Governance

Question 1

Every charter school is a district school for what 3 purposes?

Answer 1

1. Special Education
2. Liability (1.5mm can be sued)
3. Funding (state and federal)

Question 2

Board Composition

Answer 2

1. Teachers
2. Parents/Legal Guardians
3. Community Members (non-related individuals)

Question 3

QUESTIONS BOARDS SHOULD ONLY ASK

Answer 3

1. WHAT IS IT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?
2. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
3. HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING?

Question 4

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Answer 4

1. Lottery (if over capacity)
2. Limits of number of students (can limit)
3. Preferences (siblings get preference)

Question 5

DUTY OF LOYALTY

Answer 5

1. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
2. WRITTEN POLICY
3. LOANS
4. CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
5. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

Question 6

REVENUE OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOLAR

Answer 6

$10,000-11,000 PER YEAR

Question 7

WHAT PERCENT OF REVENUE COMES FROM FEDERAL?

Answer 7

ABOUT 5%

Question 8

DUTY OF OBEDIENCE

Answer 8

1. STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES
2. FILING REQUIREMENTS
3. GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
4. BOARD TRAINING
5. OUTSIDE HELP

Question 9

How to change board structure?

Answer 9

1. Authorizer approval
2. Board approval
3. Teacher approval

Question 10

REASONS CHARTER SCHOOLS FAIL

Answer 10

1. POOR GOVERNANCE
2. INEXPERIENCED, UNSKILLED LEADERSHIP (AND LACK OF SUFFICIENT BOARD OVERSIGHT)
3. FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT

Question 11

Types of Board Structures

Answer 11

1. Teacher majority
2. Parent majority
3. Community members majority
4. Non-majority board

Question 12

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

Answer 12

No end date to employment.

Question 13

NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES

Answer 13

1. Employees - not public employees for EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES

2. Employees - public employees for RETIREMENT PURPOSES

Question 14

DUTY OF CARE

Answer 14

1. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
2. COMMITTEES
3. BOARD ACTIONS
4. MINUTES OF MEETINGS
5. BOOKS AND RECORDS
6. ACCURATE RECORD KEEPING
7. CHARITABLE ASSETS
8. RESOURCES
9. INVESTIGATIONS

Question 15

GOVERNANCE DUTIES

Answer 15

1. SETTING DIRECTIONS/PLANNING
2. POLICY MAKING
3. OVERSIGHT & EVALUATION
4. LEGAL & MORAL INTEGRITY ENSURANCE

Question 16

COMMITTEES

Answer 16

THEY DO THE WORK

THEY IMPLEMENT BOARD GOALS

Question 17

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Answer 17

1. DUTY OF CARE
2. DUTY OF LOYALTY
3. DUTY OF OBEDIENCE

Question 18

WHY BOARDS AVOID FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT..

Answer 18

1. SCHOOL FINANCES CAN BE CONFUSING
2. THEY PREFER TO FOCUS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING
3. THEY THINK IT’S SOMEONE ELSES JOB
4. THEY ARE AFRAID OF MAKING A MISTAKE

Question 19

BOARD IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR…

Answer 19

1. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
2. MISSION AND VISION (LONG RANGE PLANNING)
3. FOLLOWING THE LAW (COMPLIANCE)

Question 20

TEN MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Answer 20

1. DEFINE MISSION/VISION/VALUES & PURPOSES
2. RECRUIT/SELECT/SUPPORT/EVALUATE CEO/ED/PRINCIPAL & SUCCESSION PLANNING
3. ENSURE EFFECTIVE PLANNING
4. DETERMINE, MONITOR AND STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS & SERVICES
5. ENSURE ADEQUATE RESOURCES
6. FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT &. PROTECT ASSETS
7. RECRUIT AND BUILD A COMPETENT AND EFFECTIVE BOARD
8. ENSURE LEGAL & ETHICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SCHOOL
9. ENHANCE THE GOOD STANDING OF THE SCHOOL
10. MAINTAIN POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUTHORIZER

Question 21

FACILITIES REQUIREMENT

Answer 21

No Direct Ownership with Public Funds

Question 22

TYPE OF EMPLOYER OF CHARTER SCHOOL

Answer 22

At-will employment

Question 23

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Answer 23

1. Licensed Teachers

2. No License Required (Administrative, Supervisory and Instructional Leadership)

Question 24

Type of Corporation

Answer 24

Nonprofit organization operating a public institution