Policy Development Governing Board Online Training Module

Why Have Written Policies? Written policies ensure the school meets legal requirements. Written policies provide direction to the governing board and staff in implementing the vision, mission, and goals of the school. Written policies are the means by which the governing board implements the vision and mission.

Policy vs. Procedure Roles The governing board writes policy The administrator creates procedure Definitions Policies indicate what should be done Procedures indicate how something should be done Note: More is not better when it comes to policies

Types of Policies Policies required by law Policies required by the charter agreement Policies that give broader definition to the vision/mission Policies that communicate board decisions

Examples: Policies required by law Employment policies Nondiscrimination Sexual harassment Conflicts of interest Whistle blower

Examples: Policies required by the Charter Agreement Lottery/enrollment Governance policies Financial policies Grievances/complaints Merit pay Compensation Uniform or dress code

Examples: Policies that give definition to the vision and mission Educational program philosophy Administrative structure Curriculum development and review Student results Field trips Religious expression

Examples: Policies that communicate governing board decisions Usually based on unique, unusual, or rare situations Facility use Media relations Student publications Part-time students Student retention

Policy Priorities 1.Those required by Utah law and Board of Education Rule 2.Those established in the Articles of Incorporation 3.Those committed to in the Charter Agreement (which includes the application in its entirety) 4.Those that replace waived state law 5.Those that further the vision and mission of the school

Translating the Mission into Policy If the mission statement commits the school to a “academic rigor,” then the board will need to define a policy outlining: The parameters for curricular and instructional choices The measure for high student performance The administrator then creates a procedure for evaluating student performance at the school.

Policy Research Research policies from other charter schools or school districts Ensure policies are legal and sound Determine your school’s values as they relate to policy Include references to state statute or Board Rule

Adopting Policy Use research to draft language Use proper notice on the agenda Consider draft at first reading Incorporate amendments and edits Use redline to show amendments (new language and language to be removed) Consider the amended policy at a second reading Note the date of adoption Notify the chartering entity

Changes to Policy Amendments to address Changes to federal and state law Changes to State Board of Education rules Amendments based on governing board decision Note the date of amendment

Policy Timelines Developing a full set of policies: about a year Adopting policy: any time of year Policy review: annual practice, three year review cycle

Developing policy Create a realistic timetable Clearly assign responsibility Address policies based on importance/priorities Review significant documents for consistency Use available experts, invest resources when appropriate Keep stakeholders informed Understanding and support adopted policies

Planning for Emergencies Manage school emergencies before they occur: Accidents Bullying Natural disasters Lockdowns Acts of violence Loss of administrator Mismanagement of funds Employee conflict

Policy Documentation All stakeholders should have access to the school’s policies. Keep an up-to-date policy manual in the front office. Post policies on the school’s web site. All governing board members should have current copies of all policies. The governing board secretary is typically the custodian of the policy manual.

Use Policies for Decision- Making Document board decisions with policy Ensure future decisions will be handled in a like manner Reduce the burden on future governing boards Establish an environment of consistent response

Summary Written policies ensure legal compliance and guide implementation of the vision and mission. The governing board writes policies, and the administrator creates procedures. Policies should be formally adopted based on appropriate priorities. All stakeholders should have access to the policy manual. Sound policies aid the governing board in sound decision-making.