Deadly Sins and Lesser Evil presentation is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. This presentation covers what the roles and responsibilities of Board Treasurers and Finance Committees. This “quick hit” tool will address critical issues in financial oversight, including financial controls, compliance and reporting, budget management and re-forecasting, outsourcing and contract management, and planning for facility financing. Submitted By: Joe Keeney Charter School Tools Travel and Expense Policy
U.S. Charter Schools' Median Ratios Reveal A Young Sector Growing
Rapidly But With Volatility Travel and Expense Policy - The school recognizes that employees of may be required to travel or incur other expenses from time to time. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that (a) adequate cost controls are in place, (b) travel and other expenditures are appropriate, and (c) to provide a uniform and consistent approach for the timely reimbursement of authorized expenses incurred by personnel. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools U.S. Charter Schools' Median Ratios Reveal A Young Sector Growing Rapidly But With Volatility tool is from Standard & Poor's Ratings Service. The growth and volatility of charter school ratings exceed that of our other public finance sectors and we expect that to continue as this one evolves, schools adapt to local political climates, new financing opportunities emerge, and schools continue to access the capital markets to secure funding for facility needs. However, the charter schools' small size and relatively short operating history and limited financial flexibility present performance uncertainty and potential for rating changes. Submitted By: Jessica Matsumori Standard & Poor's Your Job as a Board Member and How to Do it Well Your Job as a Board Member and How to Do it Well tool is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. As public institutions committed to education reform, charter schools must perform well within a highly scrutinized environment where schools are held to higher levels of accountability. Working within this environment, it is imperative that board members fully understand their unique job, how it differs from traditional board service and how to do their jobs exceptionally well. Submitted By: John Tarvin Claremont Consulting Human Resources3x for All: Extending the Reach of Education's Best
3x for All: Extending the Reach of Education's Best - Teacher e6ectiveness has the largest impact of school effects on student learning, and research indicates that top-quintile teachers produce learning gains three times (78) that of bottom-quintile teachers. However, the supply of these “78” teachers is limited. Meanwhile, 78 teachers a6ect only a small portion of children each year, no more than bottom quintile teachers. Instead of just trying to recruit more great teachers, what if schools chose to reach more children with the great teachers they already have? Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Achievement First - The Design and Implementation of a Highly Effective Teacher Recruitment System
This case study focuses on one particular organization, Achievement First, that has invested heavily in its recruitment process and focused intensively on putting in place systems and processes that yield the highest quality teachers. NewSchools Venture Fund Acts of Employment: Navigating the Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act
The Acts of Employment: Navigating the Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act tool is from the 2013 Colorado Charter School's conference. This tool covers The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are impacting the way charter schools manage their employees. Submitted By: Michelle B. Ferguson Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC Alliance College-Ready Framework for Effective Teaching
The College-Ready Promise Observation and Evaluation process is a critical component of our efforts to improve effectiveness. Our process is aligned to the Framework for Effective Teaching. Through the three stages of the process, teachers and administrators reflect on and discuss lesson planning, classroom instruction, and assessment, by collecting and analyzing evidence aligned to the framework. Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Alliance Formal Teacher Observation Cycle
This tool is from Alliance and it is a Formal Teacher Observation Cycle, is from the Evaluation, Support, Compensation: Lessons from the College-Ready Promise presentation at the California Charter School Conference. The College-Ready Promise Aspire - TCRP Teacher Effectiveness Rubric
The Aspire - TCRP Teacher Effectiveness rubric is a tool to help schools evaluate teachers. Aspire Aspire Formal Observation Process
Assistants and Office Staff Evaluation Matrix This tool, Aspire Formal Observation Process, is a handout from the presentation Evaluation, Support, Compensation: Lessons from the College-Ready Promise at the California Charter School Conference. Aspire The Assistants and Office Staff Evaluation Matrix tool is from The Collaboration: Charters Sharing Practices for Success from the 2013 Colorado Charter School's conference. Charter schools have the unique option of utilizing the most innovative and impactful practices to advance both students and teachers. As we venture into the age of increased accountability for performance, it is important for charter schools and teachers to have the resources necessary for them to be successful. This tool will cover instructional practices, teacher evaluation processes and structures, strategies relating to formative assessment and data analysis in informing instructional decisions, and employment/human resource structures that have aided in their school-wide success. Participants will be able to walk away with ideas and resources they can begin discussing at their schools to enhance current practice. Submitted By: Yvette Brown Academy Charter School Better Benefits: Reforming Teacher Pensions for a Changing Work Force
Better Benefits: Reforming Teacher Pensions for a Changing Work Force - Across the country, underfunded teacher retirement systems continue to challenge state governments, local school districts, and charter schools. While reforming these systems proves complex steps can be taken to modernize both structural and technical aspects to create a sustainable cost structure while improving the quality of the teaching work force. Submitted By: Chad Aldeman Education Sector Board Secretary Job Description
Bulletproof Your Charter: 10 Common Pitfalls in Making HR Decisions This tool provides the responsibilities for the board secretary. The board secretary provides direction for the keeping of legal documents including minutes of all meetings of the board of the school. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Bulletproof Your Charter: 10 Common Pitfalls in Making HR Decisions is a presentation from the 2013 California Charter School Conference. Claims and lawsuits arising from employment disputes are draining school resources and creating morale problems for many charter schools. Submitted By: Sharon Stull CharterSAFE Charter School Association Employee Handbook
Complete charter school employee handbook. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Charter School Association Employee Handbook for Louisiana Charter Schools
The Charter School Association Employee Handbook for Louisiana Charter Schools is a complete charter school employee handbook for Louisiana charter schools. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Charter School CEO/Executive Director Evaluation Rubric
Charter School Teacher Recruitment and Selection Toolkit CEO Evaluation - The charter school CEO/Executive Director evaluation tool allow you to evaluate your school CEO or Executive Director. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Charter School Teacher Recruitment and Selection Toolkit is from the Delaware Department of Education which has promoted the use of human capital strategies by public school districts and schools as part of the Delaware State Board of Education’s Strategic Plan. Delaware Department of Education Components of Effective Teaching Observation Report
The Components of Effective Teaching Observation Report is used as a teacher evaluation. It is an observation report that includes the teacher's name, school, date, grade level, and subject taught. The evaluation is based on 9 different criteria. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Connecting the Dots: Building A System that Improves Teacher Quality
Connecting the Dots: Building A System that Improves Teacher Quality report summarizes the results of current research and practice on how to improve teacher supply, distribution and evaluation systems – what’s called “human capital management” in education. The overwhelming finding is that our current practices and policies provide inadequate support for high quality teaching. Most teachers are trained, selected, placed, evaluated and compensated under staffing models that were not built to ensure that teachers, especially those with the neediest students, are effective at promoting student learning. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: Identification, Prevention, and Response
The cyberbullying fact sheet describes how to identify, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying in your school. Cyberbullying is defined as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Cyberbullying Incident Tracking Form
The cyberbullying incident tracking form allows schools to track cyberbullying and keep records on incidents at your school. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Cyberbullying Report Card
The cyberbullying report card helps schools adequately address or prepare for cyberbullying. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Cyberbullying: A Brief Review of Relevant Legal and Policy Issues
Cyberbullying: A Brief Review of Relevant Legal and Policy Issues - A significant amount of attention has been directed toward the states that are working through the process of developing cyberbullying legislation. Specifically, they are codifying a requirement for school districts to update their policies to include cyberbullying or other types of electronic harassment in their definitions or prohibited behavior. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Designing Effective Professional Development Experiences: What Do We Know?
Developing Strong Internal Accountability through Teacher Leadership: "It's all about the Relationships": Collegial Relationships that Work Designing Effective Professional Development Experiences: What Do We Know? In the last few years, challenging national standards have generated intense focus on student and teacher performance. Educators across the country have realized that improving teacher quality is a vital component of any strategy to create high-performing schools. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Developing Strong Internal Accountability through Teacher Leadership: "It's all about the Relationships": Collegial Relationships that Work tool is the second in a topic in a series of four that highlights some of the major findings and lessons learned from studies at the Alain Locke Charter School in Chicago, Illinois. Submitted By: Sheila Polk TEACH the POSSIBILITY Discrimination/Harassment Complaint Form
Doing More with Less: Personnel (Part 1) The discrimination/harassment complaint form is used to report a discrimination or harassment incident at your school or organization. Submitted By: Laura Marabito Porter Scott Doing More with Less: Personnel tool discusses the critical and urgent need education leaders have already recognized to address their growing budgetary issues. This is part I in a two-part series. Submitted By: Bill Daggett International Center for Leadership in Education, Inc. Doing More with Less: Personnel (Part 2) Doing More with Less: Personnel tool discusses the critical and urgent need education leaders have already recognized to address their growing budgetary issues. This is part II in a two-part series. Submitted By: Bill Daggett International Center for Leadership in Education, Inc. Employee Exit Interview
Employee Exit Interview - Use this employee exit interview form when an employee has voluntarily resigned vs. getting laid off or fired. An exit interview is typically a meeting between at least one representative from a company's human resources (HR) department and a departing employee. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Employee Performance and Conduct: Policies, Documenting and Investigation
Employee Termination Procedure The Employee Performance and Conduct: Policies, Documenting and Investigation is a presentation that was presented at the 2010 California Charter School Conference. Unchecked employee performance and misconduct interfere with a school's mission, disrupt instruction and create opportunities for lawsuits. Performance evaluations and progressive discipline can be effective tools to correct behavior, motivate employees and achieve goals. Submitted By: Laura J. Marabito Porter Scott The Employee Termination Procedure tool is used when an employee is being terminated for any reason. Employee Warning Notice Form
The Employee Warning Notice form is to be completed when issuing a warning on an employee at your school. It includes employee information, the type of warning (first, second, or third), details regarding why the warning is being issued, and acknowledgement of receipt of the warning. Charter School Tools Employment Application
The employment application is a generic application prospective employees can complete for employment at your school. Charter School Tools Employment Record Retention Requirements
The employment record retention requirements tools is from the 2013 Colorado Charter School's conference. This is a handout from the Recruitment, Hiring and Employment Agreements presentation. You can also download the presentation here. Submitted By: Cinda Daggett The HR Department Evaluation, Support, Compensation: Lessons from the College-Ready Promise
Finance, HR, and Operations Do's & Don'ts How do you align teacher supports and professional development to real, meaningful, multi-measured evaluations? How do you devise a teacher development system that provides a transparent career path for teachers? How do you use student academic growth in evaluations? The Charter Management Organizations of The College-Ready Promise have spent two years pioneering large-scale teacher development systems across their 85 schools. We’ll share our plans, lessons learned and programs and preview what’s to come. The College-Ready Promise Finance, HR, and Operations Do's & Don'ts is a tool from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Conference. This tool covers all the do's and don'ts related to finance, HR, and school operations. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Green Dot Observer Certification Policy and Process
The Green Dot Observer Certification Policy is from the presentation Evaluation, Support, Compensation: Lessons from the College-Ready Promise at the California Charter School Conference. This tool is a rubric used for scoring certification assessments. The College-Ready Promise Green Dot Teacher Evaluation Rubric
The Green Dot TCRP is a full observation rubric to evaluate your teachers. This tool evaluates teachers on five principles: Data-Driven Planning and Assessing Student Learning, The Classroom Learning Environment, Instruction, and Developing Partnerships with Family and Community. Green Dot How Should States Define Teacher Effectiveness?
How Should States Define Teacher Effectiveness? The core of a state's definition of teacher effectiveness must be student outcomes. Student outcomes need to be the core, because no other core will help teachers and schools meet the ambitious goals we all share for improving student outcomes. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact How to Achieve a High-Performing Back Office - Part I
How to Achieve a High-Performing Back Office - Part I explores to hire principals who want to be great building managers and you might get great charter school buildings but lackluster student achievement. Hire principals who want to be great instructional leaders and complement them with strong business managers, and you have a good chance of creating high-performing charter schools. Charter School Insider How to Achieve a High-Performing Back Office - Part II
Informal Evaluation How to Achieve a High-Performing Back Office - Part I urged you to invest in top talent for your charter school business office. We recommended that you “pay up” for experience and competence, hire the right number and right kind of people, ensure financial controls are in place, and consider outsourcing as an effective solution. Assuming you have implemented all of those strategies, you now need to ensure you can maintain a high level of performance. For that purpose, we will focus this article on performance management and evaluation. Charter School Insider The Informal Evaluation tool is from The Collaboration: Charters Sharing Practices for Success from the 2013 Colorado Charter School's conference. Charter schools have the unique option of utilizing the most innovative and impactful practices to advance both students and teachers. As we venture into the age of increased accountability for performance, it is important for charter schools and teachers to have the resources necessary for them to be successful. This tool will cover instructional practices, teacher evaluation processes and structures, strategies relating to formative assessment and data analysis in informing instructional decisions, and employment/human resource structures that have aided in their school-wide success. Participants will be able to walk away with ideas and resources they can begin discussing at their schools to enhance current practice. Submitted By: Yvette Brown Academy Charter School Job Description - Academic Excellence Committee
Academic Excellence Committee Job Description provides the job description for the academic excellence committee. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Description - Accounts Payable Specialist
Accounts Payable Specialist Job Description - This is a job description for a accounts payable specialist which includes the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring an account payable specialist. This position requires knowledge of how accounts payable ties into the general ledger, a solid understanding of the disbursements cycle, and working knowledge of day-to-day accounts payable operations. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Administrative Manager
Administrative Manager Job Description - Use this tool as the job description for an administrative manager at your school. This tool includes the responsibilities and qualifications for an administrative manager position. Some of the responsibilities include: maintaining attendance records, assisting in purchasing, transportation, travel arrangements, and field trips, and performing scheduling duties. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Assistant Principal
Assistant Principal Job Description includes the job responsibilities and job qualifications to consider when hiring an assistant principal. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Job Description - Board Chair
Board Chair Job Description provides the board chair job description. It includes the general and specific responsibilities. The chair is the senior volunteer leader of the Charter School who presides at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and other meetings as required. The Chair is an ex officio member of all committees of the organization. The Board Chair oversees implementation of board and school policies and ensures that appropriate administrative practices are established and maintained. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Description - Charter School Operations Director
The Job Description for a Charter School Operations Director is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the day-to-day business operations of a school office, and serves as administrative aide to the school principal, relieving him/her of administrative details. Charter School Tools Job Description - Dean of Students
Dean of Students Job Description - This is a job description for the dean of students. The dean of students has many responsibilities which a few include: supervises the administration and tracking of student conduct and discipline data, contribute toward a safe environment for learning, and serve as liaison to parents to facilitate parent education and involvement. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Development Committee
Development Committee Job Description provides the job description for your development committee. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Description - Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Job Description - This job description for director of curriculum offers the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring for this role. Some of the responsibilities for the director of curriculum includes: provide leadership in the ongoing development, improvement, and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, and student data management. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Job Description - Director of Finance & Accounting
Director of Finance & Accounting Job Description - This is a job description for the director of finance and accounting. The director of finance and accounting has many responsibilities in which a few include: coordinate all financial transactions, coordinate all administrative transactions, and coordinate the collection of any data required for the preparation of reports. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Director of School Culture
Use this tools as a job description for the director of school culture. This tool includes job responsibilities and job qualifications when hiring a director of school culture. Some of the responsibilities for a director of school culture include: driving implementation of school-wide behavior management and reward system, developing and implementing the rituals, routines, and celebrations that ensure a culture of academic success, and developing and implementing professional development for staff to create and maintain a positive learning environment. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Director of Special Education
Director of Special Education Job Description describes the responsibilities and qualifications for this position. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Director of Student Data and Reporting
The Director of student data and reporting job description includes a summary of the the position along with the essential job responsibilities. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Enrollment Coordinator
Enrollment Coordinator Job Description - This tool is a job description for the enrollment coordinator and includes the responsibilities and qualifications to consider when hiring an enrollment coordinator. Some of the responsibilities of an enrollment coordinator include: establish presence in the community for outreach and recruiting purposes, provide enrollment counseling for incoming students and families, and serve as liaison to parents and facilitate parent education and involvement. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Finance Committee
Finance Committee Job Description provides the job description of a finance committee. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Description - Governance Committee
Governance Committee Job Description provides the job description for your governance committee. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Description - Guidance School Counselor
Guidance School Counselor Job Description includes the job responsibilities and qualifications for this position. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Human Resource Manager
Human Resource Manager Job Description - This document is a job description for the human resource manager and includes the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring a human resource manager. The Human Resource manager provides day-to-day support to employees and managers in matters related to hiring, performance, benefits, retention, and other related HR functions to support a client network of charter schools. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Library Technology Specialist
Library Technology Specialist Job Description - Use this tool when hiring a library technology specialist. This tool includes the responsibilities and qualifications when hiring a library technology specialist. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Principal
Principal Job Description - Use this tool as a job description for your school's principal. The tool includes job responsibilities and job qualifications a school should consider when hiring a school principal. Some of the responsibilities include: pursue the vision and Execute the mission of the school, supervise and observe all instructional practices in the school, including coaching and mentoring directly or through other staff and/or professional development programs, and hire, evaluate, and terminate staff. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - School Operations Manager
School Operations Manager Job Description - This is a job description for a school operations manager which includes the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring a school operations manager. Some of the school operations manager responsibilities includes: oversees operations at school site, manages and coordinates finance, administration and general school operations in order to support student achievement and financial stability by allowing the school principal to focus on student achievement. The School Operations manager is a member of the site's leadership team and the position is based in the school building. This is a year round position. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Senior Accountant
Senior Accountant Job Description - This is a job description for a senior accountant which includes the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring a senior accountant. Some of the responsibilities include: responsible for all accounting aspects of the organization including monthly closes, payroll processing, vendor payments, accruals and statutory reporting. The Senior Account also works closely with the school operations managers (SOMs). The Accounts Payable Clerk reports to the Senior Accountant. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Special Education Coordinator & Special Education Teacher
Special Education Coordinator & Special Education Teacher Job Description - This tool is a job description for a special education coordinator & special education teacher. Use this tool to learn the responsibilities and qualifications when hiring a special education coordinator and special education teacher. A few of the responsibilities include: provide direct and indirect instruction, long and short term planning addressing individual needs of students, and evaluate students' progress. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Student Information Data Manager I
The student information data manager I job description describes the summary of position, duties and responsibilities, and the minimum qualifications for the position. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Student Information Manager
Student Information Manager Job Description - This is a job description for a student information manager which includes the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring a student information manager. The student information manager will oversee the accurate and reliable collection of all student data and information in conformance with charter school requirements. Ensure that all reporting (state, local, district, charter authority, etc.) is completed accurately and in accordance with deadlines. Ensure that all data collection processes are serving stakeholders' needs. Institutionalize best practices for student information gathering and reporting. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Student Services Coordinator
Student Services Coordinator Job Description - This is a job description for the student services coordinator. The student services coordinator provides students and families social work services. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Teacher
Teacher Job Description - This is a job description for a teacher which includes the teacher responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring a new teacher. Some of the teacher's responsibilities include: maintain and enrich their expertise in the subject area they will teach, develop lesson plans that ensure the attainment of state learning standards, and coordinate lesson plans with other teachers to maximize possibilities for teaching similar topics in the same general time frame. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Technology Manager
Technology Manager Job Description - This is a job description for a technology manager which includes the responsibilities and qualifications a school should consider when hiring a new technology manager. The technology manager will lead creation and implementation of technology systems and applications to support the Charter School Initiative. Position is responsible for network implementation, managements and maintenance, as well as software applications, incident documentation, backups and disaster recovery, filtering and security. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Time Out Room Moderator
Time Out Room Moderator job description includes job responsibilities and job qualifications for a time out room moderator. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Job Description - Treasurer
Treasurer Job Description provides the responsibilities for the board treasurer. The treasurer provides direction for the financial management of the school and facilitates the board in meeting its financial oversight responsibilities. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Description - Vice Chair
Vice Chair Job Description provides the general and specific responsibilities of the board vice chair. The Vice Chair is the secondary volunteer leader of the charter school and as such, discharges the duties of the Chair as required in the Chair’s absence. The Vice Chair supports the activities of the Chair including sharing responsibilities as appropriate. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Job Descriptions Handbook
Job Descriptions Handbook includes all of the Charter School Tools job descriptions in one place! Use this tool as a complete list of hiring for your new school or simply adding school positions. This is a complete list of all the job descriptions listed on Charter School Tools. There is a linked table of contents to each job description that includes the job title, job responsibilities, and job qualifications. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Means to an End: A Guide to Developing Teacher Evaluation Systems that Support Growth and Development
This tool, Means to an End: A Guide to Developing Teacher Evaluation Systems that Support Growth and Development, is from Evaluation, Support, Compensation: Lessons from the College-Ready Promise presentation at the California Charter School Conference. The College-Ready Promise Measuring Teacher and Leader Performance: Cross-Sector Lessons for Excellent Evaluations
Measuring Teacher and Leader Performance: Cross-Sector Lessons for Excellent Evaluations report summarizes six steps that research and experience from across sectors - including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies - show are critical for designing an outstanding performance measurement system. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Medical Issues Facing Louisiana's Public Schools: What are School Nurses, Teachers, and Administrators To Do?
The Medical Issues Facing Louisiana's Public Schools: What are School Nurses, Teachers, and Administrators To Do tool defines the role of school nurse and the different types of nursing personnel. Submitted By: Wesley Johnson Escamilla, Poneck, & Cruz LLP Opportunity at the Top: How America's Best Teachers Could Close the Gaps, Raise the Bar, and Keep Our Nation Great
Opportunity at the Top: How America's Best Teachers Could Close the Gaps, Raise the Bar, and Keep Our Nation Great - Our schools have amazingly powerful teachers, woefully inadequate teachers, and every gradation in between. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Performance-Based Dismissals: Cross-Sector Lessons for School Turnarounds
Performance-Based Dismissals: Cross-Sector Lessons for School Turnarounds - School turnarounds are, at their core, a people-driven strategy. Unlike many other reforms in public education, the success of a turnaround effort hinges to a large degree on the skills and capacity of a leader, and the talents and cooperation of his or her staff. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Personnel Action Form
The personnel action form is used to make a change on an employee such as a salary change, personal change, reactivate an employee, or separation. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Personnel Requisition Form
The personnel requisition form is used to initiate the recruitment process for all new and existing staff and administrative/professional positions. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Policies for Charter Schools
Policies for Louisiana Charter Schools - "Best Practice" for Student/Parent and Employee Handbooks. Submitted By: Stefanie Allweiss, Mediation/Arbitration Stefanie J. Allweiss Principal Development: Selection, Support & Evaluation
Principal Employee Contract In this tool, we explore the practices of three organizations – charter management organizations (CMOs) Achievement First (AF) and Green Dot Public Schools, and national nonprofit New Leaders for New Schools – identified as leaders in principal development. This tool is organized into three key activities related to principal development: 1) selecting leaders, 2) training leaders, and 3) evaluating leaders, and aims to identify the best practices and protocols within each activity. NewSchools Venture Fund Use the Principal Employee Contract as an example tool Charter School Tools Principal Employment Letter
The principal employment letter is offer letter for a principal at your charter school. Charter School Tools Principal Offer Letter Form
The Principal Offer Letter form can be used when offering the position of Principal at your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Principal/Supervisor Investigation Report
The principal or supervisor investigation report is a form used to document incidences at your school. Charter School Tools Realignment of the Louisiana Department of Education
The Realignment of the Louisiana Department of Education is a Power Point presentation to the Louisiana State Association of School Personnel Administrators (LSASPA). Submitted By: Elizabeth Shaw Recruitment, Hiring and Employment Agreements
The Recruitment, Hiring and Employment Agreements tool is from the 2013 Colorado Charter School Conference. This tool provides guidance on hiring, employment relationships between personnel and the school, and HR-related document retention. The session will include tips and best practices on hiring practices; a review of employment contract and offer letters, including how to determine which is best for your school; and guidance on navigating document retention in order to be in compliance with all relevant regulations. Submitted By: Cinda Daggett The HR Department Request To Hire Form
The Request to Hire form is used to begin the new hire process for an employee. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Responding to Cyberbullying: Top Ten Tips for Educators
Responding to School Violence: School Threat Analysis and Response Responding to Cyberbullying: Top Ten Tips for Educators tool list the top ten tips for educators on related to responding to cyberbullying. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Responding to School Violence: School Threat Analysis and Response is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter School Conference. Participants will discuss the types of school violence and most common security breaches that impact the overall safety of the school community, as well as ways to reduce security risks. Submitted By: Jason Lody Innovative Educational Programs School Turnaround Leaders: Competencies for Success
School Turnaround Leaders: Competencies for Success is a companion to Leaders for School Turnarounds: Competencies for Success. Both guides seek to clarify the most critical competencies - or patterns of thinking, feeling, speaking and acting - that enable people to be successful in attempts to transform schools from failure to excellence quickly and dramatically. The leader guide provides competency definitions, school examples, and detailed levels of increasingly effective competence. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact School Turnaround Leaders: Selection Toolkit
School Turnaround Leaders: Selection Toolkit includes six separate sections each of which is designed to be used at different stages of the selection process. The toolkit sections are: a selection preparation guide, day-of-interview tools, candidate rating tools, candidate comparison and decision tools, leader competency rating levels, and turnaround actions: consistent cross-sector findings. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact School Turnaround Teachers: Competencies for Success
School Turnaround Teachers: Competencies for Success is a companion to Leaders for School Turnarounds: Competencies for Success. Both guides seek to clarify the most critical competencies - or patterns of thinking, feeling, speaking and acting - that enable people to be successful in attempts to transform schools from failure to excellence quickly and dramatically. The leader guide provides competency definitions, school examples, and detailed levels of increasingly effective competence. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact School Turnaround Teachers: Selection Toolkit
School Turnaround Teachers: Selection Toolkit includes six separate sections each of which is designed to be used at different stages of the selection process. The toolkit sections are: a selection preparation guide, day-of-interview tools, candidate rating tools, candidate comparison and decision tools, complete competency rating levels, and critical competency rating levels. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Sexual Harassment Policy
Sexual Harassment Policy - This document is an example of a sexual harassment policy. All individuals associated with a school, including, but not limited necessarily limited to, the administration, the staff, and students are expected to conduct themselves at all times so as to provide an atmosphere free from sexual harassment. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Staff Selection Process
The Staff Selection process tool provides a walk-through chart for selecting your staff. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools State Cyberbullying Laws
The state cyberbullying laws tools is a brief review of state cyberbullying laws and policies. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Student Code of Conduct
The student code of conduct tool includes the student rights and responsibilities, bus discipline, classroom and class regulations, and general discipline policy. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Student Handbook
The student handbook tool can be utilized at any school to serve as your school's student handbook. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Summary of Employee Benefits
The Summary of Employee Benefits tools is to provide an example of Employee Only coverage for Medical, Dental, Life, and Long Term Disability. Charter School Tools TCRP Evaluation Complete Process Guide
The TCRP Evaluation Complete Process Guide is designed to calibrate all evaluators across the Alliance so that the process is implemented consistently across schools. Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Teacher Compensation in Charter and Private Schools
The Teacher Compensation in Charter and Private Schools tool explores national surveys of charter and private schools and interviews with leading charter and private school networks for their answers to several key questions that animate the current debates over teacher pay in public schools. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Teacher Evaluation Form
Teacher Evaluation Matrix This tool is a quick reference teacher evaluation form from Alliance College-Ready Public Schools. Alliance College-Ready Public Schools The Teacher Evaluation Matrix tool is from The Collaboration: Charters Sharing Practices for Success from the 2013 Colorado Charter School's conference. Charter schools have the unique option of utilizing the most innovative and impactful practices to advance both students and teachers. As we venture into the age of increased accountability for performance, it is important for charter schools and teachers to have the resources necessary for them to be successful. This tool will cover instructional practices, teacher evaluation processes and structures, strategies relating to formative assessment and data analysis in informing instructional decisions, and employment/human resource structures that have aided in their school-wide success. Participants will be able to walk away with ideas and resources they can begin discussing at their schools to enhance current practice. Submitted By: Yvette Brown Academy Charter School Teacher Evaluation Rubrics
Teacher Offer Letter The teacher evaluation rubrics are designed to give teachers an end-of-the-year assessment of where they stand in all performance areas – and detailed guidance on how to improve. They are not checklists for classroom visits. To knowledgeably fill out the rubrics, principals need to have been in classrooms frequently throughout the year; it is irresponsible to fill out the rubrics based on one classroom observation. Submitted By: Kim Marshall The Marshall Memo Teacher Offer Letter tool is an example for a 10 month teacher employee contract. Charter School Tools Teacher Pension Reform
Teacher Pension Reform - This tool explains public-sector pensions and the problems with public-sector pensions. Submitted By: Chad Aldeman Education Sector Teacher Reference Check Questions
The Teacher Reference Check Questions tool provides the questions to ask when performing a teacher reference check. It also provides a space for notes and a rating system. Use this tool when performing a reference check about hiring a teacher. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Teacher Tenure Reform: Applying Lessons from the Civil Service and Higher Education
Teacher Tenure Reform: Applying Lessons from the Civil Service and Higher Education paper examines two sectors that have a long history with tenure — the civil service and higher education. In the civil service, tenure-like job protections apply to nonpolitical positions in both state and federal governments. At colleges and universities, people in many faculty positions can receive tenure. Here, we examine the purposes of tenure and the tenure design elements in both of these settings and explore how they help or hinder an organization’s goals. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Termination Letter
The termination letter tool can be used when an employee resigns, quits or is terminated. Charter School Tools The College Ready Teaching Framework Rubric
This rubric is based on four criteria: data-driven planning and assessment, classroom learning environment, instruction, and professional contributions. College-Ready Promise Timesheet Submission Procedures
TNTP Core Teaching Observation Rubric The Timesheet Submission Procedures describes the procedures for which employee timesheets are submitted for his/her respective school each pay period. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Classroom observations are failing to deliver on their promises of providing teachers with valuable feedback on their performance. Overly complex rubrics are part of the problem, asking observers to do too much in a short amount of time. Implementation of new Common Core State Standards poses both a challenge and an opportunity, because observers must now assess what is being taught, not just how it’s being taught. The TNTP Core Teaching Rubric streamlines today’s bloated rubrics to bring the same focus and coherence to classroom observations that the Common Core brings to academic standards. Developed by TNTP, and field-tested by volunteers across the country, the rubric can help observers more usefully assess teacher performance, by focusing them on a few key factors most critical to performance. Submitted By: David Malbin TNTP Walk Through Observation The Walk Through Observation tool is from The Collaboration: Charters Sharing Practices for Success from the 2013 Colorado Charter School's conference. Charter schools have the unique option of utilizing the most innovative and impactful practices to advance both students and teachers. As we venture into the age of increased accountability for performance, it is important for charter schools and teachers to have the resources necessary for them to be successful. This tool will cover instructional practices, teacher evaluation processes and structures, strategies relating to formative assessment and data analysis in informing instructional decisions, and employment/human resource structures that have aided in their school-wide success. Participants will be able to walk away with ideas and resources they can begin discussing at their schools to enhance current practice. Submitted By: Yvette Brown Academy Charter School Walk Through Teacher Observation
Walk Through Teacher Observation - This tool is used to observe and evaluate your teachers. The form includes the teacher's name, time, course, and date. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Wellness Programs 101
Wellness Programs 101 - Employers often sponsor a wellness plan in conjunction with their health insurance program. However, there is a lot of confusion among employers as to how to make a Wellness program work and actually get good ROI from their investment. Submitted By: Matthew D. Libby, MBA MDG Benefit Solutions Witness Advisories Memo
The Witness Advisories Memorandum informs employees that have been requested to provide information during the course of a confidential internal workplace investigation being conducted by the employer. Submitted By: Laura Marabito Porter Scott OperationsA Survival Guide: Finding Your Facility
Your facility is a key component to the success of your charter school. Come learn about the DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to finding either your first or your next facility. Find out what you should be looking for in your next facility. Hear about the best ways to assemble your facility team, how to work with cities, and key items to look for before signing your lease. Submitted By: Benson Sainsbury InSite Charter School Services Agenda Template
This tool is a sample agenda template to use for your board of director's meetings. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar Aspire Public Schools - An Approach to Opening News Schools
Aspire Public Schools (Aspire), a CMO based in Oakland, California, has developed a detailed approach to opening new schools based on nearly 10 years of experience starting and operating charter schools in multiple geographies throughout California. This case study is an overview of Aspire’s school opening process – a summary that is intended to provide a framework for other school management organizations that are considering how to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their own new school openings. NewSchools Venture Fund Aspire Sample School Start Up Workplan
This is a sample charter school startup workplan. NewSchools Venture Fund Audio Visual Check-In Form
Be a Start-Up Star: Tips, Templates, and More The Audio Visual Check-In form to check-in and check out audio visual equipment. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Be a Start-Up Star: Tips, Templates, and More is a presentation from the 2015 National Charter School Conference. Starting a school is tough work! Let us help you tackle the details of start-up now, so you can focus on students later. This presentation focused on: Building a board that doesn't hold you back; Raising start-up money to get you what you need; Navigating authorizers and politics strategically; and Hiring right the first time! Submitted By: Nicole Assisi Thrive Public Schools Being Proactive to Resolve Conflict: Next Steps in Facilitation
The Being Proactive to Resolve Conflict: Next Steps in Facilitation tool defines an IEP and FIEP. The tool can be used to learn the procedures when setting up your facilitation program. Submitted By: Karen Slaughter Region 10 ESC Beyond the Charter Application: Section 504 Compliance in Academic and Non-Academic/Extra-Curricular Settings
Bus Stop Request Form Beyond the Charter Application: Section 504 Compliance in Academic and Non-Academic/Extra-Curricular Settings tool covers information on Section 504 compliance. Submitted By: Wesley Johnson Escamilla, Poneck, & Cruz LLP The Bus Stop Request Form tool is request a bus route for your child. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Business Partnership Education Activities Agreement
The Business Partnership Education Activities Agreement is to be used when entering into a partnership with the school and an outside company/business. The form includes the role of the school and the role of the business in the partnership. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Cafeteria or Kitchen Request Form
The cafeteria or kitchen request form is to be used when an organization request to use school facilities (cafeteria/kitchen) for an event. Charter School Tools Charter School CEO/Executive Director Evaluation Rubric
Charter School Partnerships CEO Evaluation - The charter school CEO/Executive Director evaluation tool allow you to evaluate your school CEO or Executive Director. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Charter School Partnerships is a tool which includes eight key lessons for success. Submitted By: Priscilla Wohlstetter Columbia University Charter School Transportation 101
This Charter School Transportation 101 presentation from the Florida Charter School Conference 2010 addresses potential challenges relating to initiating and/or maintaining a safe and efficient school transportation operation. Submitted By: Ronnie McCallister Florida Department of Education Charter Schools Get Smart About Marketing
This article, Charter Schools Get Smart About Marketing, written by Patty Kennedy offers ways charter schools can advertise or market their school. Charter schools around the country are facing an ever-increasing need to attract great teachers, leaders, students and support. Not an easy task when budgets are tight, resources strained and priorities many. The thought of marketing can be confusing at best, and daunting at worst. Submitted By: Patty Kennedy Kennedy Spencer Classroom Procedures
The classroom procedures tool can be used by teachers as rules for their classroom. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Classroom Safety Checklist
Classroom Technology Inventory Form The Classroom Safety Checklist includes a check-off classroom safety checklist. There is also and area to include comments. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Classroom Technology Inventory Form Confidentiality Agreement
This agreement is a standard confidentiality agreement that can be used by a school organization. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Conflict of Interest Policy
Critical Success Factors Are Key Components for Successful Schools Conflict of Interest Policy - The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect (the "Organization")’s interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the Organization or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Critical Success Factors Are Key Components for Successful Schools is a presentation from the 2014 Texas Charter School Conference. Submitted By: Lorna Bonner Region 10 ESC Curriculum Materials Inventory Form Curriculum Materials Inventory Form Custodial and Facilities Management Request for Proposals (RFP)
Custodial and Facilities Management Request for Proposals (RFP) - This form is a request for proposal template to be used when soliciting custodial and facilities management proposals. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Cyber Bullying Policy
The cyber bullying policy tool can be used by schools to define cyber bullying, establish the complaint procedures, and allow the school to keep track of cyber bullying incidents. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: Identification, Prevention, and Response
The cyberbullying fact sheet describes how to identify, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying in your school. Cyberbullying is defined as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Cyberbullying Incident Tracking Form
The cyberbullying incident tracking form allows schools to track cyberbullying and keep records on incidents at your school. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Cyberbullying Report Card
The cyberbullying report card helps schools adequately address or prepare for cyberbullying. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Cyberbullying: A Brief Review of Relevant Legal and Policy Issues
Cyberbullying: A Brief Review of Relevant Legal and Policy Issues - A significant amount of attention has been directed toward the states that are working through the process of developing cyberbullying legislation. Specifically, they are codifying a requirement for school districts to update their policies to include cyberbullying or other types of electronic harassment in their definitions or prohibited behavior. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Disciplinary Action Form
Do's and Don'ts in Communicating Effectively with the Broader Public Disciplinary Action is used when taking disciplinary action regarding a student. The disciplinary action form is used to formally recommend that disciplinary action be taken toward a student. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Do's and Don'ts in Communicating Effectively with the Broader Public is from the 2013 National Charter School conference. Successful charters work well when young people communicate their work with the broader public: legislators, journalists, business, community organizations and families. This session will rely in part of participants' experiences and in part on more than 40 years experience building education reforms that last. Come discuss your success and learn to implement the success of your colleagues. Submitted By: Joe Nathan Center for School Change Dropout Recovery: Matching Accountability Policy With Instructional Practice Dropout Recovery: Matching Accountability Policy With Instructional Practice is a presentation from the 2015 National Charter School Conference. Must differentiated expectations be lowered expectations? Explore the nuances of applying rigorous accountability measures that are relevant to schools serving re-engaged dropouts. Panelists include leaders of nationally recognized dropout recovery schools who will discuss best practices in pedagogy and school structure including project based learning, competency, flexible schedules, and comprehensive support services. Discover why enlightened charter school authorizers have taken on the challenge of developing alternative accountability measures. Learn about Louisiana’s decision to develop and adopt an alternative accountability framework. National Association of Charter School Authorizers Effectively Promoting Charter Schools to Various Elected Officials Effectively Promoting Charter Schools to Various Elected Officials tools is from the 2013 National Charter School conference. Advocating for charter schools with policy makers is critical to the long-term success of the charter school movement. This session will offer tried and true advocacy methods and messages that work at all levels of government, from school boards to members of Congress, including an effective way to organize and leverage the voices of charter school teachers. Submitted By: Joe Nathan Center for School Change Emergency Meal Application Form
The Emergency Meal application form is to be used when a student has not been registered or setup in the system to receive lunch at your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools EMOs/CMOs/Management Companies
EMOs/CMOs/Management Companies - There are over 90 for-profit education management organizations (EMOs) that operate over 650 charter schools and over 100 non-profit charter management organizations (CMOs) that operate over 600 schools in the U.S. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools End of The Year Checkout Form
Enhanced School Lockdowns and Emergency Response Planning The End of The Year Checkout Form is a check-list at the end of the school year. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Enhanced School Lockdowns and Emergency Response Planning is a presentation from the 2014 Texas Charter School conference. Submitted By: Gary L. Sigrist, Jr. SafeGuard Risk Solutions Ensuring Accommodations and Nondiscrimination in Extracurricular & Non-Academic Settings
Ensuring Accommodations and Nondiscrimination in Extracurricular & Non-Academic Settings tool is a presentation regarding Section 504 accommodations. Submitted By: Wesley Johnson Escamilla, Poneck, & Cruz LLP Expense Report
The expense report form automatically calculates your reimbursement based on expenses submitted. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household
This tool answers your questions regarding Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household for Louisiana. This memorandum provides questions and answers relating to policy memorandum SP 382009, CACFP 08-2009, SFSP 07-2009, Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household, dated August 27,2009. That memorandum extended categorical eligibility for free meals or free milk for children who are members of a household receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Facilities 101: How to Plan and Pay for Your School Building
Facilities 101: How to Plan and Pay for Your School Building - This tool will provide information for school leaders and board members interested in planning their own facilities. Topics include school site planning, programming and financing. This tool will help you to get a better understanding of timeline, budgets and how to develop community support for your building project. Submitted By: Kathleen Padian New Orleans School Facility Project Facilities Management and Maintenance
This tool touches on the acquisition of facilities, it focuses mostly on facilities management and maintenance, which is a critical aspect of CMO growth planning and rarely receives enough emphasis and or dedicated capacity. This tool will serve as a resource to CMOs that are looking to design, update, and improve their facilities management and maintenance strategies. NewSchools Venture Fund Facility Program Worksheet
This worksheet is from the A Survival Guide: Finding Your Facility presentation. The facility program worksheet can help you determine the size of the facility you will need for your school. Submitted By: Benson Sainsbury InSite Charter School Services Facility Use Request, Application, and Agreement
Family Engagement in Education: Seven Principles for Success Facility Use Request, Application, and Agreement - Complete facility use document! Contains facility use request, facility use application, and a facilities use agreement letter. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Family Engagement in Education: Seven Principles for Success tool discusses how to engage parents and families in authentic, mutually beneficial ways at your school. Submitted By: Priscilla Wohlstetter Columbia University Field Trip Permission Form
The field trip permission form is used to allow a student to attend a field trip. It is sent home with the child for the parent's signature. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Field Trip Policy
Field Trip Policy is used when planning a field trip at your school. It includes field trip procedures, a field trip request form, field trip permission form, and a form to request bag lunches for your field trip. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Field Trip Request Form
Finance, HR, and Operations Do's & Don'ts The field trip request form is used to request in advance a field trip. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Finance, HR, and Operations Do's & Don'ts is a tool from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Conference. This tool covers all the do's and don'ts related to finance, HR, and school operations. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Fire Drill Policy
Fire Drill Policy - Use this tool for your fire drill procedures at the school. There must be at least one drill per month during the school year. This tool includes the procedure to follow during class time, the procedure to follow used before school and during lunch and recess. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Fire Drill Report Form
Fire Drill Report Form - Use this tool to keep track of when your fire drills are conducted. There must be at least one drill per month during the school year. The tool includes where the fire drill took place and the basic instructions of a fire drill. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Flag Code
The laws relating to the flag of the United States of America are found in detail in the United States Code. Title 4, Chapter 1 pertains to the flag. The flag code provides the time and occasions for display, the position and manner of display, respect for the flag, and conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag. Food Service Money Transfer Log
The food service money transfer log is a tool to help keep track of all lunch money collected at the school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Football Field Maintenance Tips
The football field maintenance tools offers the top 5 tips for maintaining a football field. Please feel free to contact us if you need assistance for a vendor. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Form to Request Bag Lunches
The form to request bag lunches is to be used when students attend field trips and a lunch needs to be supplied. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Guidelines For Events When Alcohol May Be Served
Health Services Form The Guidelines For Events When Alcohol May Be Served explains the guidelines that should be followed when conducting an event outside of regular business hours when alcohol may be served. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Health Services Form is used to give medical history and contact information for a student. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Healthy Food, Healthy Economics Healthy Food, Healthy Economics is a presentation from the 2014 National Charter Schools Conference. Charter schools can face obstacles to providing healthy, cost-effective nutrition to their students. This session will describe creative foodservice models that have been successfully employed by charter schools, and discuss how to implement a foodservice program that provides healthy food to students and a healthy bottom line to the school. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Identify, Inspire and Impact: Critical Factors for School Marketing
Identify, Inspire and Impact: Critical Factors for School Marketing tool is from the 2012 National Charter school conference. Charter schools have many external constituents they need to reach - often with limited resources. In this session, participants will learn the three critical factors to successful marketing and communications geared for charter schools. Specifically, participants will learn how to identify and leverage unique strengths to create an effective and cost-effective marketing program that motivates audiences, such as board members, parents, the community, media and funders, to support your school. Submitted By: Patty Kennedy Kennedy Spencer Incident Report Policy
Incident Report Policy - This form is to be used when there is an accident at a school. The form offers the required information, how the incident should be managed, insurance contact information, and an incident report form to complete. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Instructional Leadership and Organizational Change: Learning to Expect and Manage the Unexpected
The Instructional Leadership and Organizational Change: Learning to Expect and Manage the Unexpected tool discusses instructional leadership and organizational change as well as offers three lessons learned from the author. Submitted By: Sheila Polk TEACH the POSSIBILITY Intent to Attend Form
Intent to Return Form The Intent to Attend Form is an intent to attend form that can be used at your school for future students to complete. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Intent To Return Form is used to indicate a student's intentions to return to the school the following year. Submitted By: Charter School Tools I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What? I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What is a tool from the 2014 Texas Charter Schools conference. Submitted By: Allan Bonilla I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What??? Five Things You Can Do Tomorrow To Create an Exemplary School I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What??? Five Things You Can Do Tomorrow To Create an Exemplary School tool is an article which offers five important tips to school principal's on how to improve your school. Submitted By: Allan Bonilla Maintenance Complaint Form
Maintenance Complaint Form - Use this tool to form a complaint regarding a maintenance issue. It allows users to select a description of the problem, the first or second occurance, and the custodial supervisor signature. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Maintenance Repair Checklist
Media Release Form Maintenance Repair Checklist is to be used as a summer maintenance repair checklist. It provides checkboxes regarding painting, floors, cleaning, and repairs. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Media Release Form is a tool to request parental permission the use of photographs/video to be used for the purpose of advertising by the school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Meghan's Summer Reading List Here is a great summer reading list from our good friend Meghan to help you recharge your brain and maybe even teach you something new about operating excellent schools. Submitted By: Meghan Turner Charter School Tools Mileage Reimbursement Form
The mileage reimbursement form automatically calculates your reimbursement amount based on miles. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Minutes Template
This tool is a sample meeting minutes template. Submitted By: Marci Cornell-Feist Reach The High Bar National Charter Schools Week Toolkit for Charter School Leaders
National Charter Schools Week Toolkit for Charter School Leaders - Produced by the National Charter School Alliance for National Charter Schools Week 2010. Submitted By: National Charter School Alliance Operating and Maintaining School Facilities and Grounds
Operating and Maintaining School Facilities and Grounds - School facility operations and maintenance exist to support the primary purpose of K-12 education: quality learning. The core responsibility is to ensure that through the provision of quality custodial and maintenance services - administrators, teachers and students have an environment that is safe, healthy, and responsive to educational programming. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Outsourced Business Management Services: When, Where and How?
Outsourced Business Management Services: When, Where and How? Charter schools are multi-million dollar independent businesses with complicated demands for financial and business management, human resources, technology and compliance. To meet those diverse needs within the constraints of tight operating budgets, a new industry of business management service providers has emerged. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Professional Development: Learning from the Best
Promoting Responsibility Without Stress in 3 Easy Principles! Professional Development: Learning from the Best - Toolkit for Schools and Districts Based on The National Awards Program for Model Professional Development - This toolkit takes the best practices of award-winning schools and organizes them into a step-by-step planner for designing and implementing professional development. It digs beneath the award criteria and tells us how award winners did it. For example, we know that getting teachers involved in professional development design is one award criterion. This guide tells you specifically how award winners got teachers involved. Submitted By: Brian Hassel Public Impact Promoting Responsibility Without Stress in 3 Easy Principles tool is a presentation from the 2014 Texas Charter schools conference. Submitted By: Denise Rives Texas Leadership Charter Academy Reminders for Reformers Reminders for Reformers tools offers a one page summary of communicating with families & communities. Successful charters work well when young people communicate their work with the broader public: legislators, journalists, business, community organizations and families. This session will rely in part of participants' experiences and in part on more than 40 years experience building education reforms that last. Come discuss your success and learn to implement the success of your colleagues. Submitted By: Joe Nathan Center for School Change Request for Use of School Building Facilities
Request for Use of School Building Facilities is an agreement between the school and an outside organization for use of any of the school buildings facilities. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Responding to Cyberbullying: Top Ten Tips for Educators
Risk Management for Schools Top Ten Risks and How to Manage Them Responding to Cyberbullying: Top Ten Tips for Educators tool list the top ten tips for educators on related to responding to cyberbullying. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center Risk Management for Schools Top Ten Risks and How to Manage Them tool discusses school risk management, top 10 charter school risks, steps to managing school risks and many more topics. Submitted By: Jill Couvillon Arthur J. Gallagher Room Inventory Form
Rural Charter Schools: Unique Challenges, Unique Opportunities The Room Inventory form to keep track of inventory in the individual classroom. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Rural Charter Schools: Unique Challenges, Unique Opportunities tool is a presentation from the 2015 National Charter Schools Conference. Rural charter schools occupy a unique place in their community and also face unique challenges, limited teacher talent supply, smaller school populations, low expectations for college matriculation, challenging relationships with school districts, and facility financing constraints. This panel of rural school operators in Louisiana will share their experiences in meeting these and other challenges as part of a peer-to-peer networking session. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions School Functions and Responsibilities Calendar
School Functions and Responsibilities Calendar - Yearly school functions and responsibilities calendar. The calendar covers January through August. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy School Functions and Responsibilities Form
School functions and responsibilities chart. Includes task or function, person responsible, timeline or due dates and a notes section. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools School Key Policy
School Key Policy - The primary focus of the teachers and administrators is to prepare students for tomorrow. The establishment of a safe environment in which the students can reach this goal is the shared responsibility of the school administrators and its teachers. Teachers and administrators receive keys to the school. Because possession of a school key gives authorized persons unfettered access to the school grounds, to the students, and to sensitive records, all parties in possession of a key must keep the goals of confidentiality and safety in mind at all times. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools School Nutrition: National Standards for Competitive Foods Sold in Elementary, Middle, or High School
School Nutrition: National Standards for Competitive Foods Sold in Elementary, Middle, or High School contains the national standards for competitive foods sold in elementary, middle, or high school. The Excel spreadsheet includes standard information regarding breakfast and lunch for all states. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Seven Ways Schools Must Address Bullying
The Seven Ways Schools Must Address Bullying tool discusses seven ways schools must address bullying. Submitted By: Allan L. Beane, Ph.D. Bully Free Systems, LLC Social Networking and Marketing: How to Utilize Facebook to Benefit Your Business
This tool is great for learning how to advertise your charter school. Facebook is one of the most popular forms of social networking in the nation. Once the realm of college and high school students, Facebook has been expanding rapidly, and the site’s fastest-growing demographic is those 35 and older. In addition, recent enhancements have made it easier for organizations to interact with individual users. Snitily Carr Sports Equipment Inventory Log
The sports equipment inventory tool can keep track of all sports equipment at your school. This form will allow you to track the equipment item, condition, and if replacement or reconditioning is needed. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Staff-Parent Interaction Policy
Staff-Parent Interaction policy is to establish the principles governing the interaction between parents and the staff and the channels of communication to be adhered to in this interaction. This tool includes a table of contents with information regarding the purpose of this policy, policy statements, cautionary procedures, grievance procedures, and grievance form for parents. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Student Withdrawal Form
The Standard Student Withdrawal form is used for a student who is withdrawing from a class. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Timesheet
This is a standard timesheet to keep track of your employees days and hours worked. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Timesheet Form - 2010
The Standard Timesheet Form - 2010 is an Excel standard timesheet form includes six sections for your school employees to keep track of time worked. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Standard Transportation Bus Log Form
The Standard Transportation Bus Log Form is to help keep track of the time the buses are arriving and departing at your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Start Up Plan
Use this start-up plan for all aspects of starting your charter school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools State Cyberbullying Laws
The state cyberbullying laws tools is a brief review of state cyberbullying laws and policies. Submitted By: Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Cyberbullying Research Center State Policy Updates 2010
State Policy Updates 2010 - This is a presentation from the National Charter School Conference 2010. This tool goes over the policy updates regarding Caps and Moratoria, authorizers, funding and facilities, new laws, and impact of race to the top. Submitted By: Todd Ziebarth, Vice President, State Advocacy and Support National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Student Code of Conduct
The student code of conduct tool includes the student rights and responsibilities, bus discipline, classroom and class regulations, and general discipline policy. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Student Failure List
The student failure list allows teachers to keep track of failing students all in one place. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Student Handbook
The student handbook tool can be utilized at any school to serve as your school's student handbook. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Student Registration Form
Student Registration Form - Use this form to register new students. The form is a complete student registration form and directory release form for use at your school. The form includes student information, parent/guardian information, transportation information, and emergency contacts. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Teacher Sign In & Sign Out Form
The teacher sign-in and sign-out form can be used to keep track of the teacher's availability. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Teaching Materials Check-In Form
The Teaching Materials Check-In form to check-in and check-out text books and teaching materials to students. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Texas Charter Handbook
Texas Charter Handbook - The handbook itself is a shell document comprised of introductory pages for each of the subjects in the table of contents. The expectation is that schools will fill in the areas behind each of the introductory pages with the most recent versions of relevant documents. Texas Student Data System for Administrators
The Texas Student Data System tool provides you the vision for data collection and sharing in Texas. Submitted By: David Butler Texas Education Agency Texas Student Data System for Teachers
The Texas Student Data System tool provides you the vision for data collection and sharing in Texas. Submitted By: David Butler Texas Education Agency Textbook Check-In Form
The textbook check-in form allows you to keep track of student textbooks, teacher editions, workbooks, and supplemental material. Charter School Tools The Evolution of Data Use in Schools
The Five Most Common Charter School Vulnerabilities and How You Can Refute Them The Evolution of Data Use in Schools allows schools to determine where they are in the student data process. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Five Most Common Charter School Vulnerabilities and How You Can Refute Them tool is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. Even 20 years after the first charter school opened, the charter school movement still has its critics and misperceptions exist. Whether you're communicating with parents, a neighbor or even a skeptical reporter, you can arm yourself with good messaging to help you set the record straight. Submitted By: Gary Larson Larson Communications Travel Advance Policy
Travel Advance Policy can be used to request a travel advance for a planned work-related trip to submit to accounting. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Travel and Expense Policy
U.S. Charter Schools' Median Ratios Reveal A Young Sector Growing
Rapidly But With Volatility Travel and Expense Policy - The school recognizes that employees of may be required to travel or incur other expenses from time to time. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that (a) adequate cost controls are in place, (b) travel and other expenditures are appropriate, and (c) to provide a uniform and consistent approach for the timely reimbursement of authorized expenses incurred by personnel. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools U.S. Charter Schools' Median Ratios Reveal A Young Sector Growing Rapidly But With Volatility tool is from Standard & Poor's Ratings Service. The growth and volatility of charter school ratings exceed that of our other public finance sectors and we expect that to continue as this one evolves, schools adapt to local political climates, new financing opportunities emerge, and schools continue to access the capital markets to secure funding for facility needs. However, the charter schools' small size and relatively short operating history and limited financial flexibility present performance uncertainty and potential for rating changes. Submitted By: Jessica Matsumori Standard & Poor's Using Web Analytics to Increase and Optimize Web Site Traffic
This web analytics tool can help you advertise your charter school. Web analytics involves gathering, converting, analyzing, and reporting user traffic data in order to understand and optimize Web site usage. SnitilyCarr Vending Snacks Meeting Recommended Criteria
What I Wish I Had Known This tool provides the vending snacks recommended criteria and also offers suggested items. Submitted By: Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Louisiana Department of Education What I Wish I Had Known is a presentation from the 2013 California Charter School Conference. This tools covers key problems and issues facing new school leaders. What are the key problem areas? What do new schools need to know that they don't? What are the chief business management hurdles facing the leaders and board members of newly-opened school? What are the key misconceptions and most common mistakes? Submitted By: Alice Miller California Charter Schools Association What I Wish I Knew: First 3 Years of Charter School Operations
Working with the News Media What I Wish I Knew: First 3 Years of Charter School Operations - If you are planning to start a charter school, this document enlightens you on the first three years of charter school operations. Submitted By: Gary Martin, President Hapeville Charter School and Career Academy Working with the News Media tools offers a one page summary explaining how to work with the media. Successful charters work well when young people communicate their work with the broader public: legislators, journalists, business, community organizations and families. This session will rely in part of participants' experiences and in part on more than 40 years experience building education reforms that last. Come discuss your success and learn to implement the success of your colleagues. Submitted By: Joe Nathan Center for School Change Year Zero and Beyond: Know What You Don't Know
The Year Zero and Beyond: Know What You Don't Know tool is a presentation from the 2012 California Charter School Conference. New school leaders and founding boards are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work involved during school start-up. More often than not, these challenges are due to a lack of internal capacity. In other words, start-up teams "don't know what they don't know." This tool will show specific strategies in governance, personnel, student enrollment, and financial planning to prepare the board and leadership team not only to survive, but to thrive, in year one. Submitted By: Kate Agostinelli Foley and Lardner, LLP Purchasing (Things to Buy)Add/Change/Inactivate Vendor Information
Blended Learning RFP Template The add/change/inactivate vendor information form tool can be used to add or update a vendor for your school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Blended Learning RFP Template Charter School Tools IRS Form 1023
IRS Form 1023 is used to apply for tax-exempt status with the IRS, mainly used for Non-Profits. Purchase Order Form
The Purchase Order Form is used when requesting a purchase for the school. The form includes all the necessary information to create a purchase request. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Real Estate Development & Financing2010 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape
2014 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape Study 2010 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape - The Educational Facilities Financing Center (EFFC) of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is pleased to announce publication of the "2010 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape," an updated mapping survey of private nonprofit and public financing programs for charter school facilities across the nation, including for the first time, information on charter school access to the tax-exempt bond market. The 2010 Landscape includes descriptions of private philanthropies and nonprofit organizations active in the sector and detailed data on all rated charter school bond issuances through 2009. Performance data is provided for both loans and tax-exempt bond issues, indicating strong performance for charter schools that have obtained financing to date. Public initiatives are also detailed, including federal programs supportive of charter school facilities and state policies in all 40 jurisdictions with a charter law. Securing adequate and affordable facilities remains a central challenge for charter school operators in 2010, hindering the growth of some of the country's highest performing schools and limiting the impact of charter schools in the nation's education reform efforts. Equitable public facilities funding remains an elusive goal. At the same time, the economic downturn and tightening of the credit markets have slowed charter school access to private sector financing. The result has been an expanding public charter school population held captive to the vagaries of the global economy. The 2010 Landscape will serve as a roadmap for individual charter schools as they strive to finance their buildings and as a policy guide for those interested in helping to rationalize the sector and develop more equitable funding for charter school facilities. The report includes all available website and statutory references, with active links in the electronic version. The 2014 Charter School Facility Finance Landscape study is the most comprehensive source of information on how charter schools fund real estate projects. First released in 2005, this edition provides a current and robust survey of the activities of foundations, nonprofit financing organizations and real estate developers working to build, expand and upgrade charter schools. The study also offers detailed descriptions of the state of the tax-exempt bond market for charter schools as well as of federal and state-by-state policies that support funding for these facilities. Submitted By: Reena Abraham LISC Charter Facilities: A How-To Guide (non-Prop 39) Charter Facilities: A How-To Guide (non-Prop 39) is a presentation from the 2013 California Charter School Conference. Facilities are one of the major barriers to opening, scaling, and sustaining quality charter schools. This tool covers and demystify the major issues around finding and securing appropriate facilities, zoning/permitting/occupancy, funding source opportunities and limits, site selection, and getting it done right by building the best team for your school. Submitted By: John Lemmo Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP Charter School Bond Issuance: A Complete History Charter School Bond Issuance: A Complete History serves to provide greater transparency to the charter school sector of the municipal market for both investors and charter school borrowers. This data-rich compendium examines the 13-year history of the charter school tax-exempt bond sector, and for the first time. Submitted By: Reena Bhatia Local Initiatives Support Corporation Charter School Facility Development & Financing
Financial Audit Checklist & Tracker The Charter School Facility Development & Financing tool includes topics regarding the facility development process, facility financing, Louisiana charter school facility landscape, and Louisiana case studies. Charter School Tools Financial Audit Checklist & Tracker tool is to be used as a checklist and tracker during an audit. Submitted By: Joe Keeney 4th Sector Solutions Financing: Speed Date Your Lender Financing: Speed Date Your Lender tool is from the 2013 National Charter School Conference. Which lender is right for your school? Never before at the conference has there been an opportunity to discuss your charter school financing questions and projects with multiple lenders all in the same room. This session will provide a brief summary of organizations, including bond financers and lenders. Then you’ll have an opportunity to speed date your potential lenders and ask them questions about your project. Submitted By: Stephanie DeVane Nonprofit Finance Fund Finding Facility Financing
Nuts and Bolts of Facility Financing: What's Best for Your School This Finding Facility Financing article by Joe Keeney discusses the variety of forms facility financing can come. The article covers ways to fund your charter school and proposes solutions to charter school facility financing solutions. Charter Schools Insider Nuts and Bolts of Facility Financing: What's Best for Your School is from the 2013 California Charter School Conference. This tool discusses financing options to secure a permanent site are numerous and fairly complex, and figuring out which one will work best for your school takes time and experience. This tool will look at a variety of tools, from straight debt to bonds and New Market Tax Credits, with representatives of schools sharing the general pros and cons of each structure, practical tips, potential issues, and lessons learned. Submitted By: Cécile Chalifour Low Income Investment Fund Real Estate Due Diligence Checklist
The Real Estate Due Diligence checklist tool is a due diligence checklist for the acquisition of a commercial property. The list is not exhaustive but may include some items a charter school buyer may not have considered prior to negotiating or closing on a potential school property. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Real Estate Strategic Planning Real Solutions to Real Challenges
The Real Estate Strategic Planning Real Solutions to Real Challenges tool was presented at the 2011 Michigan Charter School Conference. This tool includes planning considerations, real estate considerations, and due diligence considerations. Submitted By: Paul Wills Plante Moran CRESA Technology20/20 Costs and Funding of Virtual Schools
The 20/20 Costs and Funding of Virtual Schools document provides information about factors that impact the cost of state virtual schools and full-time online programs. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning
A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning - This iNACOL publication provides a good overview for people just getting started with online learning. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Acceptable Use Policy for Staff Equipment and Internet Policy
Acceptable Use Policy for Staff Equipment and Internet Policy - Use this tool for an acceptable use policy for staff for equipment and internet. This tool includes the policies along with internet use at the school. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Audio Visual Check-In Form
The Audio Visual Check-In form to check-in and check out audio visual equipment. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Audio Visual Request Form
The Audio Visual Request Form is used to request the use of audio and visual equipment for your classroom use. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Computer Labs and Furniture: 2goPC or Not?
Computer Labs and Furniture: 2goPC or Not? - Use this tool when planning your computer lab. This tool explains the key features of 2GoPc. The days of placing PCs in classrooms and laboratories will begin to give way to mobile carts with inexpensive netbooks. Consider a mobile cart with 20 2GoPc's that can be purchased for less than $12,000 and NO furniture is required. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Computer Usage Policy
The Computer Usage Policy covers in large detail the computer usage policies. The document includes information regarding the use of information technology equipment, passwords, printing, use of the internet, the role of the school, role of the staff within the school, role of the parents, role of the students, student internet access agreement, and employee internet access agreement. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Cyber Bullying Policy
The cyber bullying policy tool can be used by schools to define cyber bullying, establish the complaint procedures, and allow the school to keep track of cyber bullying incidents. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Don't Rush Out and Buy a SMART Board Yet!
E-Rate Program: 2015 Changes What the New E-Rate Rules Mean for Your Charter School Don't Rush Out and Buy a SMART Board Yet! - Charter School Tools caught up with Rich Mincer, ed tech consultant and former chief of technology in Idaho to discuss options related to interactive projectors. Submitted By: Rich Mincer E-Rate Program: 2015 Changes What the New E-Rate Rules Mean for Your Charter School tool discusses the changes to E-Rate for the year 2015. Submitted By: Ben Sniecinski E-Rate Advantage, LLC Equipment Responsibility Form
The equipment responsibility form is a form that acknowledges that a person has received a specific piece of equipment and explains the responsibility to keep that equipment in a safe place. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools Free Web APPs for Schools
Free Web APPs for Schools will explain web applications available for schools. Submitted By: Rich Mincer Goals, Guidelines, and Standards for Student Scientific Investigations
The Goals, Guidelines, and Standards for Student Scientific Investigations publication provides guidance on how to design online science content so that the scientific inquiry process can be superior to what most students experience in a traditional science classroom. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Management and Operations of Online Programs
The Management and Operations of Online Programs includes relevant initial decisions of the stages of starting an online program. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Programs
The National Standards for Quality Online Programs tool covers overarching quality standards for online programs as a whole. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Teaching
National Standards of Quality for Online Courses The National Standards for Quality Online Teaching tool teaches about the national quality standards addressing online teaching and instructional design. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses tool covers quality standards specific to online course content. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Online Teacher Support Programs: Mentoring and Coaching Models
School Choices in Social Media The Online Teacher Support Programs: Mentoring and Coaching Models publication provides information about how to provide support for your online teachers. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL School Choices in Social Media tools is from the 2013 Colorado Charter Conference. This tool will prepare charter school leaders and staffers for social media demands in the public school world, and will demonstrate proper use of social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Submitted By: Brandy Vasquez Education Marketing Specialist, Colorado Springs Gazette Schools & Social Media
The Schools & Social Media is three-part of an Education Law & Governance Update newsletter. The Schools & Social Media tool describes how a school's environment and culture have changed to include Facebook and other social media websites. Cohen Schneider LLP Schools & Social Media
The Schools & Social Media is three-part of an Education Law & Governance Update newsletter. The Schools & Social Media tool describes how a school's environment and culture have changed to include Facebook and other social media websites. Cohen Schneider LLP Social Networking and Marketing: How to Utilize Facebook to Benefit Your Business
This tool is great for learning how to advertise your charter school. Facebook is one of the most popular forms of social networking in the nation. Once the realm of college and high school students, Facebook has been expanding rapidly, and the site’s fastest-growing demographic is those 35 and older. In addition, recent enhancements have made it easier for organizations to interact with individual users. Snitily Carr Technology Plan Policy
Technology Plan Policy consists of the planning, network infrastructure, broadband & network connections, wireless connection, telecommunications, security, servers, switches, desktops, laptops, printing, and tracking technology issues. Submitted By: Charter School Tools Charter School Tools The Horizon Report - 2010 Edition
The annual Horizon Report describes the continuing work of the New Media Consortium’s Horizon Project, a qualitative research project established in 2002 that identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact on teaching, learning, or creative inquiry on college and university campuses within the next five years. Citation: Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Stone, S. (2010). The 2010 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. The New Media Consortium and the Educause Learning Initiative Transforming American Education Learning: Powered by Technology
The newly released 2010 National Education Technology Plan, Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. This plan represents a five-year strategy for improving education and incorporates the research and insights of thousands of experts, leaders, practitioners, and other stakeholders. Submitted By: U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education Transition to Computer-Based Assessments
Using Online Learning for At-Risk Students and Credit Recovery The Transition to Computer-Based Assessments presentation from the Florida Charter School Conference 2010 provides information regarding computer-based assessments, staffing updates, CBT glossary and many more topics related to computer based assessments. Submitted By: Tara Gardner Bureau of K-12 Assessment | FDOE The Using Online Learning for At-Risk Students and Credit Recovery provides information regarding credit recovery. Credit recovery refers to a student passing, and receiving credit for, a course that the student previously attempted but was unsuccessful in earning academic credit towards graduation. Submitted By: Susan Patrick iNACOL Using Web Analytics to Increase and Optimize Web Site Traffic
This web analytics tool can help you advertise your charter school. Web analytics involves gathering, converting, analyzing, and reporting user traffic data in order to understand and optimize Web site usage. SnitilyCarr 
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