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Creating and Sustaining High-Quality Charter School Governing Boards. A Guide for State Policymakers

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Creating and Sustaining High-Quality Charter School Governing Boards. A Guide for State Policymakers
Language: English
Authors: Butler, Elizabeth A., National Resource Center on Charter School Finance & Governance
Source: National Resource Center on Charter School Finance and Governance. 2008.
Availability: National Resource Center on Charter School Finance and Governance. 1401 New York Avenue NW Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-628-4200; Fax: 202-628-1293; e-mail: info@charterresource.org; Web site: http://www.charterresource.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2008
Intended Audience: Policymakers
Document Type: Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Charter Schools, Governing Boards, Recruitment, Politics of Education, State Legislation, Guides, School Law, Educational Policy, Educational Finance, Governance, Parents, Parent Role, Board of Education Role, Teachers, Teacher Role, Training
Abstract: This guide for state policymakers examines the laws, policies, and programs that states are using to create and sustain high-quality charter school governing boards. In particular, the guide focuses on the two aspects of governing boards that interviews with state administrators revealed are most critical for a board's success: board composition and recruitment and board training. States address board composition and recruitment in three ways. First, charter school laws in 14 states require (or prohibit) each charter school's governing board to include specific types of people, most commonly, teachers or parents. Second, three jurisdictions have created pools of potential board members to help match schools with qualified board members who have the time, skills, and aptitude to serve. Third, in four states, authorizers appoint or approve board members rather than placing this authority with individual charter schools. Although board training is mandated by law in only one state, interviewees in eleven states reported that training requirements are imposed by the state department of education or charter school authorizers. In addition, numerous states provide voluntary board training opportunities. The guide outlines the pros and cons of the prevalent policy options related to board composition and recruitment and board training with illustrative examples from existing state law and practice. It also raises issues state policymakers may want to consider in adopting new policies and aims to help them identify approaches that best meet the needs of charter schools in their state. (Contains 1 table, 8 footnotes and 17 resources.) [This paper was written with the assistance from Joanna Smith and Priscilla Wohlstetter.]
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2012
Accession Number: ED536003
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This guide for state policymakers examines the laws, policies, and programs that states are using to create and sustain high-quality charter school governing boards. In particular, the guide focuses on the two aspects of governing boards that interviews with state administrators revealed are most critical for a board's success: board composition and recruitment and board training. States address board composition and recruitment in three ways. First, charter school laws in 14 states require (or prohibit) each charter school's governing board to include specific types of people, most commonly, teachers or parents. Second, three jurisdictions have created pools of potential board members to help match schools with qualified board members who have the time, skills, and aptitude to serve. Third, in four states, authorizers appoint or approve board members rather than placing this authority with individual charter schools. Although board training is mandated by law in only one state, interviewees in eleven states reported that training requirements are imposed by the state department of education or charter school authorizers. In addition, numerous states provide voluntary board training opportunities. The guide outlines the pros and cons of the prevalent policy options related to board composition and recruitment and board training with illustrative examples from existing state law and practice. It also raises issues state policymakers may want to consider in adopting new policies and aims to help them identify approaches that best meet the needs of charter schools in their state. (Contains 1 table, 8 footnotes and 17 resources.) [This paper was written with the assistance from Joanna Smith and Priscilla Wohlstetter.]