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Practices from the Portfolio, Volume 2

In NewSchools Venture Fund's engagement with the entrepreneurial education organizations we support, we have found that these entrepreneurs have much to share with – and much to learn from – one another. Our new Practices from the Portfolio series seeks to capture, synthesize and share this powerful knowledge residing within the NewSchools portfolio.

For this second volume of Practices from the Portfolio, we identified four critical challenges faced by charter management organizations (CMOs) as they grow to scale. For each challenge, we profiled the practices that three organizations within our portfolio have developed in response. We then collected relevant documents and templates used by these organizations. We believe the resulting set of tools, which are detailed below and cover challenges that range from human capital to performance to home office operations, will inform practitioners as they grapple with these same challenges.

Full Report: Practices from the Portfolio, Volume 2

Executive Summary


Individual Cases

• Principal Selection, Development, and Evaluation
  • Attachment 1: Coachable vs Personal Beliefs/Characteristics Conceptual Framework
  • Attachment 2: New Leaders for New Schools 10 Selection Criteria
  • Attachment 3: Aspire Public Schools Data Analysis Assignment
  • Attachment 4: Aspire Public Schools Principal Performance Criteria Rubric
  • Attachment 5: New Leaders for New Schools Principal Job Description
  • Attachment 6: Training: New Leaders for New Schools Resident Core Competencies
  • Attachment 7: Achievement First Administrator Task List
  • Attachment 8: Green Dot Public Schools Key Results Planning Guide and Protocol
  • Attachment 9: Achievement First Principal and Superintendent Co-Observation Day Protocol
  • Attachment 10: Green Dot Public Schools 95-5 Model and Schedule
  • Attachment 11: Green Dot Public Schools Principal Evaluation Rubric
  • Attachment 12: Achievement First Principal’s Professional Growth Plan
  • Attachment 13: Achievement First School Report Cards
  • Attachment 14: New Leaders for New Schools Resident Leadership Coach Job Description, New Orleans

• Performance Dashboards

• PowerSchool Student Information Systems
  • Attachment 1: Uncommon Schools PowerSchool Operations Manual
  • Attachment 2: Uncommon Schools PowerSchool Overview
  • Attachment 3: Uncommon Schools Knowledge Manager Job Description
  • Attachment 4: Uncommon Schools Training: Secondary Teacher Handbook
  • Attachment 5: Uncommon Schools Training: Primary Teacher Handbook
  • Attachment 6: Uncommon Schools Training: Attendance Reference Sheet
  • Attachment 7: Uncommon Schools Training: Special Education Coordinator Reference Card
  • Attachment 8: Uncommon Schools Training: Primary Teachers Reference Card
  • Attachment 9: Uncommon Schools Training: Secondary Teachers Reference Card
  • Attachment 10: Uncommon Schools Training: Dean of Students Reference Cards
  • Attachment 11: Uncommon Schools Training: Office Manager Reference Card
  • Attachment 12: Uncommon Schools Training: Director of Operations Training Sessions
  • Attachment 13: Uncommon Schools Training: Managing Directors Training Meeting
  • Attachment 14: Uncommon Schools Training: Secondary Teachers Training Session
  • Attachment 15: Uncommon Schools Training: Primary Teachers Training Session
  • Attachment 16: Uncommon Schools Security Protocol

• Facilities Management and Maintenance
  • Attachment 1: Lighthouse Academies: Sample Lease
  • Attachment 2: Aspire Public Schools: Sample Lease
  • Attachment 3: Mastery Charter Schools: Purchase-of-Assets Agreement
  • Attachment 4: Lighthouse Academies: Sample Daily Cleaning Schedule
  • Attachment 5: Lighthouse Academies: Model School Safety & Emergency Response Plan
  • Attachment 6: Preventive Maintenance Schedule
  • Attachment 7: Aspire Public Schools: Break-in and Vandalism Policy
  • Attachment 8: Aspire Public Schools: School Disaster Plan
  • Attachment 9: Aspire Public Schools: Site Facilities Annual Inspection Checklist
  • Attachment 10: Aspire Public Schools: SchoolDude FAQ
  • Attachment 11: Mastery Charter Schools: Job Description – Director of Operations
  • Attachment 12: Mastery Charter Schools: Job Description – Assistant Principal for School Operations
  • Attachment 13: Aspire Public Schools: Job Description – Director of Real Estate