new jersey board institute 2016
TRANSCRIPT
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Our Core PurposeTo inspire and democratize excellence in education.
Goals for Session
KIDS!!!
Inspire Hearts & Minds
Challenge Conventional Thinking
Learn & Grow Together
Have Fun!
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3 Strengthen Your Ability to Govern
Goals for Session
KIDS!!!
Inspire Hearts & Minds
Challenge Conventional Thinking
Learn & Grow Together
Have Fun!
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2
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3 Strengthen Your Ability to Govern
WWW.CHARTERINSTITUTE.ORGTHIS SLIDE DECK IS ACCESSIBLE AT
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RELATIONSHIPS
“People don’t care how much you know until they
know how much you care.”
Our HeartWe are a team of passionate professionals who believe in the transformative power of education and thrive on empowering people to learn, grow and achieve more than they think possible.
Exercise #1:Start with WHY by Simon Sinek
What’s Your Schools Heart & Core Purpose?
“The future is not what it used to be.”
— Yogi Berra, Baseball Hall of Famer
1. States should withdraw the exclusive geographic franchises given to school districts.
2. States should create a way to establish new public schools that create competition for existing schools and provide parents with choice.
3. These new public schools should be authorized by an entity that oversees and holds them accountable, but unlike a school district does not own or operate the school.
4. These new public schools should be freed from unnecessary rules and regulations, in exchange for producing results.
5. These new public schools should be dually accountable: to the marketplace of parental choice and to the standards of the public interest.
The Ideas Behind Chartering
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CHARTER SCHOOLS
A strategy to transform public education by injecting choice,
change and competition into the system.
Superior Performance
Distinctive Impact
Lasting Endurance
What Is Greatness?
““ “Good is the enemy
of great.”Jim Collins
KIDS
Authorizers
Boards
Schools
Aligning for Greatness
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Develop a Relationship of Mutual Trust & Respect
Set Clear Performance Expectations – No Surprises!
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Establish a Shared Vision & Commitment
Framework for Greatness
Good, Not Great
Inflection Point
Good, Not Great
Matched-Pair Selection
Comparison Cases
Good–to–Great Cases
GAP
Building forBreakthrough
The Flywheel
People Need Systems to Turn the Flywheel
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• Principles and practices for predictably achieving goals
• Processes that are specific, orderly, and repeatable
• Leverage time, money and abilities• Deliberate, intentional and practicable
How Successful People Grow by John C. Maxwell
“““Greatness . . . is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”
Jim Collins
PART II:Preparing Students for Success
Understanding…
Performance FrameworksMission Specific GoalsMeasuring Growth and Achievement
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Focus on Student Outcomes
3-part document that sets forth agreed upon expectations of performance and compliance
Established in the charter agreement and in current regulations.
Basis for school evaluation, monitoring, and intervention that informs the NJDOE’s high- stakes decision making.
Academic Performance will carry the most weight in all high- stakes decision making
What is the Performance Framework?
Autonomy
Accountability
Education Program and
Capacity
School Culture and Climate
Board Governance
Access and Equity
Compliance
Organizational Performance Framework Areas
““ “Set the standards higher for yourself
than others would set them for you.”
John Maxwell
How clear is your organization about its ...
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Vision
Mission
What is the organization really trying to accomplish? Is it compelling? Will it make a significant difference?
How will the organization proceed with making this vision a reality?
Values What are the core things the organization will use to guide and evaluate all of its actions and behaviors?
Setting Goals.Defining Targets.
What does it mean to institutionalize? What are the “Instruments of
Institutionalization”? Bylaws Policies Procedures Professional Development Hiring Handbooks
Institutionalizing the Mission
Lagging Indicators Graduation Rates College Entry Academic Performance
School Climate and Culture
Leading Indicators Attendance Tardiness Staff Attendance Student Suspensions Behavioral Referrals Parent Support Advanced Placement Honors Courses
Start with perspective Before you develop your goals and targets, identify your school’s
mission, vision, and essential elements of your educational program. Now ask these questions to help guide you in choosing what to measure:
If you had to turn your mission into a measurable objective, what would that look like?
Does your vision statement include any big picture student outcomes that could be broken down into
measurable goals? What makes your school unique? What aspects of your educational program are the most critical for
maintaining your school’s mission and vision?
Mission Specific Goals
With each mission-specific goal, strive to answer the following question:
HOW MANY of WHICH STUDENTS will achieve WHAT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE as measured by WHICH ASSESSMENT TOOL within WHAT TIME FRAME?
As you develop your mission-specific goals, you should be conscientious of the data tracking and analysis burden that comes with each goal. Make sure that your implementation plan is realistic and that your school has the appropriate knowledge, tools, and resources to complete it.
Mission Specific Goals
Break & Networking
PART III:Taking Care of the Money
Purpose of a Charter School Governing Board
“To ensure, on behalf of the public, that students are
learning, money and resources are well stewarded, and the organization passionately pursues greatness, while
modeling the highest legal and ethical principles.”
““Dr. James Goenner
National Charter Schools Institute
Stewardship
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A Simple Way to Frame Finance
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Investment
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Stewardship
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Spending Carefully
A Simple Way to Frame Finance
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Investment
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Spending Wisely
The Annual Financial Cycle:Roles & Responsibilities
The Budget
Board and Staff
Board
Staff
Board, Staff and Auditors
ADVISES the board in all matters pertaining to finance, the budget, and the use of school money.
ENSURES compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
REVIEWS preparation and adherence to the budget.
REVIEWS AND APPROVES payment of all bills not specifically assigned to another committee.
ASSISTS all committees in estimating cost of projects and in determining the financial impact on the budget.
ENSURES that an annual audit is performed and appropriately prepared.
The Finance Committee’s Role
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Ensuring Good Stewardship
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• Charter boards are stewards of public funds and must execute certain duties.
• This includes fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities.
• Trustees must ensure the school is well managed and fiscally sound.
• Responsibilities in exercising this trust fall into three categories: Duty of Care. Duty of Loyalty. Duty of Obedience.
The Three Duties
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Care
Loyalty
Stay informed and involved to make wise decisions.
Place the school’s interest above your own.
Obedience Act in good faith to comply with laws and policies.
1. Setting strategic financial goals2. Understanding the role of the Finance Committee 3. Understanding the Code of Ethics4. Preparing the budget5. Understanding the annual audit6. Ensuring wasteful or excessive spending is stopped7. Approving transfers of funds8. Approving reports, expenditures and payroll
The Board’s Responsibilities
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• Receiving and approving financial reports help ensure that board members can make informed decisions.
• Common reports to inform the board include: A balance sheet. A statement of activities. A cash flow statement.
• Monthly reports presented for approval include: Board secretary’s report Treasurer’s report Transfer list Bill payment list and payroll
Monitoring for Good Stewardship
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• An audit is an independent, external review of a school’s financial records:
• Expresses an opinion on the truth and fairness of financial statements.
Provides a reasonable verification of expenditures, cash, enrollment, and other operations.
Might reveal faulty business practices.
• Conducting and reviewing an annual audit is part of the board’s legal and fiduciary duty.
Stewardship and the Audit
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The Two Parts of an Audit
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MANAGEMENT REPORT. A synopsis of the school’s fiscal performance, findings, and recommendations for improvement.
COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (CAFR). A detailed data including basic financial statements, detailed budgetary information, internal controls and financial trends.
A Test for Good Stewardship
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ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOL IS …
Fulfilling Its Financial Commitments
Acting in Compliance with Law/Regs
Meeting Budgeted Revenues and Expenditures
• The budget is an expression of your school’s priorities. Must be reasonable, sufficient, and accurate. Allocates resources to best support your school’s success. Requires realistic student count estimates. Provides for staff to serve student needs.
• The budget assists in managing your school’s assets. Funds short-term priorities. Funds can be set aside for longer-term priorities (i.e., facilities). Assists the board in being prepared for a “rainy day.”
Investing in Your School
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Setting Priorities
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Strategic Planning
Committees
Strategic planning and finances are intertwined.
Committees should periodically discuss goals.
Student Achievement
The ultimate goal is to maximize spending to increase student achievement.
• The budget is part of the board’s fiduciary responsibilities. Understand and be engaged in the process. Ensuring public input and being good stewards of public funds. Know the key components that affect your budget. Ensure that spending aligns to priorities. Provides for staff to serve student needs.
• The budget is the best guess on expenditures, made about 18 months prior to the end of the fiscal year-expect transfers
• Trustees do not need to be “experts,” but understanding, asking questions, and being engaged in the process is critical.
The Board’s Role in The Budget
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• Accurate student enrollment assumptions are essential. Both revenues and expenditures will be primarily driven by enrollment.
• Key revenue assumptions are: Total student enrollment. Enrollment by sub-groups that qualify for different funding. Estimated per-pupil funding. Any other grant, categorical, or federal fund historically received.
• Key expenditure assumptions are: Staffing, including who, how many, and compensation. Facilities, transportation, food services, and related costs. Contracted services.
Key Budget Assumptions
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• Educational goals are the first priority. Questions to consider are: Are resources allocations aligned to the school’s mission? Are programs achieving the educational goals in the charter contract? What adjustments might be needed to better support teaching and
learning so the school achieves greater success?
• Short- and long-term needs should be taken into consideration. Are savings needed to buy new technology or finance a new building?
• Look at long-term trends in enrollment to manage cash flow and savings to prepare for a rainy day.
• Audit findings inform the budget process.
Investing Your Budget Wisely
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Four Wise Revenue Questions
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REOCCUANCE. Are expected funds reoccurring, or are they one-time-only?
REPORTING. What must the school do to receive any anticipated funds?
RESTRICTIONS. Is the school restricted on how funds can be expended?
RETROSPECTIVE. How do anticipated funds compare to last year?
Four Wise Expenditure Questions
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STAFFING. Is the staffing level right for the school to execute its educational program?
SERVICES. Are contracted services delivered in the most effective and efficient manner?
SCHOOL FACILITIES. Does the budget taken into account immediate or long-term facilities needs?
SURPRISES. What is not in the budget? Is the school prepared for the unexpected?
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A Test for Wise Investments
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ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOL IS …
Properly Resourced to Meet its Mission
Prepared for Long-Term Success
Preparing Students for College, Work, and Life
Two Points to Remember.
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IT’S YOUR DUTY. Financial integrity results from trustee engagement and understanding—and asking questions. .
BE STRATEGIC. Charter must do more with less. Their ability to do so begins with strategic management of financial resources.
Lunch, Keynote & Networking
PART IV:Setting Goals and Evaluating Performance
“If you do not change, you can become extinct.”
Who Moved My Cheese? ““
Four Disciplines of a Healthy Organization
Cohesive teams build trust, eliminate politics, and increase efficiency by …
• Knowing one another’s unique strengths and weaknesses.
• Openly engaging in constructive, ideological conflict.• Holding one another accountable for behaviors and
actions.• Committing to group decisions.
1: Build a Cohesive Leadership Team
Four Disciplines of a Healthy Organization
TEAMWORK
• We recognize that no one of us is as good as all of us.
• We put the team’s goals before our own.
• We collaborate and fulfill our commitments.
• We are responsible for ourselves and accountable to each other.
• We win as a team and lose as a team.
• We celebrate our successes and have fun. | 77
The Power of Clarifying Values to Guide Behaviors and Actions
• Knows its purpose and why it exists• Understands it is the highest authority in
the organization• Knows it represents the public• Is disciplined in its role and behaviors and
those of its individual members• Is trustworthy and predictable
Winners Want to be Associated with a Board That …
• Uses its authority to empower, not strangle• Ensures the organization is effective
and efficient• Has high expectations and measures
performance • Is unafraid to judge, but does so fairly• Continuously earns credibility
Winners Want to be Associated with a Board That …
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The Five Temptationsof a CEOInvulnerability
OverTrust
HarmonyOver
Conflict
CertaintyOver
Clarity
PopularityOver
Accountability
StatusOver
Results
Healthy organizations minimize the potential for confusion by clarifying …
• Why do we exist?• How do we behave?• What do we do?• How will we succeed?• What is most important—right now?• Who must do what?
2: Create ClarityFour Disciplines of a Healthy Organization
How Clear Is Your Organization About Its...
Vision
Mission
What is the organization really trying to accomplish? Is it compelling? Will it make a significant difference?
How will the organization proceed with making this vision a reality?
Values What are the core things the organization will use to guide and evaluate all of its actions and behaviors?
FORWARD-LOOKING & INSPIRING
• We dare to be different.• We are willing to take risks.• We lead with passion.
We are not limited by others.• We are persistent.• We strive to exceed
expectations.• We inspire growth in ourselves
and others.
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The Power of Clarifying Values to Guide Behaviors and Actions
HONEST & RESPECTFUL
• We tell the truth. • We are open to feedback. • We trust each other to speak our
minds.• We always strive to do the right
things for the right reasons. • We communicate with candor and
tact. • We are tough on the issue, not on
the person. • We value people for who they are
and what they bring.| 84
The Power of Clarifying Values to Guide Behaviors and Actions
Healthy organizations align their employees around organizational clarity by communicating key messages through …
• Repetition: Don’t be afraid to repeat the same message again and again.
• Simplicity: The more complicated the message, the more potential for confusion and inconsistency.
• Multiple Mediums: People react to information in many ways; use a variety of mediums.
• Cascading Messages: Leaders communicate key messages to direct reports; the cycle repeats itself until the message is heard by all.
3: Over-Communicate ClarityFour Disciplines of a Healthy Organization
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Organizations sustain their health by ensuring consistency in …
• Hiring • Managing performance• Rewards and recognition• Employee dismissal
4: Reinforce Clarity
Four Disciplines of a Healthy Organization
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IS MY SCHOOL A QUALITY SCHOOL?
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Charter Schools Provide Diversity - Different Schools for Different Kids
Charter Schools have led the way in using Data-Driven Approaches (not just about standardized tests)
Focus on Service Rather than Rules Meeting the needs of students and producing promising results without
making excuses A focus on rules often results in an “our way or the highway”
atmosphere that charter schools can combat An orientation toward service is manifest in responsiveness to parents –
charter schools are inherently schools of choice A focus on rules prioritizes compliance above performance and places
energy toward minimizing risk of non-compliance rather than minimizes risk of negative student outcomes
Charter School Excellence Comes in Many Forms
• Essential Terms of Charter• Curriculum Alignment• Data Use• Education Requirements
EDUCATION PROGRAM
• Admissions and Enrollment• Students with Disabilities• English Language Learners• Attrition/Enrollment Stability
EQUITY
• Mission Alignment/High Expectations
• Family and Community Involvement
SCHOOL CULTURE
• Governance• Accountability of Management
• Safe and Secure Facilities • Safe and Secure School
Environment
FACILITIES / SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
• Reporting / Compliance• GAAP
FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT
• Federal and State Compliance• Other Compliance
REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE
GOVERNANCE
Organizational Performance
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Wise Questions
HOW WELL IS OUR SCHOOL …
Preparing Students for College, Work and Life
Leveraging Resources
Fulfilling Its Commitments?
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Teacher Evaluation System Guidance
A method to calculate a overall (summative) evaluation rating
Teacher Practice Instrument to be used in instructional observations (Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching)
Multiple Measures- To include Student Achievement and Teaching Practices
A clear distinction between tenure and non-tenure teachers
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Administrative Evaluation System Guidance
A method to calculate a overall (summative) evaluation rating
Multiple Measures- To include Student Achievement and Leadership Practices
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Key Renewal Questions
Academic Financial Organizational
Is the academic program a success?
Is the school financially
viable?
Is the school equitable and
organizationally sound?
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Components of the Renewal Process
RENEWAL DECISION (February 28)
Written Application (Due October 15)
School Site Visit (November – January)
Performance and Demographic Data (collected by DOE)
National Teacher Shortages
National Teacher Shortages
Meaningful Teacher Reward Systems
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Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness
PART V:Being Ambassadors for Excellence
Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders
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Model the Way
Inspire a Shared Vision
Challenge the Process
Enable Others to Act
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Encourage the Heart5
Kouzes and Posner
| 103Model the Way1
How Leaders Earn Credibility
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• “They practice what they preach.”• “They walk the talk.”• “Their actions are consistent with their words.”• “They put their money where their mouth is.”• “They follow through on their promises.”• “They do what they say they will do.”
The Leadership Challenge
| 105Inspire a Shared Vision2
| 106Challenge the Process3
| 107Enable Others to Act4
| 108Encourage the Heart5
““ “Set the standards higher for yourself than others would set them for you.”
John Maxwell
Leadership Pyramid
Level 5 Leader Ambitious first and
foremost for the cause, the organization, the work — not themselves.
Displays a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.
What Level of Leader Do You Want?
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Level 3 Leader Organizes people and
resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.
Questions of the Heart
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Board Responsibilities12
ENSURE all students are being prepared for success in college, work and life.1
ENSURE the public’s money and resources are well stewarded.2
ENSURE the organization is run by a great leader and infused with a positive culture and learning environment.3
ENSURE the terms of the charter contract are fulfilled and the organization is prepared for renewal.4
ENSURE the organization is true to its vision, mission and values.5
ENSURE goals are clear and people and programs are wisely empowered, supported, evaluated and held accountable.6
ENSURE the organization operates legally and ethically.7
ENSURE the organization continuously improves and stays viable.8
ENSURE the board recruits, orients and develops its members and its capacity to govern.9
ENSURE the board adopts and properly maintains its governing policies.10
ENSURE the board speaks with one voice.11
ENSURE the board and its members are positive ambassadors for the charter idea!12