Navigating Charter School Human Resource Compliance and Administrative Challenges

About the Webinar:

We apologize that the audio for this session was not usable, and therefore we are unable to provide the video recording. However, the presentation slides are available below.

This session provided charter school leaders with a detailed overview of the HR compliance responsibilities and administrative challenges unique to charter schools. Jeffrey Wood and Maria Rojas explained that while autonomy allows schools flexibility in designing employment structures, it also requires careful adherence to state statutes on hiring, ethics, and background checks. They highlighted common mistakes schools make—such as failing to maintain proper onboarding documentation, neglecting performance evaluations, using outdated employee handbooks, or lacking a solid HR infrastructure—which often expose schools to complaints, investigations, and potential legal risks.

The presentation walked participants through best practices across the entire employment cycle—pre-employment, during employment, and post-employment. Topics included the importance of clear offer letters and contracts, regularly updated handbooks and policies, consistent evaluations, and thorough performance documentation. Post-employment considerations were also addressed, such as separation agreements and restrictive covenants, including updates from Florida’s 2025 CHOICE Act that expand enforceability of certain agreements. The presenters concluded with key takeaways: maintain proper documentation, update policies regularly, and invest early in a strong HR infrastructure to ensure compliance, avoid disputes, and create a fair, professional workplace for staff.