CGMI-F v1.0

Five Domains of Charter Board Governance

Each domain organizes four practice areas and is measured independently at each of the five CGMI maturity levels. A school's overall level is the lowest of its domain ratings.

Board Composition & Competency

A governance body is only as capable as its members. This domain measures whether the board has the right people, in the right roles, with the right knowledge.

4 practice areas·NACSAGoverning in the Public Interest — Board composition and independence

D1.PA1

Board Composition

Board size, seat count, required positions (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), vacancy management, term limits

D1.PA2

Member Competency

Role-specific knowledge, certification completion, ongoing professional development, skill gap identification

D1.PA3

Succession Planning

Officer election cycles, recruitment pipeline, transition protocols, knowledge transfer processes

D1.PA4

Diversity & Independence

Board composition diversity (skills, background, community representation), independence from management and EMO/CMO

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Governance Processes & Compliance

Processes are the engine of governance. This domain measures whether governance operates through repeatable, documented processes that meet legal requirements and best practice standards.

4 practice areas·NACSACompliance indicators across all five performance domains

D2.PA1

Meeting Management

Notice compliance, quorum achievement, agenda structure, open meetings law adherence, closed session protocols

D2.PA2

Records & Documentation

Minutes quality, completeness, timeliness, retention, public records compliance, document management

D2.PA3

Policy Framework

Policy library completeness, currency, alignment with state law, conflict of interest enforcement, whistleblower protection

D2.PA4

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

Charter agreement adherence, state statute compliance, federal law compliance (IDEA, FERPA, Title IX), authorizer reporting

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Strategic Oversight & Accountability

Boards govern strategy, not operations. This domain measures whether the board provides meaningful strategic direction, evaluates school leadership performance, and maintains accountability for the charter's promises.

4 practice areas·NACSAOngoing oversight and evaluation — school quality accountability

D3.PA1

Strategic Planning

Existence and currency of strategic plan, board role in plan development, monitoring of strategic milestones

D3.PA2

Leadership Oversight

Executive director/principal evaluation process, performance metrics, accountability mechanisms, management separation

D3.PA3

Academic Accountability

Board oversight of academic performance data, response to underperformance, alignment with charter mission

D3.PA4

Charter Promise Fidelity

Monitoring compliance with charter commitments, enrollment targets, grade expansion, program fidelity

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Financial Governance & Sustainability

Charter boards are fiduciaries of public funds. This domain measures whether the board provides meaningful financial oversight — not just receives reports, but actively understands, monitors, and acts on financial health.

4 practice areas·NACSAFinancial performance domain — fiscal oversight and auditing

D4.PA1

Financial Oversight

Budget approval and monitoring, fund balance management, Treasurer engagement, financial dashboard use, board financial literacy

D4.PA2

Audit & Internal Controls

Annual audit process, audit committee function (if applicable), response to audit findings, internal control policies

D4.PA3

Financial Sustainability

Revenue diversification, reserve fund management, multi-year financial planning, facility cost management

D4.PA4

Procurement & Compliance

Procurement policy compliance, conflict of interest in contracting, CMO/EMO financial independence, grant management

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Transparency & Stakeholder Accountability

Charter schools are public institutions. This domain measures whether the board governs transparently — making information available to the public, engaging the community, and fulfilling its obligations as a steward of public education.

4 practice areas·NACSATransparency and public accountability standards

D5.PA1

Public Transparency

Meeting notice publication, agenda and minutes availability, annual report publication, public access compliance

D5.PA2

Community Engagement

Parent and community input mechanisms, stakeholder communication, public comment processes

D5.PA3

Authorizer Relationship

Quality of authorizer communication, proactive disclosure, response to authorizer requests, renewal readiness

D5.PA4

Continuous Improvement Culture

Board self-assessment practice, governance review cycles, learning from failures, benchmarking against peers

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