The Governance Academy will address best practices in a number of areas that are critical to the development and operation of a charter school board.  The curriculum of the Academy is designed to provide participants with in-depth information and ready-to-use tools in the following areas:

• Charter History:  Understanding the history of charter schools and their place in the education landscape, the charter law and legal fundamentals including requirements for Special Education and English language learners.
• Charter School Foundation:  Understanding the school’s charter, the school’s by-laws, the school’s MOU, incorporation and tax-exempt status.
• Formal Authorizer Relationship:  Understanding the charter granting and renewal processes, the MOU process, authorizer monitoring requirements and the maintenance of ongoing relationships.
• Board Policies:  Understanding the need for and development of board policies in key oversight areas including fiscal and audit procedures, academic program, human relations, labor relations, student discipline, conflict of interest and health and safety.
• Board Development and Maintenance:  Board development and life cycle, types of expertise, representation, turnover and orientation of new members.
• Board Roles and Responsibilities:  Understanding the board’s role in academic oversight, fiscal and audit oversight, director review, facilities, strategic planning, fundraising and leadership search and succession planning.
• Board Structure and Operations:  Understanding norms, rules, agendas, maintenance of minutes, the Brown Act, meeting management, effective communications internally and externally, committee structure, contracting for services and evaluation of board operation.
• Governance vs. Management:  Understanding the appropriate relationship between the board and the school leader.

Over a year-long period, the Governance Academy will hold group meetings of all participants to address the topics in a formal setting.  Those meetings will make use of both whole group and small group formats to allow for both understanding and discussion.  In addition, Academy staff will work one-on-one with participants as they implement best practices at their schools.