Signature Programs

A-GAME: Academic Oversight

Create unique performance goals for your school or portfolio of schools. A-GAME works with schools, boards, and authorizers to create valid and reliable goals that measure each school’s unique program. Authorizers can also join the A-GAME Community to network, share experiences, seek advice, and learn.

#LEAD: Charter School Leaders Program

This training and certification program provides a broad overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead a charter school in Michigan, as well as on-going certification.

Epicenter for Authorizers

From processing charter applications and managing compliance to automating workflow and evaluating performance, Epicenter has everything you need to get results.

12 Board Responsibilities

Boards that govern for greatness understand management’s role is to execute, and the board’s role is to ensure. Be proactive, ask wise questions and focus on what truly matters. Ensuring your board fulfills these 12 responsibilities will help advance your school towards greatness.

The Secret to Student Success is in the Details (#2)

Recorded January 25, 2024 | Governing for Greatness Series

One could argue that the most important aspect of board governance is ensuring that the students in your school are learning. Everyone wants to ensure that students are actually learning in their school. Join the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer, Mary Bradley, as she talks with Kelli Booth, Executive Director at the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, on the best practices for measuring and reporting student academics. We’ll uncover the details to ensuring each and every student is learning and growing.

Authorizer Policies, Practices & Systems

Whether you’re looking for an external evaluation of your current practices or are new to authorizing and are looking to set up the best systems for your, our team of experienced experts are ready to help. Receive honest, professional, and insightful guidance and resources from experienced authorizers.

Stephanie McKean

Enjoys family, time with friends and ensuring Epicenter meets the needs of our partners.

Alyson Murphy

Enjoys crisp mountain air and solving challenging problems.

Measuring School Quality

Rethink goals, access resources, and measure school quality.
Students’ learning has been interrupted and the complexities associated with re-engagement and learning gains will not be captured by standardized state assessments alone. This session is designed for public charter school leaders and authorizers interested in revisiting school goals and academic accountability frameworks used for determining school quality. We will examine how goals are currently constructed, which students are expected to achieve, and consider a new approach that responds to the student population and school’s mission.

Boards as Strategic Planners: Ensuring the Mission is Accomplished

Understanding how a charter school’s goals and mission align for the best outcomes for kids is a key responsibility for a charter school board. Strategic planning provides an overall framework to help a board ensure the mission is accomplished. Listen to some practical ways board members do this work by joining Mary Bradley, the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer, as she talks with Jeff Wasbes, Executive Deputy Director for Accountability at the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, and charter school board members Joan Waldron, Amy Kolz, and Michele Joerg.

Prioritizing School Security – Think Different, Not More.

In today’s world, safety and security in schools is paramount, but the key for school leaders is to think differently about what strategies best serve their environment versus continuously adopting the latest trends. Watch Institute President & CEO Jim Goenner as he talks to Mark Paliszewski, Managing Director at Recon Management Group LLC, about how school leadership can be strategically proactive regarding school safety. Then stick around as Institute Chief Operating Officer Mary Bradley and Mark will be available for a live Q&A session.

Keep Your School Financially Fit

Effective boards prepare a financial plan to ensure a school’s mission will be met and take the time to regularly evaluate their school’s financial performance. Join Institute President & CEO, Dr. Jim Goenner, and Charter School Business Management Inc., Founder & CEO, Raj Thakkar, as they discuss how boards can provide sound fiscal oversight and keep their school financially fit.

The Secret to Student Success is in the Details

Recorded January 25, 2024 | Governing for Greatness Series

One could argue that the most important aspect of board governance is ensuring that the students in your school are learning. Everyone wants to ensure that students are actually learning in their school. Join the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer, Mary Bradley, as she talks with Kelli Booth, Executive Director at the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, on the best practices for measuring and reporting student academics. We’ll uncover the details to ensuring each and every student is learning and growing.

5 Ideas to Promote Your School: Serving as Advocates & Ambassadors

Effective charter school board members know they represent both the public and the school they serve. This involves strong communication skills and the ability to tell their school’s special story. Hear about best practices and learn how you might best promote your school as an advocate and ambassador by joining Institute Director of Policy & Partnerships Wendy Larvick and strategic communications and advocacy expert Peri Lynn Turnbull of PLT Strategies for this informative session.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Board Chairs

Recorded August 31, 2023 | Governing for Greatness Series

Proactively Planning a Productive Meeting:
Building strong habits helps board chairs ensure highly effective board practice. Join Institute Partner Mark Weinberg as he shares the first of seven habits that boards can strive to implement to ensure productive meetings.

What Boards Should Know About Facilities and Financing

Recorded October 19, 2023 | Governing for Greatness Series

Learn about Charter Schools Development Corporation at www.csdc.org

What Board Members Should Know About Enrollment Efforts

Recorded December 1, 2023 | Governing for Greatness Series

Learn more about Schola http://scholasolutions.com