Family & Community Alternative Learning
Massachusetts Charter Schools

Governance

As entities of the state, charter schools must meet a number of legal requirements set forth by the Commonwealth. Many of these requirements are outlined in The Charter School Administrative and Governance Guide: An Overview of the Laws and Regulations that Boards of Trustees and School Leaders Need to Know.

Proposed members of the Board of Trustees must submit a financial disclosure form for the previous calendar year within 30 days after becoming a member of the Board. Information on the process for approving new trustees and financial disclosure forms is available below.

When a school receives its original charter and any subsequent renewals of that charter from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board), the state approves the charter school's broad academic and organizational plans for the next five years. Any substantive changes to those plans require the approval of the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (Commissioner) and/or Board for an amendment to the school's charter before the changes are implemented. Technical advisory 11-1, the Amendment Request Template and Cover Sheet are below.

The amended Charter School Statute, M.G.L. c. 71, § 89, and the Charter School Regulations, 603 CMR 1.00 contain new requirements related to charter school enrollment. Therefore, each school's enrollment policy must be reviewed and updated to ensure that they are consistent with the revised requirements. Criteria for Enrollment Policies and Applications for Admission, Revision Policy Memo and Implementation Guidance can be found below.

Amendments

  

Charter School Technical Advisory 11-1: Charter Amendments

  

Charter School Amendment Request Cover Sheet

  

Template for Charter Amendment Approval

Board of Trustees

  

Criteria for Charter School Bylaws

  

Disclosure of Financial Interest Form for Calendar Year 2011

  

Disclosure of Financial Interest Form for Calendar Year 2010

  

The Charter School Administrative and Governance Guide, November 2007

  

Template for Approval of New Board Members

Enrollment

  

Criteria for Enrollment Policies and Applications for Admission (Commonwealth Charter Schools)

  

Criteria for Enrollment Policies and Applications for Admission (Horace Mann Charter Schools)

Enrollment Revision Policy Memo

  

Enrollment Implementation Guidance