Helping your board build the systems that make good governance last.
The Board Development Program is a year-long partnership that gives your board clear goals, a steady pipeline of new members, a strong leader review process, and a plan for succession. Take on the full program, or choose the systems your board needs most.
Lasting governance depends on strong systems.
Volunteer board members and school leaders need clear, practical support to navigate governance, public accountability, financial oversight, executive leadership, compliance, and long-term strategy. When boards have clear systems for goals, membership, executive evaluation, and succession, schools are more stable and educators can stay focused on teaching and learning. The Board Development Program helps your board build those systems and carry them forward on its own.
How the program works
The Board Development Program is a comprehensive, in-depth study of your governing and operational structure, delivered through two phases and four systems. The work begins with a Governance Assessment that informs your board's structure, committees, and goals, then continues with implementation coaching for your board chair and school leader.
Practitioner-led coaching
Our team includes former charter school founders, executive directors, operations and financial leaders, and authorizers. We provide real-world guidance grounded in the challenges your school actually faces.
- Implementation coaching sessions built into every system
- Work alongside your board chair, school leader, and Governance Committee
- Board meeting observation with written feedback
Systems your board can sustain
We turn complex requirements into practical routines, tools, and structures that remain useful through board and leadership transitions.
- Ready-to-use tools, from recruitment materials to review policies and transition letters
- Documented plans and processes your board approves and owns
- Each system available on its own, so your board can strengthen exactly the area it needs most
Four systems, available together or on their own
Each system focuses on one area of board practice and can be purchased individually, so your board can begin where it needs the most support. Boards that choose all four systems complete the full Board Development Program over 12 months.
System 1: Board Goals and Accountability
$11,400 | About 6 months | Board chair and school leader engagement
Sets clear, measurable board goals and tracks progress against them. Informed by a Governance Assessment, we define your board's structure, committees, and annual goals, closing the work with an end-of-year evaluation and a work plan for the year ahead.
- Annual goal setting grounded in your school's strategic plan
- A governance calendar, dashboards, and committee structure built for your board
- Four implementation coaching sessions each for the school leader and board chair
- Board meeting observation with written feedback on strengths and areas for improvement
- Committee charter development and launch support for all board committees
The outcome: an established board structure, core committees, and 5 to 10 annual goals, plus a completed end-of-year evaluation and next year's work plan.
System 2: New Member Pathways
$6,400 | About 4 months | Governance Committee and school leader engagement
Covers board recruitment, elections, and onboarding. In partnership with your Governance Committee, we keep nominations and elections timely, transparent, inclusive, and effective, while a skills inventory keeps your board balanced and reflective of the school community.
- Six implementation coaching sessions for the school leader and board chair
- A skills and demographics inventory to identify gaps on your board
- Ready-to-use recruitment materials, including an FAQ, nomination forms, interview questions, and a communications plan
- A transparent, community-wide nomination and election process
- Structured onboarding and orientation for new members, including board buddies
- An officer nomination and election process and a committee chair pipeline
The outcome: a comprehensive and inclusive process for recruiting and retaining board members, with new members who are oriented and productive.
System 3: Leader Performance Review
$4,900 | About 4 months | Governance or Executive Committee engagement
Grounded in your school's strategic plan, or an equivalent plan with SMART goals, this system guides the school leader's annual performance review. Many schools pair it with a development-only mid-year 360 review, followed by a supportive development plan for the year ahead.
- A formal review process and policy tailored to your school
- Performance goal alignment with 10 to 12 KPIs embedded in the review
- An optional mid-year 360 review for development purposes only
- A board-facilitated executive session with structured feedback delivery
- A forward-looking development plan for the school leader's growth
- Four implementation coaching sessions for the board or governance chair
The outcome: an evidence-based, forward-looking evaluation of the school leader, grounded in strategic goals and enriched by mid-year 360 feedback, that leads to a concrete, supportive development plan.
System 4: Succession Planning
$7,800 | About 4 months | Board chair, Governance Committee, and school leader engagement
Covers planned and unplanned succession for both the school leader and the board chair. A grow-your-own approach develops existing leadership talent, while board chair succession is supported by mentorship and shadowing so any transition stays seamless.
- A Leadership Talent Blueprint and grow-your-own development pathways
- Planned and unplanned succession plans for the school leader and board chair
- Stakeholder communication plans and transition letters
- A documented plan ready for board approval and activation
- Four implementation coaching sessions each for the school leader and board chair
- Board meeting observation with written feedback on strengths and areas for improvement
The outcome: a school that can transition leadership without disruption, planned or unplanned, backed by a ready pipeline of internally developed candidates.
The complete Board Development Program
$24,400 for all four systems over 12 months, a 20% savings compared to purchasing each system individually.
More than 2,200 board members across over 75 charter schools have taken part in CharterSource learning.
Our team has held the roles our clients hold, which brings credibility, empathy, and advice that works in the real conditions of a charter school.
More ways we support your board
The Board Development Program pairs well with CharterSource's ongoing board training, coaching, and tools.
- Board Webinar Series and Board Self-Assessment ($750 + $250 per year): annual access to 25+ required and elective board training webinars, plus a Board Self-Assessment with two 2-week windows each year that satisfies state training and self-assessment requirements.
- Board Chair Coaching ($4,860 per year): ten 60-minute coaching sessions with your board chair, a custom scope and sequence, templates and work plans, attendance at one board meeting, and an end-of-year Board Accountability Dashboard.
- Board Management System ($3,500 per year): one sign-in for board books, calendaring, self-assessments, and ED performance reviews, including the Board Webinar Series, a resource library, 250+ sample policies, and 24/7 phone support.
- Custom Board Training and Retreats (pricing varies): custom training for half- or full-day board retreats, or shorter sessions during a regular board meeting.
Start with a conversation
Every board begins from a different place. We're glad to talk through your board's goals and help you decide whether the full program or a single system is the right fit for your school.