Andrew Crowe is the Superintendent of Schools at Scholarship Prep, where he leads a network of trauma-informed, culturally responsive public charter schools serving students with the greatest needs, including those experiencing homelessness. Throughout his career, Andrew has advanced equitable educational practices in Philadelphia, Hawaiʻi, and Southern California. He is a Commissioner on the California Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS), serves on the Orange County Continuum of Care Board, a cross-sector body working to prevent and end homelessness, and previously served as Chair of the Native American Alumni Board at the University of Notre Dame.
Renewal is one of the most consequential processes a charter school faces, and no two renewals look …Renewal is one of the most consequential processes a charter school faces, and no two renewals look alike. This session's candid panel brings together two charter school attorneys and four charter leaders from across California, representing a large multi-school operator in three regions, a countywide network, an LAUSD network, and a San Diego operator running both classroom- and nonclassroom-based schools. There has never been a session quite like it. Together, they will tackle the issues that matter most right now: building and maintaining authorizer relationships before and during renewal; understanding oversight and accountability trends and what they signal for your petition; navigating renewal data, including how to make a compelling case when first-glance numbers look tough; legal updates on petition drafting; pushing back when the appeal standard feels hopeless; and the hard conversation no one wants to have—when closing or merging a school is the right call, and how to make that decision.
Panelists will discuss how renewal requirements and challenges can differ across contexts while highlighting approaches that have helped their organizations achieve positive outcomes. Participants will leave with real strategies for every stage of the renewal process. Bring questions, from building community support to getting on the same page with authorizers, and expect an honest conversation that includes not only success stories, but also cautionary tales and “what we wish we had known” moments that can help schools avoid costly pitfalls and strengthen their path to renewal.
This session will provide charter school leaders with practical guidance for evaluating, negotiating…This session will provide charter school leaders with practical guidance for evaluating, negotiating, and managing EdTech contracts with confidence. Participants will explore relevant data privacy and other legal requirements, common pitfalls in EdTech contracts, and special considerations for services that heavily feature artificial intelligence.
The session will help participants understand what terms, issues, and risk areas to look for during contract negotiations. It will also provide tips for ensuring common provisions, including indemnification, insurance, limitation of liability, confidentiality, intellectual property, non-competition, and termination rights, while supporting the school’s operations and legal obligations.
Presenters will also discuss strategies for navigating vendor disputes, including student privacy concerns, service interruptions, invoice disputes, performance issues, and contract renewals. Participants will leave with practical tools to better assess EdTech vendors, spot and address problematic contract language, and manage vendor relationships throughout the contract lifecycle.
