Annual Governance Training
Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 20‐2‐2084(f), requires that every member of a governing board of a state charter school participate in annual governing board training.
Governance Training Policy for State Charter Schools
The SCSC Board of Commissioners adopted a new governance training policy to promote high-quality charter schools and ensure compliance with Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20‐2‐2084(f)). This policy establishes differentiated training requirements for new and tenured governing board members at state charter schools.
Governance
Training Policy for State Charter Schools
Guidance Document
This guidance document is designed to help state charter schools understand and comply with the new governance training requirements for governing board members. It outlines the annual training expectations for New and Tenured Members, provides details on approved training providers, and explains the process for verifying training completion.
Governance
Training Guidance for State Charter Schools
Questions? Contact Michele Neely at [email protected].
Request an Exception for New Board Members to Receive Alternate Training
Pursuant to the Governance Training policy and guidance, new governing board members must receive New Member training from the SCSC. The deadline for new members of state charter schools to request governance training from alternate providers has passed.
Questions? Contact Naquita Smith at [email protected].
FY25 Training Calendar
Past Governance Training Materials
Information and materials from past training opportunities can be helpful as well to see what was taught and to view presentations from past courses.
SCSC-Sponsored Opportunities
The SCSC covers the cost for state charter schools to access the training opportunities listed below.
GCSA Financial Management Certification Program
GCSA’s Financial Management Courses are tailored to address the unique financial issues facing charter schools. GCSA’s Financial Management Certification Program is offered virtually and consists of six courses, each divided into two four-hour sessions within the same week. Registration is open to all interested charter school employees and board members. Participants can register for individual courses or the entire program.
Winter/Spring 2025 Course Schedule
All courses begin at 8 a.m. on the dates below.
| Course | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Government Accounting 101 | Understand the basics of accounting, navigate the GaDOE LUA accounting manual, and learn how to avoid common accounting mistakes. | Feb 3 & 4 |
| QBE Funding & School Budget Development | Gain a comprehensive, big-picture and detailed understanding of the QBE formula and all its input variables. | Feb 24 & 25 |
| Foundational & Strategic Fiscal Policy Development, Implementation & Evaluation | Recieve a foundational policy framework and learn the basics of policy development, implementation, and evaluation. | Mar 24 & 25 |
| Procurement Policies & Practices, Payroll & Compensation Practices | Learn best practices for the entire procurement cycle, policy and regulatory implications, the relationship between internal controls and procurement, the RFP process, and best practices. | Apr 22 & 24 |
| Internal Controls, Legal Requirements & Best Practices, Effective Financial Oversight | Learn to develop and maintain robust internal control structures, systems, and policies to ensure that sound fiscal management practices are in place. | May 1 & 2 |
| Audit Preparation Best Practices | Develop an understanding of the audit process and the audit preparation process. | May 12 & 13 |
Additional Information
The SCSC covers the cost of the courses for all state charter school participants.
If an attendee misses a course, they will have the opportunity to complete it again in the next semester. Following each of the six required courses, attendees must take and pass an exam (with a score of 75% or higher) to earn their certification. Participants have up to three years to take and pass all exams to earn certification.