Saturday, September 7, 2024
On September 7, the Charter Support Unit hosted the third annual Florida Charter School Governance Conference on the campus of South Tech Academy in Boynton Beach. This hybrid event focused on serving the needs of Charter School Governing Board Members throughout the state of Florida, attendees were able to join in person or online.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented and particpated in making this year’s event a success! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Our keynote presenter, Sara Clements, provides data about school choice in Florida and how charter schools should embrace the larger school choice movement as Florida continues to implement universal school choice.
Schools don’t just decline all at once or out of the blue. Rather, decline stems from unaddressed issues that grow and permeate over time. In this session, participants walk through ground-breaking research done by the National Charter School Resource Center on identifying school distress before that distress impacts student outcomes. Gathered from authorizers, school leaders, and governing board members from schools struggling across the nation, Governing board members are guided through this research and early warning signs.
This is a general overview of legal matters we see facing charter schools, the legal length each take (demand letters all the way through trials depending on the issue) and how to position your school defensively and offensively.
What strategies should charter school governing boards put in place to help put them in a better position to be able to make their facilities goals come true? Richard Moreno talks about different strategies boards can take to ensure financial stability.
Many charter schools have financed facility acquisitions and expansions with the proceeds of tax-exempt bonds. These types of financings impose requirements on borrowers post-closing related to reporting, the incurrence of additional debt, and financial metrics. This presentation focuses on the role governing board members can play in understanding the requirements of their school’s bond and ensuring diligent compliance with all post-issuance requirements
The closing session for the conference closed with a panel of charter school experts who answer questions regarding the charter school movement and what Boards thesmelves should be thinkign about as we prepare for the future.
In this session, boards discover how to leverage data to drive student success and make informed decisions. Exploring the collaborative process between boards and school leadership in identifying crucial data points and establishing effective collection frequencies. Participants gain actionable insights into interpreting data, outlining decisive steps to take and pitfalls to avoid. A sample dashboard tool/template will be provided.
Based on two real life examples at charter schools that have gone through some significant conflict over the last two years, what systems could have been put in place to help prevent some of the chaos that happened? What should charter schools do proactively to prevent themselves from being similar situations.
Join presenters from Technology Lab as they talk about how to develop an IT infrastructure for a charter school that will ensure the school has what it needs to suceed.
Operating productive, efficient board meetings can help attract and retain quality board members. This session discusses the “ins and outs” of great board meetings. We cover legal requirements as well as best practices.
This session provides an overview of the ethical requirements for governing board members and school leadership. It also includes a discussion of action steps for individual board members, the governing board and school leadership if a potential conflict of interest arises.
Effective leaders lead effective schools. In this session, we delve into the purpose of the evaluation, the focus of the evaluation, and the solution for the evaluation regarding the Principal or Executive Director.
Charter Governing Boards must comply to specific rules and laws that govern their work of oversight of charter schools. Let’s take a look at the areas where Charter Governing Boards must demonstrate compliance, discover their responsibility to compliance, and learn about the importance of a commitment to all aspects of compliance
This presentation delves into the intricacies of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) litigation, tailored specifically for charter school governing boards and administrators. It highlights the essential legal knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of compliance, due process, and regulatory responsibilities. Participants learn how to establish effective policies, prevent potential legal pitfalls, and protect their schools from costly litigation while providing quality education to students with disabilities.
In today’s competitive educational environment, charter schools must actively increase their community presence to attract students, engage families, and build strong community ties. This session delves into effective strategies for charter schools to elevate their visibility and influence within their local communities. Participants explore the use of digital platforms, community partnerships, and outreach programs to create meaningful connections and showcase their unique educational offerings. Gain practical tools and actionable insights that can help your charter school grow its presence and impact in the community.
Attorneys Shawn Arnold and Emily Rodriguez from the Arnold Law firm provide participants with updates about legislative changes from the recent legislative session.
In this presentation we dive deeper into the insurance requirements for charter schools and explain the relevancy and importance of having the correct insurance in place to ensure proper protection for the school.
Our keynote presenter, Sara Clements, provides data about school choice in Florida and how charter schools should embrace the larger school choice movement as Florida continues to implement universal school choice.
This presentation focused on providing participants with information on how to set up and evaluate the financial systems at a charter school.
During our lunch, South Tech Schools presented their amazing Vocational programs and all the great things that South Tech has to offer.
Is your board deep in the strategic planning process? Just starting to discuss? Think maybe you should get started but not sure how? Implementing a well-written, thorough plan and hitting some bumps? Regardless of where you are in this process, this session delivers some practical, helpful information on the strategic planning process, including a strong vision of the ideal process, assessment of your capacity, how to navigate through difficult challenges and what to do when you encounter potential roadblocks. You will leave energized, inspired and ready to take on this critically important work!
This session focuses on how charter school Governing Boards should expect to operate with their sponsor, and the role that boards play when it comes to relationship with the sponsor.