MCPSA is pleased to invite your school to access and use the Commonwealth Charter School Model Policy Manual.  You can access a Google Drive that includes the Manual and all draft policy templates via this link.  Below you will find each topical folder and the policies that are contained within.  The Manual is intended to assist your school’s compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations, while also providing a platform for incorporating its unique educational program and methodology into its governance and operations.  Rather than suggesting that your Board of Trustees adopt each draft policy, the Manual is designed to be a resource for your school when addressing the myriad issues that it will face as a charter public school in Massachusetts.  Since your school has specific legal obligations, we have also created a separate folder entitled "Core Policies” that address what are often the most pressing needs that charter schools face and that also serve as a reminder of certain legal obligations.  

Though these policies were drafted in accordance with Massachusetts and federal statutes and regulations, these laws are continuously evolving and each draft policy should be treated only as a starting point for your school during the policy development process.  Before being adopted by your Board of Trustees, each draft policy will need to be carefully reviewed with key stakeholders at your school, including legal counsel, and tailored to address your school’s distinct circumstances.  Accordingly, your Board of Trustees should take care to consider how changes in education law and policy may affect or inform your school’s specific policies.

Commonwealth Charter School Model Policy Full Manual

Foundations, Governance, and Basic Commitments

• Mission Statement

• Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, Equal Access to Education, and Non-Discrimination Statement

• Charter Amendments and Renewal Policy

• School Bylaws

• District Curriculum Accommodation Plan

• Board of Trustees Powers, Duties and Authority

• Board of Trustees Officer and Job Descriptions Policy

• Trustee Ethics and Disclosures Policy

• Board of Trustee Member Resignation Policy

• Policy Concerning Subcommittees of the Board of Trustees

• Open Meetings Policy

• Board of Trustee Hearings Policy

• School Policy and Procedure Development, Adoption, Revision, and Suspension Policy

• Board of Trustee Communications (Internal and External) Policy

• New Board of Trustees Member Orientation Policy

• Directors and Officers Liability Policy

• Foundations and Supporting Organizations Policy

• Board Member Conflict of Interest Policy

• Open Meeting Public Comment Protocols

School Administration

• Review and Evaluation of the Executive Director/Head of School Policy

• School Building Administration

• Drafting and Approval of Handbooks

• Annual Reporting

• Schools Wellness Policy

• Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity Policy

• Prohibition Against Tobacco Use on School Premises Policy

• Criminal Offender Record Information Policy

• Drug-Free Workplace Policy

• Reporting Abuse and Neglect

• E-mail Retention Policy

Fiscal Management

• Annual Budget, Budgeting System, and Planning Policy

• Fiscal Accounting And Reporting

• Investment Policy

• Fundraising and Commercial Activity

• Funding Proposals And Applications Policy

• Authorized Signatures Policy

• Policy Concerning Inventories

• Policy Concerning Audits

• Purchasing and Procurement

• Policy Concerning Payroll Regulations

• Business Travel And Conference/Training Attendance

• Capital Improvement

• Internal Controls Policy

• Political Contributions Policy

• Record Keeping Policy

• Fiscal Management Conflict of Interest Policy

• Security of Financial Data and School Documents Policy

• Compliance with Written Information Security Payment Policy

• Grant and Contracting Invoicing Policy

• Consultant and Contractor Policy

• State Tuition Calculation Policy

• Purchasing and Procurement Policy in Accordance with OMB A-133

• Credit Card Policy

• Gift Card Policy

Support Services

• Safety Program Policy

• First Aid Policy

• Accident Reporting Policy

• Policy Concerning Emergency Plans

• Policy Concerning Emergency Closings

• Buildings And Grounds Maintenance Policy

• Buildings and Grounds Management Policy

• Surveillance Camera Policy

• Maintenance and Control of Instructional Materials Policy

• Authorized Use Of School-Owned Materials

• Authorized Use Of School-Owned Facilities by Student Groups Policy

• Student Transportation Policy

• Bus Scheduling And Routing Policy

• Bus Safety Program And Discipline Policy

• Food Service Policy

• Policy Concerning Free And Reduced Price Food Services

• Insurance Management and Liability Insurance Policy

• Buildings and Grounds Security Policy

• Vandalism Policy

• Toxic Storage Policy

• Parking Policy

• Material Resources Management Policy

• Food Services Records and Reports Policy

• Bus Driver Examination, Training, Evaluation, and Responsibilities Policy

• Policy Concerning Availability of Food Other than Through Food Services Programs

• Policy Concerning Student Transportation in Private Vehicles

• Policy for Reviewing Proposals for Research

• Mental Health Policy

Personnel

• Staff Involvement in Decision Making

• Staff Ethics/Conflict of Interest

• Gifts To and Solicitations by Staff

• Staff Participation in Political Activities

• Policy Concerning Health Plan Options

• Policy Against Domestic Violence

• Personnel Records

• Staff Complaints and Grievances

• Professional Staff Positions

• Policy Concerning Teacher Contracts and Compensation Plans

• Compensatory Time

• Course Credit and Continuing Education Policy

• Professional Staff Supplementary Pay Policy

• Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees

• Domestic Violence Leave Policy

• Family And Medical Leave And Small Necessities Leave

• Leaves of Absence Policy

• Professional Teacher Status and Certification Requirements

• Disability Policy

• Vacations and Holidays

• Professional Staff Training And Development

• Employee Discipline and Due Process Rights

• Teacher Evaluation Policy

• Overtime Policy

• Evaluation of Non-Teacher Employees Policy

• Fringe Benefits, Pension and Retirement Policy

• Staff Committees Appointed by Board of Trustees

• Tutoring For Pay Policy

• Part Time Employees Benefits Policy

• Policy Concerning Employee Travel and Vacation under MA Executive Order

• Extended and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Policy

• COVID 19 Personnel Mandatory Vaccination Policy

• COVID 19 Personnel Recommended Vaccination Policy

• COVID-19 Mandatory Face Covering - Masking Policy

• COVID-19 Recommended Face Covering - Masking Policy

School-Community Relations

• Public Complaints about School Personnel Policy

• Public Complaints about the Curriculum and Instructional Materials Policy

• Public Conduct on School Property and Alcoholic Beverages Policy

• Communications with the Public Policy

• Public Information Policy

• Raffles and Bazaars Policy

• Relations with Boosters and Support Organizations Policy

• Relations with Family Organizations Policy

• Relations with Planning Authorities Policy

• Policy Concerning School and Family Relations Goals

• School Sponsored Information Media Policy

• Relations with Local Government Authorities Policy

• Relations with Law Enforcement Policy

• Policy Concerning Visitors to School

• Policy Concerning Advertising in the School

• Community Use of School Facilities Policy

• Policy Concerning News Media Relations and News Releases

• Policy Concerning Public Gift to the School and Employees

• Policy Concerning Non-Custodial Parents' Rights

Teaching and Learning

• School Calendar, School Day, and School Cancellation Policy

• Organization of Instruction and Curriculum Policy

• Alternative Programs

• Basic Instructional Program

• Grading Systems Policy

• Physical Education Policy

• Health Education and Exemptions Policy

• Policy for Parental Notification Concerning Sex Education

• Policy for Teaching About Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco and About Family Life/Sex Education

• Verbal Substance Abuse Screening Policy

• Title I Policy

• Title IX Policy

• Policy for Educating Students who are Married or Pregnant, or who have Children

• Policy for Educating Students who are Incarcerated or Placed in Institutional Settings

• Policy for Education of English Language Learners

• Homebound an Hospital Instruction Policy

• Summer School Policy

• Library Resources Policy

• Independent Study Policy

• Textbook Selection and Adoption Policy

• Supplementary Materials Selection and Adoption Policy

• Field Trip Policy

• School Volunteers Policy

• Academic Achievement Policy

• Progress Reports to and Conferences with Parents and Guardians Policy

• Homework Policy

• Participation in Statewide Testing Policy

• Honor Rolls Policy

• High School Graduation Requirements Policy

• Graduation Exercise Policy

• Eighth Grade Graduation Policy

• School Ceremonies and Observances

• Patriotic Exercises and Flag Displays Policy

• Service Animal Policy

• Animals in School Policy

• Celebration and Observation of Religious Holidays on Campus Policy

• Drug and Alcohol (Substance Abuse Policy)

Students

• Student Attendance Policy

• Student Residency Policy – Verification of Student Residency

• Education of Homeless Children

• Truancy

• Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Student Discipline

• Student Government and Student Advisory Councils

• Student Conduct

• Student Dress Code

• Damage to School Property

• Freedom of Expression Policy+B145

• Gang Activity Policy

• Non-Tolerance of Hate Crimes

• Anti-Bullying

• Policy Against Teen Dating Violence

• Weapons and Assaults on School Staff

• Interrogations and Searches of Students Policy

• Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities Policy

• Student Organizations

• Student Performances Policy

• Student Fundraising and Public Solicitation

• Interscholastic Athletics

• Corporal Punishment Policy

• Physical Restraint Policy

• Student Health Services and Requirements

• Physical Examinations of Students Policy

• Educational Services to Students When Excluded for Infectious Disease

• Administration of Prescription Medication and for Management of Life Threatening Food Allergies in the School Setting

• Supervision of Students Policy

• Student Fees, Fines, and Charges

• Student Records and Directory Information Policy

• Student Photographs Policy

• Recruiter Policy

• Access to Education, Student Privacy, and Immigration Enforcement Policy

• Education of Students in Foster Care

• Chronic Absenteeism Policy

• COVID-19 Student Vaccination Status Collection

• Student Concussion Policy

Special Education

• Child Find and Referrals

• Initial Evaluation and Re-Evaluation Policy

• Individualized Education Program Development Policy

• Procedural Safeguards Policy

• Policy Concerning Discipline of Students Receiving Special Education Sevices

• Secondary Transition Policy

• Placement Policy

• Parent Advisory Council

• Special Education Records, Content and Security Policy

• Transportation of Students with Disabilities Policy

• IEP Team Meetings Policy

• Least Restrictive Environment

Facilities

• Facilities Development Policy

• Building Accommodations Policy

• Facilities Funding Policy

• Art Displays and Artistic Expressions in School Buildings Policy

• Enrollment Projections Policy

• Naming of Facilities Policy

• Facilities Planning Policy

Technology

• Instructional Materials Centers and Schools Libraries Policy

• Acceptable Use Policy

• Social Media Policy

• Web Accessibility Policy

• Intellectual Property/Copyright Policy

• Computer Management And Control Policy

• Logo, Name, and Trademark Policy

Enrollment

• Enrollment Policy

• Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Policy

• Lottery and Waitlist Policy

• Siblings Policy