Resources for Schools
OW List of Required Board Policies Updated 08/22/2025
Exhibit L_Board Member Assurances Updated 08/22/2025
- OW_Governance Performance Overview Updated 02/27/2025
- Financial Statement Template & Guide Word Document – 11/30/2023
- FY25 School Website Requirements – 08/22/2025
- Charter School Admissions and Enrollment Guidance – 05/29/2025
- Aligning Teacher Evaluation with Minnesota State Requirements – 08/22/2025
- Justice in Education Toolkit (MnEEP)
- How to Talk to Kids About Racial Injustice (YouTube playlist)
- How to be an Anti-racist Educator (ASCD)
- Creating an Anti-Racist Classroom (edutopia)
- The Urgent Need for Anti-Racist Education (Education Week)
- Whiteness and White Privilege: Core Concepts (Racial Equity Tools)
- Anti-racism Resources for White People
- Resources for Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice
- Engagement and Dismantling White Supremacy (MN Wildflower Montessori Schools)
- Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup
- Discussing Race, Racism, and Police Violence (Learning for Justice)
- Multilingual Trauma Resources (Child Mind Institute)
- 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence in the News (Colorín Colorado)
- Racial Equity Resource Directory (MN Compass)
- A Practitioner’s Guide to Educating Traumatized Children (education northwest)
- Supporting Racial Equity in Distance Learning (MnEEP)
- Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture (Tema Okun)
- Avoiding Microagressions in the Classroom and Online
- NEW! FY21 Scenario Planning Template
- Distance Learning Plan Self-Evaluation and Reflection Tool (Webinar / Toolkit)
- Signs of Maltreatment or Abuse While Working with Students Virtually
- Distance Learning Plan Template
- Distance Learning Plan Addendum Template
- Distance Learning Plan Checklist
- Nature Journaling & Distance Learning (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Part 2: Safeguarding Student Health During Distance Learning (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Part 1: Safeguarding Student Health During Distance Learning (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Working During a Crisis: Introductory Strategies for Coping with the Accompanying Burnout Webinar (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Distance and e-Learning Basics (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Distance Learning for Early Learners (ages 3-8) (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Effective Practices for Online Special Education (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- Using Distance Learning as an Asset: Waste Reduction in the Home (Webinar / Slides / Notes)
- NCSI Safe School Seven: Critical Components of Remote Education Plans
- NCSI Reopening Schools Checklist and Supplemental Guidance
- Apex Learning Distance Learning Webinars
- Great Lakes Equity Center Educational Equity Resources and Supports
- Search Institute Building Developmental Relationships Checklist
- Michigan Virtual Teachers Guide to Online Learning
- MnEEP Distance Learning Toolkit
Processes
- OW Renewal Application Guide – Posted 04/16/2026
- Financial Plan Template – Posted 04/16/2026
- OW Renewal Process – Posted 04/16/2026
- OW Renewal Contracting Process – Posted 04/16/2026
- OW Charter Contract Template – Posted 04/16/2026
- OW Contract Exhibits – Posted 04/16/2026
- Academic Evaluation – Posted 04/16/2026
- Financial Evaluation – Posted 04/16/2026
- Operations Evaluation – Posted 04/16/2026
- Environmental Education Evaluation Updated 05/29/2025
- Expansion Application Guide Updated 05/29/2025
- Expansion & Replication Ready-to-Open Guide Updated 05/29/2025
- Expansion & Replication Ready-to-Open Calendar Updated 05/29/2025
- Student Number Increase Application Guide Updated 05/29/2025
Helpful Links
The Sounding Board
The Sounding Board – Promoting Quality Charter School Governance
- The Sounding Board #41 – Model Board Performance Evaluation and Training Self-Assessment
- The Sounding Board #40 – Charter School Mergers
- The Sounding Board #39 – Board Oversight of Academic Outcomes
- The Sounding Board #38 – Finance Committees
- The Sounding Board #37 – Open Meeting Law Scenarios
- The Sounding Board #36 – Maximizing Stakeholder Surveys
- The Sounding Board #35 – Ensuring Transparent and Effective Communication Outside of Board Meetings
- The Sounding Board #34 – Disseminating Information About the School
- The Sounding Board #33 – Complaint Policy
- The Sounding Board #32 – Financial Oversight
- The Sounding Board #31 – The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act
- The Sounding Board #30 – Public Comment
- The Sounding Board #29 – Cameras in Classrooms
- The Sounding Board #28 – Conflicts of Interest
- The Sounding Board #27 – Personnel Files
- The Sounding Board #26 – Teacher and Staff Retention
- The Sounding Board #25 – Supporting the School Leader
- The Sounding Board #24 – What Boards Need to Know About Academics
- The Sounding Board #23 – Virtual Board Elections
- The Sounding Board #22 – Background Checks
- The Sounding Board #21– Policy Review Cycle
- The Sounding Board #20 – Use of Public Funds
- The Sounding Board #19 – Board Self-Evaluation
- The Sounding Board #18 – Charter School Board Committees
- The Sounding Board #17 – Board Member Roles & Responsibilities
- The Sounding Board #16 – The Role of the Board Chair
- The Sounding Board #15 – Board Member Recruitment
- The Sounding Board #14 – Postponing Board Elections
- The Sounding Board #13 – Ongoing Board Training
- The Sounding Board #12 – MN §13D Guidance for Charter School Boards During Emergencies
- The Sounding Board #11 – Parliamentary Procedures
- The Sounding Board #10 – Evaluating Charter School Leaders
- The Sounding Board #9 – Hiring a Charter School Leader
- The Sounding Board #8 – School Leader Succession Planning
- The Sounding Board #7 – Onboarding New Board Members
- The Sounding Board #6 – Board Meeting Agendas
- The Sounding Board #5 – Board Meeting Quorum
- The Sounding Board #4 – Board Meeting Minutes
- The Sounding Board #3 – Open Meeting Law, Part IV: Holding Open Meetings Consistent with MN Statute 13D
- The Sounding Board #3 – Open Meeting Law, Part III: Suggested Procedures and Language for Closing Charter School Board Meetings
- The Sounding Board #3 – Open Meeting Law, Part II: Requirements During and After a Closed Meeting
- The Sounding Board #3 – Open Meeting Law, Part I: Reasons to Close a Charter School and How to Do It
- The Sounding Board #2 – Initial Board Training
- The Sounding Board #1 – Board Meeting Date Change or Cancellation
Authorizer Update
EE Update