Charter School Competencies - WI Resource Center for Charter Schools (WRCCS)

Competencies

WRCCS has organized all materials through the WRCCS Charter School Competencies. The WRCCS Charter School Competencies are designed to help schools personalize their professional development and continued improvement. They are designed to prepare schools to be dynamic and sustainable with the ever-changing demands of the educational landscape. These competencies can help schools recognize learning that has not been considered, learning that is in process, as well as prior learning.

Authorizer

Authorizing Practice
The authorizer develops/maintains protocols for the effective oversight and support of charter schools.

Establish/maintain protocols that adhere to the highest standards of charter school best practices
Create/sustain practices that encourage and endorse charter school autonomy
Create/sustain practices that uphold student and public best interests
Create/refine a plan and procedure for reviewing new charter school applications in alignment with authorizing vision
Create/refine a process for onboarding new schools to the authorizer's portfolio
Plan/set mission and vision for authorizer with clear goals that align with the community and geography allowing autonomy for charter schools

Community Engagement
The authorizer develops/maintains communication and involvement with the community.

Engage in ongoing discussion and feedback from communities served about the vision and performance of schools
Develop/maintain local support for fostering community partnerships with the charter school

Culture
The authorizer intentionally fosters a positive culture as an authorizing entity among its staff and board, as well as with their schools.

Intentionally work to understand the contract between authorizer and governance board through regular review of the contract
Intentionally build upon the relationship between authorizer and governance board through clear and regular communication
Design and communicate a plan with governance board to ensure the school's district/community are informed regarding the progress toward the charter's performance measures

Equity
The authorizer develops/guides the ongoing work of creating system-wide equitable practices.

Create/ensure an understanding of a set of performance measures (academic, behavior, and culture) that will hold schools accountable while celebrating innovation, diversity, and cultural differences
Provide community information about, and access to, the open application process and removes barriers and bias from the process
Seek new charter schools and renew existing charter schools who have robust data around how they are meeting community needs

Legal
The authorizer works to understand and implement appropriate legal practices including autonomy and accountability measures within the charter school(s) under their authorization.

Establish/review charter contract to ensure alignment with DPI benchmarks
Develop/refine authorizer's understanding of legal and philosophical roles and responsibilities

Performance Monitoring and Accountability
The authorizer develops/maintains accountability measures and implements systems that hold the charter school to high standards.

Create/ensure an understanding of a set of performance measures (academic, operation, and finance) that will hold schools accountable while also honoring their uniqueness
Create/refine practices for holding schools accountable with clear communication around performance status and corrective action processes
Create/refine practices and systems to navigate school renewal and/or revocation decisions and timelines
Create/refine a system for recognizing high performing schools and/or disseminating information about effective practices that the charter school(s) may be using

Strategic Planning
The authorizer ensures an authorizing strategic plan is in place to guide expectations of governance board(s) for the future.

Create/refine structure and expectations for new and existing charter schools' community needs analyses
Create/refine annual monitoring of authorizer success, including a monitoring tool/rubric
Create/review governance board's strategic plan to determine the role the charter school(s) play in supporting the goals and priorities of the district/community
Develop/enhance a strategy and protocol for soliciting new charter school concepts

Governance Board

Business Operations
The governance board oversees school communication and financial planning to ensure alignment with mission, stakeholder satisfaction, and sustainability.

Create/implement a school communication and engagement plan including social media, community meetings, Q+A sessions, and materials for distribution
Draft/document a business plan including annual budget needs and 3 to 5 year budget forecasts
Outline/define how the charter school business plan supports the school mission, student achievement, and stakeholder satisfaction
Create/refine plan for auditing, reviewing, and reporting on finances annually
Regularly examine/finalize the potential needs for contracting out services to support business operations
Plan/build a reserve fund (fund balance) as part of the corporation to support school needs and ensure sustainability
Develop/revisit understanding of the financial responsibilities of governance board as it relates to the school's overall expenses
Create/refine a plan to prioritize spending based on school mission

Community Engagement
The governance board actively works to engage at high levels with the community in alignment with the charter contract and vision/mission of the school.

Create/refine plan for how to engage community partners and volunteers in collaborating with the charter school
In coordination with teachers and/or school leaders, develop/implement plans for committee work that is focused on community events

Culture
The governance board works to foster a positive, professional culture within the board and charter school.

Develop/revisit methods and mechanisms to provide the communication necessary to transparently express vision and ideas to board members, teachers, students, caregivers, and community members
Develop/revisit methods and mechanisms to accept communication from all stakeholders to the board
Develop/sustain/model a positive and empowering work environment where all stakeholders can experience working conditions that sustain energy and dedication for years

Equity
The governance board develops inclusive communication and marketing for enrollment, establishes diverse governance, and maintains transparent enrollment processes to ensure equity for all.

Create/implement a communications and marketing plan for student recruitment, retention, and enrollment that removes barriers and bias from the process
Establish/ensure a diverse and independent governance board who agree with the school's mission, have time to give, and can offer vital expertise and resources on all operations areas (such as: finance and accounting; real estate and facilities; legal and human resource services; fundraising; marketing; community partnerships; and academic programming)
Determine/revisit enrollment capacity and a nondiscriminatory, clear, and transparent student application process

Governance Practice
The governance board establishes/maintains effective governance practices within the school structure, including adherence to compliance requirements, transparency, and evaluation protocols.

Establish/revisit the board's role in governance (not management) of the school. Autonomy is developed and extended to school leaders and teachers to make curricular decisions, hire staff, manage day-to-day affairs of the school, interact with caregivers, report to the board, implement the board's suggestions and strategies
Oversee/approve a system to recognize school operational deadlines and dates while following recommended DPI reporting and filing
Ensure/confirm the governance board fully understands its roles and responsibilities
Establish/refine effective procedures for how the board functions. (ex. set goals and create metrics for measurement, approve budget, create school policies, know local and state charter school laws, and fundraise for the school.)
Establish governance board subcommittees, work groups, or special meetings to ensure efficient operations
Establish/ensure methods or systems for frequent and transparent communication between the board and the school leadership.
Design/ensure evaluation procedures to evaluate the school leader(s)

Legal
The governance board clarifies board roles and legal obligations, ensure compliance for school operation, and update policies and contracts.

Understand the Governance Board's legal roles and legal responsibilities (including appropriate board behavior, open meeting rules, public records responsibilities, quorum, meeting structures, transparent discussion and voting, etc.)
Fulfill legal processes checklist for opening school (legal entity formed, articles of incorporation, board members, bylaws, 501c3 organization)
Fulfill/revisit policy handbook checklist: employment, teacher contracts, employee handbook, employee harassment policy, HR payroll, etc., student and caregiver handbooks, student policies, nondiscrimination including complaint procedure, grievance policy, service animal, Title IX, bullying, harassment, student records, record retention, open records, weapons on school property, attendance and truancy, discipline – suspension and expulsion, Special Ed policies and procedures -- LEA, 504 policies and procedures, information management system, digital use policy (devices, internet)
Establish/review charter contract to ensure alignment with DPI benchmarks
Fulfill ongoing legal processes (lRS annual report, WI incorporation renewal, bylaws updates)

Mission
The governance board creates/supports a mission and vision for the charter school, embodying its fundamental principles.

Create/articulate the rationale for starting/sustaining a school and the mission that meets this rationale
Create/refine a mission and vision that clearly defines what will be accomplished and what differentiates this school from others
Draft/revisit a school, student, or community needs statement that will be addressed by creating a new educational opportunity
Facilitate/revisit research on charter schools/models and provides written summaries including critiques of different models
Complete/revisit a community needs analysis to determine vision/mission and how it is meeting the needs of the community

Performance Monitoring
The governance board ensures that specific performance measures are in place and regularly implements processes for reviewing the performance of the school based on those measures.

Create/refine process for reporting specific performance measures found in charter contract designed to hold the school and its stakeholders accountable to the mission
Develop/implement relevant board assessments to monitor progress internally with a process to change course if needed
After monitoring, ensure performance reports are given, at least annually, to the authorizer

Recruiting Students
The governance board develops systems/plans that follow legal/ethical standards for the sustainability of the charter school.

Develop/revisit a lottery system that follows all state and federal guidelines and ensures that enrollment procedures are fair and equitable
Create/implement a marketing plan that advertises and promotes the school, enrollment periods, and application procedures

Staff Development
The governance board prioritizes having a system in place that supports a quality staff evaluation system and robust professional development that supports the mission/vision of the school.

Select/designate school leadership structure (principal, lead teacher, team)
Create/implement evaluation procedures to evaluate the school leader(s)
Ensure school leader(s) have a quality staff evaluation system in place
Encourage and support robust professional development for both staff and leadership that supports the mission/vision of the charter school

Startup and Sustainability
The governance board creates/implements an initial plan for launching the charter school, guaranteeing the procurement of essential equipment and supplies and establishing financial sustainability.

Create, maintain, prioritize, and implement a list of appropriate furniture and equipment based on needs and priorities of school/facility
Seek/acquire an appropriate school building and facilities to meet the needs of the charter design (may need to partner with local school district, university, nonprofit, community, or apply for additional funds)
Designate/revisit a working committee to develop fundraising activities (grants, fundraisers, annual giving, and corporate sponsorships)

Strategic Planning
The governance board creates/carries out a strategic plan for the charter school.

Determine/revisit a plan of growth or sustainability of enrollment for school, which may include expansion of students and/or grade levels
Develop/refine project management tools and processes
Develop/refine strategic business planning tools and processes

Leadership

Academic Program
The school leader cultivates a culture of strong academic leadership for the growth of all students and development of staff.

Develop and frequently revisit a plan to ensure the academic program meets the mission/vision and performance goals as stated in the charter contract while coordinating and implementing this vision as the academic leader
Guide the collection and analysis of data, implementing a plan of intentional reflection and response in the form of data-based decisions that are student-centered

Business Operations
The school leader works to ensure school operations are effectively managed and communicated with stakeholders.

Articulate school needs to the authorizer and governance board in an effort to ensure all students and staff have the basic necessities and time to guarantee student success
Develop and communicates an intentional school calendar with all stakeholders
Develop and implement a school budget and fiscal plan regarding the charter's business operations
Ensure timely communication with, and meets deadlines for, state and local agencies (including authorizer) that oversee accountability measures
Develop and implement a schedule to report monthly to governance board and no less than annually to authorizer
Coordinate and oversee all purchases for the school, including services, subscriptions, staffing, equipment, etc. to ensure the school is maximizing its ability to carry out the vision

Community Engagement
The school leader creates/implements plans to engage the community around the school's mission/vision and works with its stakeholders to ensure strong community involvement.

Develop and implement a plan for communicating the goals, mission/vision, and outcomes to all stakeholders and constituents
Develop and implement a plan for soliciting feedback from all stakeholders as well as engaging with the community with reflection on feedback with those stakeholders
Develop/improve an accessible school website including application form, information on school mission, curricular methods, educational model, and vision for student learning outcomes

Culture
The school leader works to cultivate a positive, professional culture with staff, students, and other stakeholders.

Create and communicate scheduled time throughout the week to be available to staff and students to listen and provide clarity
Develop and maintain a positive, safe, and trusting working environment for teachers and staff that ensures employees are able to sustain energy and dedication to students/school
Implement and refine a behavioral management plan and climate expectation system that promotes a safe and positive learning environment while allowing for positive risk taking opportunities for growth
Continuously assess and reflect on ways school leadership and culture can improve
Promote with conviction a culture with a shared vision for the school's purpose and and success measures
Actively engage with families, local community organizations, and other stakeholders to build partnerships for student opportunities and success
Routinely recognize and celebrate teachers, staff, and students while instilling empathy and demonstrating high expectations for all (Empathy and Gratitude)

Equity
The school leader strives to create a more equitable school through continued education, advocacy, and community engagement with all stakeholders.

Advance the cause of the charter school through advocacy for students, addressing racial and social justice as priorities in the educational setting as defined in the charter contract through communication plans, daily practices and policies
Actively seek to understand the diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives present within the school community and works with stakeholders to engage all families in a clear and accessible manner. This includes providing opportunities for two-way communication and feedback
Develop/sustain practices focused on equity through research-based equity trainings and the use of equity tools to measure your outcomes and processes
Ensure application and marketing materials are meeting all demographic groups within your community (i.e. Languages, formats other than digital, etc.)

Legal
The school leader works to understand federal, state, local, and charter school laws and statutes that govern education.

Create/revisit staff and student handbooks, including explanations of discipline policies, grievance process, complaint process, etc.
Design, implement, and regularly reinforce appropriate boundaries regarding student technology use for academic and personal purposes throughout the school day
Understand and implement the educational model and mission-aligned plan according to the charter school contract (including relevant policies, performance measures, etc.)

Special Education
The school leader understands the legal and ethical responsibilities they hold and keeps up-to-date on I.D.E.A. and state law as it pertains to special education.

Create and implement plans for IEP and 504 meetings to ensure all Federal and state laws are being met, meetings are student-centered, timing remains sustainable for all team members, and is in keeping with school mission
Ensure appropriate paperwork is filled out and filed by case managers with regard to all students with IEPs and 504s, and all types of IEP and 504 meetings are being appropriately scheduled (transfer, annual, etc.)
Ensure high levels of communication with all stakeholders including, student, caregivers, case managers, teachers, and (if applicable), directors of pupil services
Work with all staff to ensure appropriate understanding of individual student needs as required within their IEPs and 504s and how to implement those accommodations and/or modifications within your educational model and environment
Keep up-to-date with best practice in special education, specifically best practices within your model, when possible (virtual or environmental, for example)

Staff Development
The school leader ensures that all staff receive continuous training and professional development to effectively perform their duties.

Assign all new staff members a mentor(s) that understand the charter school for at least the first year
Empower staff to engage in continuous improvement around how to best carry out the charter contract to meet students' needs
Design, implement, and advocate for onboarding resources, materials, and training required to ensure all staff understand their role in forwarding the mission and vision of the school, and model such practices for the staff
Determine/revisit educator effectiveness model used for teacher and principal evaluation, and implements model, including an annual self-assessment that's in coordination with the governance board's annual evaluation
Develop and implement a plan to ensure the staffing and leadership team are in place with a focus on supporting the academic program, school culture, and academic needs of students, while meeting IDEA, ESSA, and Wisconsin Law
Develop, implement, and support ongoing professional development surrounding the mission/vision of the charter school
Model and guide staff in the development of SLOs (student learning objectives) as well as PPGs (professional practice goals) to guide educator effectiveness with a growth mindset

Strategic Planning
The school leader creates/revisits the community need, justification, and future plans for your school.

Annually look over data to determine the community need with regard to your school
Market application, making it clear your school is open to all learners, and interface with potential/new families and students
With the governance board, create a strategic plan for the school and create goals around the following areas: community needs, academics, financials, sustainability
Work with governance board annually to report on and revise the strategic plan

Classroom

Academic Program
The teacher designs/implements an academic program that is aligned with the mission/vision of the charter school.

Develop/modify the curriculum to ensure it meets the mission/vision of the school, utilizing research-based practices
Accept feedback through observational and evaluative observations
Design/implement appropriate supports for struggling students
Create SMART goals that align to the school's student learning objectives and works with their team/peers to carry out goals for student growth
Seek out resources and professional development in an effort to continuously grow and adapt to the ever-changing needs, laws, and requirements set in place by federal, local and state entities
Through quality, regular communication with families, the teacher is able to ensure caregivers and students understand learning objectives and processes put in place for student growth
Design/implement an academic program and curriculum rooted in state-approved standards and meet the requirements as stated by DPI
Collect and communicate mission-aligned high quality academic reports to share student learning and success with caregivers

Atmosphere
The teacher establishes/fosters a positive learning atmosphere for all students.

Provide a safe learning environment and model behaviors and practices that model and reinforce respectful interactions
Develop/implement practices for including all stakeholders: caregivers, students, staff, and community
Develop a rapport with caregivers through regular communication (classwide and direct) to ensure they have an understanding of the expectations and work being done in the classroom
Regularly solicit feedback from students and caregivers and addresses the feedback through actionable communication and changes in a timely manner
Regularly observe other teachers and invite teachers into their classrooms for observation and feedback

Equity
The teacher develops/refines academic programming and atmosphere that reflect a dedication to universal design and promotes inclusionary practices for all learners.

Develop/implement practices focused on equity for English Language Learners
Develop/implement practices focused on equity for students with IEPs/504s
Develop/implement practices focused on equity for students of a racial/ethnic minority
Develop/implement practices focused on equity for students from low socio-economic households

Legal
The teacher demonstrates a thorough understanding of their responsibility as classroom instructor, ensuring legal and ethical compliance in all aspects of their teaching.

Understand their role as a mandatory reporter and the process by which they are to report concerns
Familiar with and up-to-date on local, state, and federal laws pertaining to student protection, privacy (FERPA), discrimination, and special education
Identify potential risks and hazards in the classroom and take appropriate action to mitigate them. This includes implementing schoolwide safety protocols, ensuring appropriate supervision, and addressing safety concerns with appropriate superiors promptly
Follow and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students, caregivers, and peers to prevent misunderstandings and/or misconduct
Understand the necessity of appropriate and timely documentation of incidents, interventions and communications and the importance of this documentation for liability purposes
In alignment with the school's processes and platform, the teacher keeps records of student progress, incidents, and behavior updated regularly and consistently
Identify/select and order materials and equipment that aligns to academic program and ensures sustainability of resources

Special Education
The teacher works continuously to understand the needs of students with IEPs and 504s, while staying updated on IDEA law.

Develop/improve a specialized education plan in cooperation with the special education case manager, with careful consideration and allocation of time and resources
Along with the case manager, ensure the IEPs and 504s meet the unique needs of a varied student population
Regularly review the IEP and 504 plans for all students in the classroom and ensure understanding of all accommodations and/or modifications needed for the student
Attend IEP and 504 meetings whenever possible to contribute to the plans and understand the best ways to support the student

Capture image of the spreadsheet of the WRCCS Competencies

Click the graphic above to view a complete list of the WRCCS Charter School Competencies