Charter school governing bodies uphold the vision of its charter school through effective governance. Governing bodies perform various duties including ethical and financial oversight, establishment of, review, and revision of broad organizational policies, employ and oversee the school’s head administrator, and ensure and be accountable for the academic, financial, and organizational performance of the school. The information provided below are intended as tools for assisting new and continuing governing body members.
Regulations: Governing Body Training Requirements
Governing body member training fulfills the Organizational Performance Framework training requirement for continuing governing body members pursuant to NMSA § 22-8B-5.1. These trainings are appropriate for governing board members, charter school leaders, and charter school business managers. Administrators and other charter school leaders are also welcome to attend. Effective July 1, 2024, charter school governing body training must comply with the regulations posted below.
- All governing body training must be approved by the Public Education Department.
- Board members must annually meet training requirements that mandate training in specified areas.
- New board members must complete a 10-hour training that is provided by the Public Education Department.
- Training provided must meet the requirements of this regulation.
A schedule of trainings for continuing board members is available on the Trainings Offered page. See the Charter School Training Descriptions for more details about each type of session.
New Governing Board Members
To assist new governing board members, understand their role and scope of responsibilities, please note that New Mexico Statute § 22-8B-5.1 requires the following for New Members on a charter school governing body:
- New board members must complete 10 total hours of training within the first fiscal year (school year) of service that is provided by the Public Education Department.
- At least two (2) hours covering laws and department policies and procedures affecting governing bodies or charter schools, including ethics and school personnel
- At least two (2) hours covering public school finance, budgeting and fiduciary responsibilities of governing bodies
- At least two (2) hours covering legal concepts pertaining to governing bodies and charter schools, including the Open Meetings Act and the Inspection of Public Records Act
- At least two (2) hours covering effective governance practices and effective methods of supporting and supervising a charter school leader
- At least two (2) hours covering student achievement and student support services
Continuing Governing Board Members
To provide on-going support of continuing board members that will ensure effective charter governance across the sector, the following capacity-building learning opportunities are provided. New Mexico Administrative Code § 6.80.5.9 requires the following for continuing members on a charter school governing body:
- Every board member must complete at least 5 hours of training annually that is provided by the Public Education Department or by a provider that is approved by the Public Education Department.
- Annual training must meet specific hour requirements:
- Laws and department policies and procedures affecting governing bodies or charter schools, including ethics and school personnel
- Public school finance, budgeting and fiduciary responsibilities of governing bodies and performance-based budgeting
- A governing bodies role in evaluating and improving student academic achievement and using data to set individual school goals for student academic achievement in charter schools
- A governing bodies role in providing a safe learning environment conducive to improving student outcomes
- Legal concepts pertaining to governing bodies and charter schools, including the Open Meetings Act and the Inspection of Public Records Act
- Effective governance practices and effective methods of supporting and supervising a charter school leader
- Other matters deemed relevant by the department
- Training courses cannot be repeated in consecutive years.
- Board members should select and attend training courses based on specific areas of growth within each training area identified above for individual governing bodies or governing body members.