Charter School Tools June Newsletter

The June issue of the Charter School Tools newsletter is focused on the ongoing National Charter Schools Conference. Hosted by The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, this year's conference will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 19-22nd. This annual conference is the largest gathering of charter schools and professionals working in the charter school community. 
 
The National Conference is designed to reach a range of audiences including educators, school leaders, operations managers, school board members, authorizers, and policy/legal advocates.
 
For more information or to register to attend the National Charter School Conference, please visit the National Charter Schools Conference website.
2012 National Charter School Conference Suggested Presentations by Charter School Tools

This year the conference breakout sessions are divided into seven different strands:
  • Instruction
  • Governance
  • Leadership
  • Policy
  • Operations
  • Innovation
  • Vendors
Charter School Tools is providing an advance preview of a few selected presentations that will be at the conference. 
Instruction Strand
How Progressive Can You Really Be?
Presenter: John Love (Fieldstone School)
Both private and charter schools are highly accountable to their student and parent clients. Progressive private schools in particular have the ability to create a highly student-centered and innovative culture. In this session, led by a school leader from one of New York City's most elite private schools, we will identify the key qualities of a "progressive" private high school and discuss which of those qualities can inform practice at a charter high school.
Click here to download the tool.
Governance Strand
Your Job as a Board Member and How to Do it Well
Presenter: John Tarvin (Claremont Consulting) and Marci Cornell-Feist (The High Bar)
As public institutions committed to education reform, charter schools must perform well within a highly scrutinized environment where schools are held to higher levels of accountability. Working within this environment, it is imperative that board members fully understand their unique job, how it differes from traditional board service and how to do their jobs exceptionally well.
Click here to download this tool.
Leadership Strand
Creating an Internally Accountable School
Presenters: Sheila Polk (TEACH the POSSIBILITY), Linda Moore (Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School)
This session focuses on how schools can stay ahead of the external accountability curve by creating a culture of achievement that leads to strong internal accountability. Presenters will share how the school leaders of Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Washington, DC, developed an instructional culture of achievement that supports strong internal accountability to improve academic achievement for all students.
Click here to download this tool.
Operations Strand
Identify, Inspire and Impact: Critical Factors for School Marketing
Presenter: Patty Kennedy (Kennedy Spencer LLC)
Charter schools have many external constituents they need to reach - often with limited resources. In this session, participants will learn the three critical factors to successful marketing and communications geared for charter schools. Specifically, participants will learn how to identify and leverage unique strengths to create an effective and cost-effective marketing program that motivates audiences, such as board members, parents, the community, media and funders, to support your school.
Click here to download this tool.

Budget Management After Years of Cuts
Presenter: Kathleen Mone (Elysian Charter School)
This session will discuss how charter schools can operate with extremely limited funds after repeated reductions. Participants will learn about a practical list of areas to review for cust and proven methods of doing more with less. The overall budget of an average charter school will also be reviewed, appropriate percentages for each function will be recommended, and some creative ideas for controlling costs will be examined.
Click here to download this tool.
2012 California Charter School Conference
Instruction Strand
Governance Strand
Leadership Strand
Operations Strand
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