Charter Starter

The Arizona Charter Schools Association offers technical support for charter application development, start-up training seminars, and a network of proven consultants in facility procurement, school leadership, business operations, and curriculum design. Attend our 2008 Charter Starter Seminar, download our seminar brochure, or contact Mark Francis at 602.944.0644.

2008 Charter Starter Seminar:
Creating a Quality Charter School In Arizona

Arizona needs highly effective leaders who have the capacity to create quality charter schools in which students learn. As simple as that sounds, creating an institution dedicated to improving learning in Arizona is a daunting task. The Arizona Charter Schools Association is here to help you bridge the barriers and smooth the path to creating a quality charter school.

Don't miss this day-long workshop held in conjunction with the Association’s annual conference and vendor fair. Participants will meet and learn from professionals who have founded high-quality schools and audited school business and finance operations as well as representatives from the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, the state’s main authorizer.

During lunch, participants will learn more about the Walton Family Foundation (WFF) and the grant initiative they are currently offering to support quality school startup within the boundaries of the Phoenix Union High School District and its elementary feeder districts. For more information on the Walton Family Foundation’s Grant Partners Program, please contact Dr. Mark Francis at mark@azcharters.org or visit the Grant Partners Program overview.

Agenda:

Excellence by Design: The Nexus between Personal and Professional Excellence, Gregg Vanourek, New Mountain Ventures

Drawing on his new book, Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives (based on interviews with 55 enduringly successful leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide), charter school author and education entrepreneur Gregg Vanourek will offer stories and strategies for successful leading and living—and how and why those are intertwined. Key themes to be addressed include: the importance of a strong personal foundation (leading with a purpose), the importance of taking ownership of our life and work (taking responsibility for the end result), the importance of a strong support network and high-performance culture (that fosters teamwork), and the importance of accountability and renewal mechanisms in our life and work (including a process for solving problems and making improvements). Other themes to be addressed in this presentation—designed to be one-half inspiration and one-half practical tools—include vision, courage, and service.

Developing Your Charter School: A Roadmap to Success, Dr. Mark Francis, Arizona Charter Schools Association

This presentation will help you analyze your preparedness for the task ahead and help you build a knowledge base to infuse quality into your school vision from its inception.

Lunch and presentation on Walton Grant Partners Program

The Walton Family Foundation is seeking leaders to open schools within the Phoenix Union High School district boundaries and the K-8 districts that feed it. The Foundation will support quality candidates up to $250,000. Attend this luncheon and learn more about how to qualify.

Charter Business Management 101: Understanding Charter School Finance, Facility Procurement, and Critical Funding Regulations, Michele Diamond, Diamond Financial Solutions (former Director of Government and Financial Affairs for the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools)

Michelle will lead a session on business planning for the prospective applicant. Especially pertinent is the start-up costs of your proposed school. Defining your launch expenses and gathering the resources to support it before you receive state funding is an essential part of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools application process.

Crafting Your Arizona Charter Application: Strategies from Your Authorizer
Mike Dunbar, Arizona State Board for Charter Schools

The State Board for Charter Schools is the primary authorizer of charter schools in Arizona. Each year the Board reviews an average of 50 new charter applications and utilizes the expertise of its staff and curriculum and financial experts to review each application. Mike Dunbar joined the State Board for Charter Schools’ staff in April 2007, jumping into the application process by presenting at Prospective Applicant Workshops, evaluating applications for administrative completeness, conducting Technical Review Panel Trainings, facilitating consensus reviews, and ultimately preparing materials for the Board’s consideration.

Mike has since become the Team Lead on the application process and will share his expertise and experience with attendees - presenting an overview of the Charter Board’s application process, providing the timeline for application submission and key components of a successful application. Mike will also share strategies for a successful submission and some pitfalls to avoid.



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	Interested in Starting a Quality Arizona Charter School but... Concerned about finding a facility? Nervous about developing your curriculum? Confused about the charter application process? We can help. The Arizona Charter Schools Association offers technical support for charter application development, start-up training seminars, and a network of proven consultants in facility procurement, school leadership, business operations, and curriculum design. Attend our 2008 Charter Starter Seminar, download our seminar brochure, or contact Mark Francis at 602.944.0644. 2008 Charter Starter Seminar: Creating a Quality Charter School In Arizona Monday, November 10, 2008, Carefree Resort, Carefree, AZ Arizona needs highly effective leaders who have the capacity to create quality charter schools in which students learn. As simple as that sounds, creating an institution dedicated to improving learning in Arizona is a daunting task. The Arizona Charter Schools Association is here to help you bridge the barriers and smooth the path to creating a quality charter school. Don't miss this day-long workshop held in conjunction with the Association’s annual conference and vendor fair. Participants will meet and learn from professionals who have founded high-quality schools and audited school business and finance operations as well as representatives from the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, the state’s main authorizer. During lunch, participants will learn more about the Walton Family Foundation (WFF) and the grant initiative they are currently offering to support quality school startup within the boundaries of the Phoenix Union High School District and its elementary feeder districts. For more information on the Walton Family Foundation’s Grant Partners Program, please contact Dr. Mark Francis at mark@azcharters.org or visit the Grant Partners Program overview. Agenda: Excellence by Design: The Nexus between Personal and Professional Excellence, Gregg Vanourek, New Mountain Ventures Drawing on his new book, Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives (based on interviews with 55 enduringly successful leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide), charter school author and education entrepreneur Gregg Vanourek will offer stories and strategies for successful leading and living—and how and why those are intertwined. Key themes to be addressed include: the importance of a strong personal foundation (leading with a purpose), the importance of taking ownership of our life and work (taking responsibility for the end result), the importance of a strong support network and high-performance culture (that fosters teamwork), and the importance of accountability and renewal mechanisms in our life and work (including a process for solving problems and making improvements). Other themes to be addressed in this presentation—designed to be one-half inspiration and one-half practical tools—include vision, courage, and service. Developing Your Charter School: A Roadmap to Success, Dr. Mark Francis, Arizona Charter Schools Association This presentation will help you analyze your preparedness for the task ahead and help you build a knowledge base to infuse quality into your school vision from its inception. Lunch and presentation on Walton Grant Partners Program The Walton Family Foundation is seeking leaders to open schools within the Phoenix Union High School district boundaries and the K-8 districts that feed it. The Foundation will support quality candidates up to $250,000. Attend this luncheon and learn more about how to qualify. Charter Business Management 101: Understanding Charter School Finance, Facility Procurement, and Critical Funding Regulations, Michele Diamond, Diamond Financial Solutions (former Director of Government and Financial Affairs for the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools) Michelle will lead a session on business planning for the prospective applicant. Especially pertinent is the start-up costs of your proposed school. Defining your launch expenses and gathering the resources to support it before you receive state funding is an essential part of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools application process. Crafting Your Arizona Charter Application: Strategies from Your Authorizer Mike Dunbar, Arizona State Board for Charter Schools The State Board for Charter Schools is the primary authorizer of charter schools in Arizona. Each year the Board reviews an average of 50 new charter applications and utilizes the expertise of its staff and curriculum and financial experts to review each application. Mike Dunbar joined the State Board for Charter Schools’ staff in April 2007, jumping into the application process by presenting at Prospective Applicant Workshops, evaluating applications for administrative completeness, conducting Technical Review Panel Trainings, facilitating consensus reviews, and ultimately preparing materials for the Board’s consideration. Mike has since become the Team Lead on the application process and will share his expertise and experience with attendees - presenting an overview of the Charter Board’s application process, providing the timeline for application submission and key components of a successful application. Mike will also share strategies for a successful submission and some pitfalls to avoid. Registration now full! Need more info about opening your own charter school? Email Dr. Mark Francis