As we begin the new (calendar) year, charter school leaders are tasked with updating the mandated annual notice list to include all the new legal requirements. In addition, leaders should be reviewing their school's internet postings page, as there are new requirements impacting those, as well.
CSDC knows that keeping up with all these new changes can feel daunting; in response, CSDC has released updates to two of its most sought-after checklists: The Annual Notifications to Parents and Guardians Checklist, an easy-to-use resource listing all the required notifications and their resource documentation with highlighted 2025 changes to make it easier for charter schools to remain in compliance. CSDC has also updated the Mandated Charter School Website Postings Checklist, which details the website posting requirements, including new mandates and changes to existing posting directives. Additionally, CSDC created a “to-do” list for charter schools, detailing the new legislative and legal requirements for charter schools in 2025. This critical resource is also linked in the Governance section of CSDC’s website, chartercenter.org.
This year, CSDC has launched the Governance & Ethics Webinar Series. Designed for charter school board members and hosted by CSDC’s Governance & Policy Specialist, Caitlin O’Halloran Hellar, this series delves into topics covering school policies, student data, accountability, and charter renewal—all critical areas for charter school governing board members to understand and feel competent navigating.
Further, two of the sessions in the series can help charter board members meet the new FPPC mandatory ethics training requirement. The mandate went into effect January 1, 2025, and requires all California charter school governing board members to complete two hours of ethics training by January 2026.
This series will also help board members and those required to submit an annual Form 700 disclosure form to learn how to prepare for and meet the—April 1 deadline. This webinar will walk participants though the form page-by-page and answer any questions they may have.
In the next few months, CSDC will continue to update additional resources, toolkits, and checklists to support its members. In the meantime, please reach out to caitlin@chartercenter.org with any questions.
