Publications

Resources for charter school developers,
operators, charter-granting agencies, and policy makers

Click here to download the publications order form

CHARTER SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND RENEWAL

CSDC Materials:
Being updated Charter School Accountability Tool Kit, Edition 8. October 2005. This extensive tool kit provides sample documents from charter and other schools nationwide, including a sample charter and Memorandum of Understanding (a.k.a. Annual Operating Agreement), student performance materials, governance, legal, and financial documents, annual reports, and renewal documents. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscriber $45, Subscriber $40.50)

Charter School Renewal Tool Kit, Edition 3. October 2005. This tool kit provides both long-term strategies and immediate-term planning to help charter schools and charter-granting agencies prepare for renewal. The comprehensive documents in this binder assists charter schools in taking a critical look at their initial charter school designs and original charter school petitions and reexamining these documents in light of their actual school operations. This tool kit will also provide an overview of new charter school renewal requirements, a timeline and overview of critical renewal steps, and tips and strategies on renewal negotiations. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscribers $40.50)

Being updated Documenting and Demonstrating Student Performance. November 2006. This comprehensive tool kit provides key strategies and information needed to effectively collect, analyze, and report student academic performance data. Specific topics include local, state, and federal academic accountability; understanding and analyzing state test scores, API reports, and AYP reports; clearly articulating alternative assessment measures; use of multiple assessment measures, including individual student growth measures, and reporting student academic performance in a concise, persuasive fashion to parents, board members, funders, and your charter-granting agency. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscriber $40.50)

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CHARTER-GRANTING AGENCIES

CSDC Materials:
Being updated Charter-Granting Agencies’ Tool Kit, California Edition 10. October 2005. Geared toward California school districts, county and state offices of education that grant charters and oversee charter schools, this tool kit includes sample documents from grantors in California and across the country regarding the charter review process, charter oversight and monitoring, and renewal. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscriber $45, Subscriber $40.50)

Being updated Advanced Charter-Granting Agencies Tool Kit, Edition 3. October 2005. Originally developed for the Advanced Charter-Granting Agencies workshop in November 2003, this binder contains materials addressing such challenging issues as Prop 39, fiscal reporting, aligning state, federal and charter accountability, and best practices for charter petition review, charter oversight, renewal, and revocation. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscriber $45, Subscriber $40.50)

Being updated Charter-Granting Agencies’ Tool Kit, National Edition. December 2000. Developed for charter-granting agencies, school districts, and county and state offices of education nationwide, this extensive tool kit contains hundreds of sample documents addressing charter review, operational relations, monitoring and renewal, and leveraging system-wide change. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscriber $45, Subscriber $40.50)

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CHARTER SCHOOL FINANCE

CSDC Materials:
Charter School Finance and Facilities Planning. September 2006 . Well-crafted financial and facilities plans are critical components of an effective charter school design. This folder provides charter developers and new charter leaders with the tools to better understand the fundamentals of California's charter school funding system and the hurdles of obtaining a suitable facility. It also contains components that outline how to assemble a basic financial plan and about public and private opportunities for finding and funding a facility. Click here to view more information. (Non-Subscribers $15, Subscribers $13.50)

"Show Me the Money" Grant-Writing and Fundraising. October 2007. This folder provides various fundraising tools and informs the reader of the grant opportunities and fundraising options available to charter schools. The folder provides essential grant-writing tips and strategies as well as corporate and individual donor strategies. In this folder, program details and grant-writing techniques are provided specifically for the Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP), which provides a significant source of funding to developing and operating charter schools. (Non-Subscribers $15, Subscribers $13.50)

Advanced Charter School Finance. November 2007. The materials in this binder 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, and facilities funding trends and opportunities. These materials will help your school to be well equipped with the information you need to ensure the fiscal soundness of your school. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscriber $40.50)

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CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

CSDC Materials:
Charter School Governance Tool Kit, Edition 9. October 2005 . Developed for California charter school developers and operators, this extensive tool kit contains sample governance documents from charter and other schools across the country, including by-laws, policies, student, parent, and staff handbooks, and more. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscribers $40.50)

Being updated Advanced Charter School Governance Tool Kit, Edition 1. October 2005. Developed for California veteran school directors, experienced board members, and other seasoned charter school leaders, this tool kit addresses some of the trickiest school management and leadership issues, including legal, personnel, accountability, and interpersonal relationships. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscriber $40.50)

Charter School Incorporation Guide. This guide walks charter schools step-by-step through the process to become a not-for-profit public benefit corporation and receive tax-exempt status, including charter school-specific decisions and considerations. Save hundreds of dollars in legal fees by using this guide as a roadmap to incorporation! Click here to view the table of contents. (Please contact CSDC for pricing. Available for purchase only with signed licensing agreement.)

Sample Charter School Governing Board Policies. August 2006. This comprehensive policy binder provides sample policies for the “must-have” governance and operational policies essential to charter schools, as well as several other recommended policies. Save thousands of dollars in legal fees by adapting these sample policies to your individual charter school’s needs! Click here to view the table of contents. (Please contact CSDC for pricing. Available for purchase only with signed licensing agreement.)

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CHARTER SCHOOL INDEPENDENT STUDY

CSDC Materials:
Being updated Independent Study and Non Classroom-Based Charter School Operations. October 2005. In addition to focusing on programmatic, fiscal, and legal best practices, this tool kit outlines very recent developments regarding audit and operational guidelines for California charter schools that operate fully or partially outside the classroom. It provides practical suggestions and sample documents to assist schools in meeting the challenges of attendance accounting, fiscal oversight (including SB 740) and compliance-related matters. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscribers $40.50)

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CHARTER SCHOOL PERSONNEL

CSDC Materials:
Being updated Charter School Personnel Tool Kit, Edition 1. March 2005. This tool kit addresses such critical personnel issues as creating and revising your director and staff evaluation process, disciplining and firing ineffective staff. Included are tools and strategies to prevent common personnel conflicts by establishing clear hiring, firing, evaluation, and termination procedures and policies. This tool kit also provides information and strategies for meeting the "Highly Qualified" teacher requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Start-ups to seasoned charter schools will benefit from this publication. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscribers $40.50)

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CHARTER SCHOOL LABOR RELATIONS

CSDC Materials:
Collective Bargaining Tool Kit and Audio Tapes, Edition 2. March 2005 . These materials, originally developed for our January 2000 Collective Bargaining workshop, provide a comprehensive overview of California’s education labor relations laws and their application to charter schools. Click here to view the table of contents. (Non-Subscriber $40, Subscribers $36)

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CHARTER SCHOOL NEWS

CSDC Materials:
Charter Currents. Available through an Information Services Package subscription, Charter Currents includes timely reports and news articles written by Charter Schools Development Center staff on vital California charter school issues and events. This 20+ page news report is published quarterly.

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CHARTER SCHOOL START-UP

CSDC Materials:
Charter School Petition Drafting Tool Kit, Edition 10. November 2007. Designed specifically for California charter school developers, this tool kit provides sample documents to guide schools step by step through a comprehensive charter school design and drafting process. Design and drafting documents address how to develop an educational program, governance and legal structure, staffing and administration plan, facilities plan, and more. Sample documents include: "Suggested Criteria for a 'Good' Charter," a sample charter petition and Memorandum of Understanding (Annual Operating Agreement), special education policies and operating agreements, and other key documents. (Non-Subscribers $45, Subscribers $40.50)

"Start Smart:" Charter School Development Workshop Folder. November 2007. These materials, developed for our September 2006 Charter School Development Workshop, provide helpful planning documents for new charter school developers. (Non-Subscribers $15, Subscribers $13.50)

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CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERSHIP UPDATES

Fall 2007 Charter School Leadership Update. October 2007. This update contains critical, "must know" information across a broad range of topics, including new laws, changes to the charter funding system, and expanding audit requirements. (Non-Subscribers $15, Subscribers $13.50)

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