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Membership Benefits

ICSN provides a core package of services to its member schools. With the increased growth of the charter school movement in Idaho, the Network has expanded the range of services available to member schools. Member schools benefit from three main categories of services: 1) conferences and events, 2) technical assistance, and 3) resource and information dissemination.

Conferences and Events

In 2003-2004, ICSN began facilitating Strategic Planning Retreats for school communities of 20-30 people wishing to engage in the process of growth planning for their organization. Typically, these retreats are scheduled off campus and can range from 1-3 days in length. The facilitator will provide a summary of the retreat and an initial draft of the strategic plan. To arrange a planning retreat for your school, ICSN needs at least 3 weeks of lead time to secure a facilitator and to book travel.

Beginning in 2003-2004, ICSN will offer Regional Board Retreats throughout the state to bring together board members from various charter schools. These retreats will provide a combination of formal training a dialogue among board members for the purpose of maximizing the efficiency of charter school board governance, roles and responsibilities, adherence to required school laws, accountability, district-charter relations, and self evaluation. Dates and locations for retreats in the 2003-2004 school year are as follows:

Northern Idaho
Eastern Idaho
Treasure Valley

 Technical Assistance

ICSN's Accountability Plan for Idaho Public Charter Schools created in 2001-2002 provides provides charters and authorizers with a process and criteria both can commit to (ideally in a contract) that will clarify what is expected in the first five years of a school’s charter—spelling out the steps for a successful charter renewal. The 6-step plan covers goal setting, self study, an external site visit, a reactionary report, a follow-up visit and a focus on renewal of the charter.

In addition to the focus items contained in the accountability plan and at events hosted by ICSN, we are able to provide timely information and assistance in the form of small workshops, board presentations, conference calls, information packets, or email in the following areas:

• Planning and starting a charter school
• Defining and measuring student and school performance
• Charter school finance and operations
• School governance and leadership
• Charter school law and policy
• Charter school accountability planning
• Charter school legislation

Resource and Information Dissemination

The ICSN's Directory of Idaho Charters (PDF) provides members with information about each charter school in Idaho including the schools population, educational program, location and provides contact information for the director and other key staff at the school.

Another primary activity of ICSN is to collect and disseminate accurate data pertaining to operations, policies and procedures of Idaho Charter Schools that will help local, state and national groups as they learn about Idaho charter schools.

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