Finance Fellowship – Charter Success Partners

Charter Success Partners is a North Carolina-based charter school service company with deep expertise in finance, compliance, governance, operations, and data systems for charter schools. Their team supports schools across the state through Fractional CFO services, compliance management, board governance support, and strategic financial planning. Their charter-focused analytics platform, Insights by CSP, helps schools move beyond spreadsheets by providing dashboards, forecasting tools, cash-flow monitoring, and more robust reporting systems. Their hands-on experience supporting boards and school leaders makes them a strong partner for strengthening financial sustainability and board-level fiscal oversight.

Governance Modules – National Charter School Institute

National Charter School Institute is a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to improving education through stronger governance, leadership, and accountability systems. Since 1995, they have worked with charter school boards, authorizers, and school leaders across the country to improve board effectiveness, financial stewardship, and school sustainability. Their nationally recognized Governing for Greatness framework and Charter School Board University have helped thousands of board members translate governance expectations into practical action, making them one of the most respected governance training organizations in the charter sector.

Remote Academy Research – Safal Partners

Safal Partners is a national education consulting and research firm with more than 15 years of experience supporting federal, state, and local agencies in charter school policy, accountability systems, program evaluation, and virtual learning. Their work includes managing the National Charter School Resource Center for the U.S. Department of Education, supporting the Job Corps Distance Learning Program for the U.S. Department of Labor, and leading major charter school evaluations and framework development projects across the country. Their national perspective and deep research expertise make them a strong partner for helping North Carolina define high-quality remote academies.

Governance & Fiscal Controls Handbook & Sustainability Consultant – Leaders Building Leaders

Leaders Building Leaders brings extensive experience in charter school governance, board development, leadership systems, and fiscal oversight across North Carolina. Led by Dr. Tom Miller, a former charter authorizer, board trainer, and education leader who has supported more than 100 charter schools, the organization has worked directly with boards on governance intervention, financial oversight, executive leadership transitions, and school sustainability. Their work is grounded in practical systems that help boards prevent financial mismanagement, strengthen accountability, and reduce the risks that often lead to school instability or closure.

Governance Audit – Stella Law Group and Bloomwell Group

Stella Law Group and Bloomwell Group bring a unique combination of legal governance expertise, compliance systems, and board evaluation tools. Led by Lisa Gordon Stella, Managing Member of Stella Law, the team brings decades of experience advising charter schools on board policy, fiduciary oversight, public records, open meetings, and governance compliance. Combined with Bloomwell Group’s evaluation platform and operational systems, this partnership provides both strong legal guidance and practical tools for improving board effectiveness and accountability.

External Grant Evaluator - Prismatic Services, Inc. 

Prismatic Services, Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, works exclusively with PreK-12 schools, school districts, and educational agencies. Since its founding in 2007, Prismatic has completed more than 330 projects across 33 states and the District of Columbia, including extensive experience evaluating U.S. Department of Education grants and other education-focused initiatives. As external evaluator, Prismatic will support NC GROW with data collection, data validation, progress monitoring, interviews, evaluation reports, mid-year briefs, federal reporting support, and a final evaluation report. Their work will help NC GROW monitor grant implementation, assess progress toward performance goals, and use data to support continuous improvement.

Transportation Consultant – DG Consulting

DG Consulting Services, LLC brings deep expertise in pupil transportation, led by consultant Derek Graham, who has 33 years of experience serving the State of North Carolina, primarily in school transportation. Graham previously served as Section Chief for Transportation Services at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and has direct experience supporting charter schools, including work with the Office of Charter Schools and Ready-to-Open training. Recognized for his knowledge of national school transportation issues and North Carolina public school transportation law, Graham has also served as a speaker at state and national conferences. Through NC GROW, DG Consulting Services will support participating charter schools with transportation planning, route optimization, policy guidance, safety considerations, compliance support, and strategies to improve safe, equitable, and reliable student access.

EDS Consultant - Education Innovations & Solutions, Inc. (EIS), led by Dr. Chance W. Lewis

Dr. Chance Lewis is the President of EIS, the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Urban Education, and Director of The Urban Education Collaborative in the Cato College of Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With more than 20 years of experience, he has supported over 100 schools and school districts nationwide in school turnaround, leadership development, educational equity, and organizational improvement. EIS brings extensive experience supporting educationally disadvantaged students, strengthening school leadership, and improving organizational effectiveness. Their work includes partnerships with charter schools such as Sugar Creek Charter School and Lake Norman Charter School, school improvement initiatives across North Carolina, and leadership of the School Turnaround Summer Leadership Institute. Through this partnership, EIS will provide targeted training and coaching to help NC GROW subgrantees strengthen systems, practices, and supports that improve outcomes for educationally disadvantaged students.