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CREATING AN EFFECTIVE CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD

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Table of Contents

The following fourteen sections of Creating an Effective Charter School Governing Board are posted in WORD.
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Introduction to the Creating An Effective Governing Board Workbook

  • Why Effective Charter School Boards Are Critical To The Success Of The Charter School Movement
  • Structure of the Workbook
  • A Few Points to Consider . . .
  • It Takes Time to Build an Effective Charter School Board
  • "They're Only Volunteers?"
  • The Approach
 

Chapter 1: Building the Foundation for an Effective Charter School Governing Board

  • Common Governance Problems Facing Charter Schools
  • Barriers To Board Effectiveness
  • Designing your Charter School Governance Structure: First Steps
  • Developing a Governance Structure
  • Three Dominant Models Of Charter School Board Governance
  • Grounding the Charter School Board in a Solid Model of Governance: Fundamental Assumptions
  • Distinction Between Governance And Management
  • "Ends" And "Means" Distinction
  • Clarity and Agreement About Who Does What
  • Specific Roles And Responsibilities Of The Charter School Board
  • Matching the Role of the Board with the Charter School's Stage of Organizational Development
  • Board Development As A Process
  • Basic Elements Of Board Development
  • Critical Role of the Board Development Committee
  • Critical Role of the Full Board
  • Summary
  • Chapter 1: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Defining Board Roles, Responsibilities and Governance Philosophy
 

Chapter 2: Identification And Recruitment Of Board Directors

  • Introduction
  • Elements of an Effective Recruitment Process
  • Sample Recruiting Timetable
  • Step 1. Establish A board development committee
  • Step 2. Prepare For Active Board Director Recruitment
  • Step 3. Develop A Profile Of The Current Charter School Board
  • Step 4 Determine Strategies to Build Board Diversity
  • Step 5. Develop An Initial List Of Prospective Board Directors
  • Step 6. Conduct First Round Of Personal Contact With Top Recruiting Prospects
  • Step 7. Schedule And Conduct Orientation Sessions With Prospective Board Directors
  • Step 8. Selection/Appointment Of New Members To The Charter School Board.
  • Summary
  • Chapter 2: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Board Recruitment
 

Chapter 3: Orientation and Training of Board Directors

  • Introduction
  • Board Orientation Timetable
  • During The Recruitment Stage (Before Election Or Appointment To The Charter School Board)
  • New Member Orientation (Immediately Upon The Election Or Appointment To The Charter School Board)
  • Early Service (During The First Three Months Of The New Board Directors' Tenure)
  • Ongoing Orientation (Orientation, Training And Support On An Ongoing Basis For Old And New Board Directors Alike)
  • Determining Orientation and Training Needs of Board Directors
  • The Board Director Manual
  • Strategies for Board Orientation
  • Involvement of Past and Current Board Directors in Orientation and Training
  • A Last Bit of Advice
  • Chapter 3: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Board Orientation and Training
 

Chapter 4: Board Decision-Making And Meetings

  • Basic Assumptions
  • Board Decision-Making Model
  • Charter School Board Governance Framework Chart
  • Elements Of Effective Decision-Making
  • Policy-Making: A Critical Area of Board Decision-making
  • How Policy Is Created
  • Board Policy Manual
  • Tools to Support Effective Board Decision-making
  • Decision-Making Flowchart
  • Decision Matrix
  • The Role Of The Executive Committee In Facilitating Effective Board Decision Making
  • Time Management of Board Meetings
  • Consent Agendas
  • Annual Calendar Of Major Board Decisions
  • Organizational Dashboard
  • Providing The Board The Information It Needs To Make Effective Decisions
  • Characteristics Of Good Board Information
  • Board Book Containing The Agenda And Information Packet In Advance Of Board Meetings
  • Communication In Between Board Meetings
  • Chapter 4: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Board Decision-making and Meetings
 

Chapter 5: The Board Role In Strategic Thinking And Planning

  • Why Charter School Boards Need To Think And Plan Strategically
  • Role Of The Board In Strategic Planning
  • Steps of the Strategic Planning Process
  • Effective Strategic Planning Practice
  • Keeping Your Strategic Plan Visible
  • Strategic Thinking - Not Just During The Strategic Planning Process
  • Thinking and Acting Strategically: Encouraging Visionary Board Leadership
  • The New Profile of Charter School Board Leadership
  • Barriers to Visionary Board Leadership
  • Strategies To Foster Visionary Board Leadership
  • Summary
  • Chapter 5: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Strategic Planning
 

Chapter 6: Legal And Financial Responsibilities Of Charter School Boards

  • Foundation for the Board's Legal and Financial Responsibilities
  • Legal Responsibilities of Board Directors
  • Financial Oversight by the Board of Directors
  • Table, Board, Committee and Staff Roles in Financial Oversight
  • Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
  • Risk Management
  • Implications Of Volunteer Protection Act Of 1997
  • Special Education
  • Chapter 6: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Understanding Board Legal and Financial Issues
 

Chapter 7: Board-Staff Relations

  • Role Of The Board In Selecting And Supporting The Administrator
  • What's In A Name? - The Nature Of The Board-Staff Relationship
  • Common Problems In The Relationship
  • Laying The Foundation For An Effective Relationship
  • The Supervisory Role of the Board of Directors
  • Tools For Strengthening The Board/Administrator Relationship
  • Effective Hiring or Selection Process for the Charter School Administrator
  • Written Job Descriptions for Board Directors and the Administrator
  • Written Administrator Job Description
  • Clear Definition Of How The Relationship Between Board And Administrator Works
  • Communication Plan that Provides Information
  • Involvement of Board and Staff in Strategic Planning
  • Maintain Healthy And Mutually Supportive Relationship Between The Board Chair And Charter School Administrator
  • Maintain An Effective Board Recruitment And Orientation Program
  • Maintain Ongoing Clarity Re: Board Policy And Oversight Functions
  • Evaluating The Charter School Administrator
  • Contracting Out: Other Staffing Models and Implications for Board Governance
  • Private Management Firms
  • Teacher Cooperatives
  • Conflict Management and Resolution
  • Common Areas of Board and Staff Conflict
  • Conflict Between Board Directors
  • Conflict Between The Board And Executive
  • Chapter 7: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Building Board-Staff Relations
 

Chapter 8: Building Strong Parent And Community Relations

  • Introduction
  • Promoting Parent and Family Involvement
  • Use of Advisory Committees
  • Linking Parent And Community Involvement To Plans For Student Achievement
  • Forging Alliances, Partnerships and Collaborations Chapter 8: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Building Strong Parent and Community Relations
 

Chapter 9: Board Director Motivation And Accountability

  • Introduction
  • Board Director Motivation Model
  • Recognition of Board Directors
  • Recognition As A Motivational Strategy
  • Other Motivational Strategies
  • Accountability and Reporting Tools
  • Written Board Director Position Description
  • Annual Board Self-Evaluation Process
  • Ongoing Individual Accountability Contacts
  • Personal Goal-Setting By Board Directors
  • Ongoing Board Leadership Development
  • Chapter 9: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Board Director Motivation and Accountability
 

Chapter 10: The Board at Work: Effective Committees

  • Introduction
  • Types of Committees
  • The Committee Structure
  • Effective Board Committees: The Basics
  • Why Committees Don't Work
  • Elements Of Committee Effectiveness
  • Additional Practices to Enhance Committee Effectiveness
  • Evaluating Committee Meetings
  • Annual Committee Calendar Of Major Decisions And Meetings
  • Use Of Task Forces And Work Groups
  • Additional Suggestions
  • Chapter 10: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources For Effective Committees
 

Chapter 11: Board Role In Fund-raising

  • Why Charter Schools Need To Engage In Fund-raising
  • The Role of the Board in Fund-raising
  • Fund-raising Principles for Board Directors
  • Creating a Strong Fund Development Committee
  • Training to Support The Board's Fund-raising Role
  • Creating A Fund Development Plan
  • Developing The Fund-raising Case
  • Types Of Fund-Raising Activities
  • Levels of Board Involvement in Fund-raising
  • Chapter 11: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Board Involvement in Fund-raising
 

Chapter 12: Board Self-Assessment

  • Introduction
  • Leadership Support For The Continuous Improvement Effort
  • Indicators of Board Effectiveness
  • Assessment Tools With Goal Setting And Follow Through
  • Use of Retreats
  • Additional Tools for Board Assessment and Improvement
  • Chapter 12: Tools You Can Use
  • Samples Of Foundation Documents
  • Essential Resources for Board Self-Assessment
 

Chapter 13: Resources for Board Building

Additional Resources

Board Passages: Three Key Stages in a Nonprofit Board's Life Cycle