Board Governance

As the school’s governing body, the board of trustees is legally responsible for the academic, financial, and operational quality of the charter school. Given the centrality of autonomy to charter schools, the board is integral to the proper oversight of schools. The National Charter School Resource Center leverages the existing body of knowledge to offer best practices and tools to enable charter schools to establish and maintain an effective board.

Featured Board Governance Resources

cover page of report
Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools Part 1: The Role and Perspective of Charter School Authorizers
This report labels and categorizes the indicators of distress that…
Reports | 21 Sep, 2020
title slide of presentation
The Death Spiral: Identifying Early Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools (A Conversation with Authorizers)
Charter school authorizers from across the country joined together to explore the findings of NCSRC…
Top Ten Reasons to Join a Charter School Board
Here are the top ten reasons to join a charter school board, according to Charter Board Partners.  
Webinar: Recruitment for Governing Boards
This webinar, Recruitment for Governing Boards, is presented by the Colorado League of Charter…
Webinar: Charter School Board’s Role in Oversight
This webinar, Charter School Board’s Role in Oversight, is presented by the Colorado League of…

All Board Governance Resources

cover page of report
Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools Part 1: The Role and Perspective of Charter School Authorizers Reports21 Sep, 2020 This report labels and categorizes the indicators of distress that authorizers encounter as a school’s quality begins to decline. The report can help authorizers and other charter sector… Read more
Download resource
State Education Agency, Charter School Management Organizations, Educators, Charter School Family and Community, Policy Maker, Policy, Board Governance, Increasing Achievement, Operations and Compliance, Leadership
title slide of presentation
The Death Spiral: Identifying Early Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools (A Conversation with Authorizers) Webinar09 Sep, 2020 to 09 Sep, 2020 Charter school authorizers from across the country joined together to explore the findings of NCSRC’s Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools report. They heard from their… Read more
View resource
Delaware Charter Schools, Indiana Charter Schools, State Education Agency, Tennessee Charter Schools, Policy Maker, Policy, Board Governance, Increasing Achievement, Operations and Compliance, Leadership
Bellwether logo
The State of the Charter Sector: What You Need to Know About the Charter Sector Today ReportsBellwether Education Partners22 Jan, 2019 Bellwether Education Partners (Bellwether) summarizes policies and trends and the current status of charter schools in the United States in this January 2019 presentation. The data in the… Read more
Download resource
State Education Agency, Charter School Management Organizations, Educators, Charter School Family and Community, Policy Maker, Discipline, Opening and Expanding, Policy, Board Governance, Increasing Achievement, Operations and Compliance, Special Education, English Learners, Leadership, Facilities, Funding
Charter School Governing Board Primer: School Leadership ToolkitsThe National Charter School Resource Center17 Sep, 2018 Every child deserves to attend an excellent school. Public charter schools are governed by independent boards, and great charter schools need great boards. Serving on a charter school board… Read more
Download resource
Charter School Management Organizations, Board Governance
Charter School Governing Board Recruitment Tools ToolkitsThe National Charter School Resource Center17 Sep, 2018 To recruit strategically, boards must know the qualities and skills that already exist around the table and what they are seeking. This tool provides assessments and sample board matrices… Read more
Download resource
Board Recruitment, Charter School Management Organizations, Board Governance
Charter School Governing Board Composition: A Toolkit for Board Members ToolkitsThe National Charter School Resource Center12 Jun, 2018 Every child deserves to attend an excellent school. Public charter schools are governed by independent boards, and great charter schools need great boards. Serving on a charter school board… Read more
Download resource
Board Recruitment, Charter School Management Organizations, Board Fundamentals, Board Effectiveness, Board Roles and Responsibilities, Board Governance
September 2017 Newsletter Newsletters18 Sep, 2017 Tracking Outcomes Beyond School Several strong Charter Management Organizations have significantly increased the proportion of their students who complete a four-year college degree after… Read more
View resource
State Education Agency, Board Recruitment, Charter School Management Organizations, At-Risk Students, State Reports, Board Effectiveness, Educators, Charter School Family and Community, Increasing Achievement
August 2017 Newsletter Newsletters17 Aug, 2017 Case Study on Valor Collegiate Academies The National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) produced a case study on Valor Collegiate Academies, an intentionally diverse charter management… Read more
View resource
School Culture, State Education Agency, Board Recruitment, Charter School Management Organizations, At-Risk Students, State Reports, Board Effectiveness, Educators, Charter School Family and Community, Special Education
Webinar: Recruitment for Governing Boards Webinar27 Feb, 2017 This webinar, Recruitment for Governing Boards, is presented by the Colorado League of Charter Schools and Charter Board Partners. Having the right skills, experiences, perspectives, and… Read more
View resource
Charter School Management Organizations, Board Governance
Webinar: Charter School Board’s Role in Oversight Webinar23 Feb, 2017 This webinar, Charter School Board’s Role in Oversight, is presented by the Colorado League of Charter Schools and Charter Board Partners. Boards have a responsibility to ensure their… Read more
View resource
Charter School Management Organizations, Board Governance

Featured Publications

Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools Part 1: The Role and Perspective of Charter School Authorizers
Reports | 21 Sep, 2020
Critical Questions and Steps for Leaders to Reduce or End School-Based Policing
Toolkits | 12 Jun, 2020
Charting the Course to Equity: K-12 Leaders of Color and Student Success
Reports | 01 Nov, 2019
Policy Framework for High-Quality Charter Authorizing Practices
Toolkits | 06 Jul, 2020
Shifting to At-Home Learning
Toolkits | 01 Mar, 2020

Featured Events

International School Choice and Reform Conference
Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 15 Jan, 2021 to 18 Jan, 2021
January 15-18, 2021 Ft. Lauderdale, Floridahttp://iscrweb.org/  
2020 ASU+GSV Summit Virtual
San Diego, CA | 29 Sep, 2020 to 07 Oct, 2020
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 + Oct. 7-8, 2020 Virtual (San Diego, California)https://www.asugsvsummit.com 
2020 NACSA Virtual Leadership Conference
https://nacsacon.com/ | 12 Oct, 2020 to 30 Oct, 2020
October 12-30, 2020 Virtual Eventhttps://nacsacon.com/
Aurora Institute Symposium 2020 - TBD
| 26 Oct, 2020 to 28 Oct, 2020
October 26-28, 2020 Virtual (San Antonio, Texas)https://www.inacol.org/symposium/

Featured News

Fiscal Year 2020 Grants to Charter School Developers for the Opening of New Charter Schools and for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (CFDA number 84.282B/E)
News | 20 May, 2020
U.S. Department of Education's Coronavirus Response
News | 12 Mar, 2020
Notice Inviting Applications: Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program--Grants to State Entities (SE Grants) (CFDA number 84.282A)
News | 27 Jan, 2020
New ED Initiative Related to Charter Schools in Opportunity Zones
News | 10 Oct, 2019
Foundation Directs Funding Toward Special Education Charter Schools
News | 13 Sep, 2018

U.S. Department of Education

This website was produced in whole or in part with funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number GS10F0201T. The content does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the federal government.