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The National Charter Schools Conference is excited to offer a variety of pre-conference workshops and learning opportunities for conference attendees. 

Developing Your Charter School into a Green, Healthy, Sustainable School
Tuesday, June 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Green Charter Schools Network

Presented by the Green Charter Schools Network.

The Green Charter School Workshop is designed to help all charter schools develop pathways on their journey to becoming a school of the future. The U.S. Department of Education has recognized the importance of greening American schools with the Green Ribbon Schools Award beginning the 2011-2012 school year. As U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, "Green schools and environmental literacy in fact complement the goals of providing a well-rounded education for the 21st century, of modernizing schools at reduced costs and of accelerating learning." The Green Charter Schools Network is comprised of 300 emerging and comprehensive Green Charter Schools aross America. Many of these schools are leaders in their state on developing comprehensive Green Schools. They have applied for the prestigious Green Ribbon Schools Award and have developed models that can be replicated by other charter schools to improve student health and learning while reducing operating costs.
Workshop Monitor
  • Jim McGrath President Green Charter Schools Network, President and CEO Green Schools National Network, LaCrescent, MN
    Topic: Research on Green Charter Schools Leading the National Green School Movement
 Workshop Experts
  • Al Stenstrup Director of Education Programs, American Forest Foundation, Project Learning Tree, Washington, DC
    Topic: Stewardship and Service Learning Projects
  • Alison Suffet-Diaz Founder and Executive Director Environmental Charter Schools, National Green Ribbon Schools recipient 2012, Lawndale, CA
    Topic: Financing Green Schools; Students leading the Green Revolution
  • Chuck Weber Chief Financial Officer, Green Schools National Network, Principal, Soldier Hollow Charter School, National Blue Ribbon School recipient 2011, Midway, UT
    Topic: Integrating Green, healthy and sustainability stewardship themes across the curriculum
  • Jenny Seydel Chief Operations Officer, Green Schools National Network, School Designer with Expeditionary Learning Schools, Madison, WI
    Topic: Pathways to Designing a Green School
 Invited Organizations
  • Green Ribbon Schools Award
  • Healthy Food, Healthy Students
  • Financing Green Schools New and Retrofits
  • $aving Money by Reducing Resources

In this interactive workshop, all attendees will participate in roundtable discussions on developing action plans for their school to become a Green Charter School! New conference attendees can sign up via the registration page. Current registered conference attendees can register via the reaccess link.



Minnesota Charter School Board Training
Tuesday, June 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

University of St. Thomas

The National Charter Schools Conference has partnered with the University of St. Thomas to offer special board training as required for all Minnesota board members.

The University of St. Thomas is approved to deliver training in all three of the state-mandated areas: board governance, financial oversight, and employment matters. More information about this new law’s training requirements can be found at the Minnesota Department of Education website. This training offers: An atmosphere that supports subject-matter expertise and business excellence; expert instructors; case studies, lecture, and application exercises; and a rich, peer-informed learning experience
Board Governance & Oversight of Employment Matters
Participants will cover the range of topics and requirements specified under Minnesota statute and Minnesota Charter School Law. The specific areas that comprise this topic include:
  • Board governance expectations and responsibilities
  • Board membership composition
  • Accountability and access to records and public documents
  • Board meetings, including their publicity and Open Meeting Law requirements
  • The role of committees
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Oversight of the school's employment policies and practices
  • Reviewing and establishing contracts
  • Establishing and reviewing employment policies and practices, including faculty licensing
  • Adherence to employment laws, including human rights, disabilities, due process, and Whistleblower protection

Both sessions will be presented simultaneously, and attendees can choose one to attend. Both are offered at a heavily discounted rate. New conference attendees can sign up via the registration page. Current registered conference attendees can register via the reaccess link.


Building the Capacity of Charter Schools: Effectively Serving Students with Disabilities
Tuesday, June 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

National Charter School Resource Center

Presented by the Charter School Resource Center.

As charter school leaders strive to serve all students, they often face a number of challenges when planning how to provide high-quality special education services to students with disabilities. What are the responsibilities of charter schools? How are charter school leaders reinventing the delivery of special education services? What resources are available to support charter school educators who are committed to improving the quality of education in charter schools for students with disabilities? This event will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of the headquarter hotels. The conference will be hosted by the National Charter School Resource Center and presented in partnership with NAPCS.
The event will feature interactive sessions on the following topics:
  • Designing Innovative Charter Schools That Serve the Needs of All Children
  • Nuts and Bolts of Special Education: What Do Charter School Educators Need to Know?
  • Authorizing: New Tools for Reviewing Special Education Programs in Charter School Applications
  • Setting Up Special Education Programs: Tools and Resources for Charter School Operators
  • Developing Policies That Support a Positive Schoolwide Culture and Create Fair Discipline Processes
 There is no registration fee to attend.

The National Charter School Resource Center has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Minneapolis for Monday, June 18, 2012. To receive the special rate, hotel reservations must be booked by Monday, May 21, 2012.

Please go to their preconference website to register.