Below is a topical list of all board resources arranged by topic. For your convenience, there is also a searchable google drive folder containing all resources as well as a downloadable resource list. If you are unable to find a specific resource please reach out directly to rcarpenter@masscharterschools.org
How Charter Boards Govern for Quality and Accountability – October 7, 2019 – BoardOnTrack
Committee Charges
Monthly Calendar Examples
Job Descriptions
Who Decides What? Decision Making in Challenging Times - May 27, 2021 - Carrie Irvin
Moving Towards Equity-Focused Governance – November 16, 2021- Carrie Irvin
Webinar Recording (Password: Dyw^g&e9)
EBP Equity Toolkit Part I: Getting started with your board- three strands: individual, organizational, systemic
EBP Equity Toolkit Part II: Six steps towards equity focused governance
EBP Equity Toolkit Part III: Actions and activities a board can make to practice equity-centered governance (based on EBP Six Standards of Effective Charter School Governance)
Race to Lead report: A report that shares key findings in closing the nonprofit racial leadership gap
Race to Lead Revisited report: A report that shares obstacles and opportunities in addressing the nonprofit racial leadership gap
The Governance Gap by Koya Leadership Partners: A survey and report on how to build nonprofit boards that reflect the clients they serve
Racial Equity Impact Assessment by Race Forward: A tool that helps boards systematically examine how different racial and ethnic groups will likely be affected by a proposed action or decision
Executive Compensation – December 17, 2019 – Carrie Irvin
Charter Public Schools and their Foundation and Friends Organizations: Organization, Operation and Fundraising - May 5, 2022 - Krokidas & Bluestein LLP, Elka Sachs and Bettina Toner, and AAFCPAs, John Buckley
What You Can Do as a Board Member to Increase Your School’s Access to Funding – May 6, 2019 – BDG Consulting – Barbara Gross
Reducing the Risk of Fraud - September 20, 2022 - Facilitated by John R. Buckley and Nichole Reilly, AAFCPAs
Is Fraud Preventable? Safeguard Your School’s Fiscal Operations – June 3, 2021 – Facilitated by John R. Buckley and Nichole Reilly, AAFCPAs
Finding that Elusive But Essential Balance Between Governance and Management When It Comes to Academic Improvement. - May 23, 2023 - Education Board Partners - Carrie Irvin
Webinar Recording (passcode:Board23!)
Balancing Governance and Management - October 18, 2022 - Education Board Partners - Carrie Irvin
Webinar Recording (passcode:!g=.Q7#G)
To Govern, Not To Manage: What Good Charter School Boards Do To Support Quality in Their Schools – April 1, 2019 , Carrie Irvin
Message from DESE - Reminders about expectations related to the Charter School Performance Criteria (for site visits) - November 19, 2021
Open Meeting Law - Frequently Asked Questions (from the MA Attorney General’s Office)
DESE’s Open Meeting Law Documents and Public Body Checklists (useful for school site visits)
Open Meeting Law 101 - October 19, 2021 - MA Assistant Attorney General, Kerry Kilcoyne
Open Meeting and Public Records Laws Webinar – March 26, 2020 – Barton Gilman, LLC
Supporting and Evaluating the School Leader Feb 5, 2024
Charter School Leader Collaboration, Supervision & Evaluation – June 3, 2019, Carrie Irvin
What is Strategic Planning, and Does Your Board Need to Do It? June 1, 2023 - Carrie Irvin
Webinar Recording (passcode:Board23!)
Measuring Student Outcomes from the Board Seat Webinar - December 6, 2022 - Education Board Partners
How can Charter Public School boards best support student learning, recovery, and well-being? Panel of thoughtful education leaders bring a range of perspectives and experience to discuss what should be happening right now in the boardroom to help ensure that all children are making the academic progress they deserve.
MCPSA School Leader Succession Planning and Transition Guide
Recommended Books and Reports
The Nonprofit Leadership and Transition Guide, Tom Adams. Jossey-Bass. 2010
You’re Leaving? Succession and Sustainability in Charter Schools, Christine Campbell
National Charter School Research Project. Center on Reinventing Public Education. University of Washington. 2010
Chief Executive Succession Planning, Second Edition, Nancy R. Axelrod, BoardSource. 2010
Succession Planning Isn’t a Four Letter Word - November 9, 2022 - Education Board Partners
What should all charter public school boards be doing to be prepared for school leader transition,either now or down the road? Panelists discuss how boards can best plan for school leader transition--starting right now. As so many school leaders continue to wonder how long they will stay in their job, we believe that strong boards can act now to keep great leaders as long as possible, and prepare to replace them well when that time comes.
School Leader Hiring, Retention, and Succession Planning – December 10, 2019 – Carrie Irvin
