Module 1: Developing the Charter System Application
Workshops
Module 1: Developing the Charter System Application
Audience: Administrators in school districts that are considering, seeking or renewing charter system status.
Duration: 5 hours, including networking lunch. (4 hours without lunch.)
Delivery method: In person, large group, multiple districts
Description: This workshop addresses the processes and concepts required to develop a successful charter system application, and provides examples from previously approved applications. The following topics are covered:
- Community outreach
- Aligning your application with your strategic plan
- Legalities and mechanics of being a charter system
- Setting performance goals
- Structuring school level governance
- Understanding flexibility (waivers.)
Module 2: Implementing Local School Governance
Audience: District administrators and principals in approved charter systems
Duration: 6 hours
Delivery method: In person, group, single or multiple districts
Description: Implementing local school governance requires careful consideration of many factors. This workshop assists districts in carefully designing the roles, responsibilities and processes associated with school level governance. The following topics are covered:
- Strategies for optimizing shared governance between the LBOE, superintendent, administrators, and the school governance teams including school improvement planning and resource allocation, including finances and personnel
- Defining appropriate limitations and boundaries for school governance team authority and actions
- Designing a multi-year implementation plan including tiered training and authority
- Creating Codes of Conduct, including ethics
- Processes for electing and removing members
- Training content and delivery methods
- Processes for monitoring and corrective action
- Developing school governance team by-laws
- Supporting team member knowledge of local processes such as school improvement plans, budget development, school improvement planning, instructional practices, principal selection.
Module 3: MaximizingFlexibility
Audience: District administrators, board members, principals and school governance team members of approved charter systems
Duration: 2 hours
Delivery method: In-person, large group; webinar
Content:
Understanding the broad flexibility waiver granted charter systems and concrete examples from Georgia charter systems, innovative public school districts across the nation, and charter school networks. Examples will include flexibility with:
- Class size
- Seat time
- Expenditure controls
- Salary schedule
- Certification
The following topics will also be covered:
- Federal and state requirements that are not waived
- Using flexibility without risking QBE or other funding
- Limitations on flexibility related to Georgia teacher and leader evaluation systems (TKES and LKES.)
Module 4: Effectively Utilizing StateCharter System Funds
Audience: District administrators and board members of approved charter systems
Duration: 1.5 hours
Delivery method: In-person, large group; Webinar
Content
- Legal requirements (purposes of funding and reporting requirements)
- How other charter systems are using the funding
Module 5: Developing Alternative College and Career Pathways
Audience: District administrators, board members, principals and school governance team members of approved charter systems
Duration: 4 hours
Delivery method: In-person, large group
Content: This workshop is designed for charter systems that intend to use flexibility to enhance college and career pathways. The following topics will be covered:
- Developing alternative pathways with local partnerships with business/industry, local chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, technical colleges, and the university system
- College and career academies
- Performance learning centers and other partnership programs to support specific student needs
- Identifying workforce development needs in your community
- Examples of charter systems with successful alternative pathway approaches.
Module 6: Engaging civic partners
Audience: District administrators, board members, principals and school governance team members of approved charter systems
Duration: 2 hours
Delivery method: In-person, large group; webinar
Content: Charter system flexibility allows integration of instruction with community organizations and experts to support student needs. This workshop provides concrete examples and tips for success in engaging community partners. The following content will be covered:
- Examples of effective charter systems partnerships to engage local churches, nonprofits, local governments, and local businesses in supporting student success
- Processes to identify and engage appropriate partners
- Tips for maintain partnerships including formal agreements, monitoring and assessment, and collaborative approaches to problem solving.
Module 7: Increasing Achievement of Limited English andEconomically Disadvantaged Students through Charter System Flexibility
Audience: District administrators, board members, principals and school governance team members of approved charter systems
Duration: 2 hours
Delivery method: In-person, large group; webinar
Content: This workshop features effective approaches to scheduling, staffing and designing programs utilizing flexibility from state laws and rules. The use of flexibility to accomplish the following areas will be addressed:
- Engaging students and families with English as second language
- Designing effective instruction and supports limited-English students
- Designing effective instruction and supports for students who are economically disadvantaged.
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