The following fourteen sections of Creating an Effective Charter School Governing Board are posted in word.
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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