Start Smart: How to Start a Successful Charter School

Come learn from the experts of the nation's oldest and most successful charter school support organization. CSDC has assisted California's charter school developers for over 14 years and has helped literally hundreds of charter schools to successfully plan and open their schools. This all-day, intensive workshop provides an overview of essential technical information and practical tips specifically designed for California charter school developers.

This popular workshop addresses the four critical stages of charter school development:

Charter School Renewal

Whether your renewal is right around the corner or a few years away, this Renewal Workshop is for you! Charter Renewal is a critical time for charter schools to look back at past successes and concerns and to look ahead to future goals. CSDC’s comprehensive renewal workshop provides schools and granting agencies with all of the tools and strategies they need for an effective renewal process.

Topics will include:

This workshop will also outline a suggested charter renewal process, timeline and strategies, as well as examine charter renewal laws that closely tie renewal to performance on the API.

This practical, comprehensive fiscal workshop, led by Eric Premack, California’s leading charter school finance expert, will address various advanced financial issues, including how to squeeze the most out of state and federal funding programs, managing key expenditures, including salaries, health benefits, and pension costs, facilities funding trends and opportunities, and other topics based on registrants' feedback. In an effort to ensure the financial sustainability of California's charter schools, CSDC keeps its finger on the pulse of the latest developments with the state budget and other fiscal policy issues.

At the end of this workshop, you will be well equipped with the information you need to ensure the fiscal soundness of your school in an unpredictable fiscal climate. All participants receive a binder with materials on all types of charter funding opportunities, new laws, and timely financial reporting information.

 

SUMMIT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Finance, Facilities & Operations

• For the Board: Complying with the Brown Act
• Capitol Update
• Looking Ahead: Strategic Planning Approaches
• Top 10 Ways to Avoid a Lawsuit: Governance and Personnel Landmines
• Governance Board Training - Part I
• Governance Board Training - Part II
• Making Your Mark: Branding and Marketing Your School

• Successful School Expansion & Replication
• Teacher Credentialing
• Charter Oversigh: How Authorizers are Evolving
• Creating Positive Relationships with Charter Authorizers
• Turning It Around: How Schools Increase Academic and Operational Success
• Getting the Most out of Student Performance Data: Analysis to Inform Instruction
• When Tests Aren't Best: Using Performance Assessment

• Effectively Integrating Arts
• Structuring Special Education: LEAs, Consortitia, and the Statewide SELPA
• To College They Go: High Schools that Get Kids There
• Teaching English Language Learners: What Works and Why
• Test Prep SoftwareL A "Consumer Reports" Panel
• What's Hot: Using the Response to Intervention (RTI) Process to Meet Students' Needs
• Innovation Highlights: Special Education Strategies
• Innovation Highlights: K-5 Programs

• Charter School Startup
• Charter School Financial Planning
• Introduction to Charter School Accountability

• Comprehensive "bottom line" information from CSDC that you have come to trust.
• Successful practices shared by California's veteran charter school leaders.
• Technical know-how for running a school without the flash and sales pitch.
• State and local legislative strategies.

• Brief Informational Speakers - CDE representatives, non-profit lenders, and lobbyists with current political news.
• Keynote Speakers relevant to the charter school landscape.
• Student Performance and Work Display - the results and possibilities.
• Panel Spanning 15 Years of leaders, policymakers, and state officials.
• State of the Movement and the future of California Charter Schools, especially relevant for management organizations, mom and pop start-up schools, independent study and home-based schooling, and conversion schools.