Grow Schools

Most states already require charter schools to submit multi-year budget projections — but there's a big difference between doing it for compliance and using it as a leadership tool.

Kristin Nowak, EVP of Strategic Management at CSMC, explains how seeing your finances across two or three years changes the conversation: a staff raise that looks manageable in one year might raise sustainability questions across three, and growth plans need to be modeled over time, not just in the year you invest. Read the full article at the link.
https://hubs.la/Q04s7Yw80

While it's never too early to prepare for your lease renewal, it can definitely be too late. Mary Dillon, Associate Director of Real Estate Management at Grow Schools, shares how to approach lease negotiations strategically: when to start the conversation (hint: 18–24 months out), the negotiation levers beyond base rent, and the preparation that protects your budget from surprises. Read the full article at the link.
https://hubs.la/Q04s7F1S0

Most schools track new enrollments, but are you also tracking what happens when a family quietly leaves? Kerry Selfinger breaks down why retention is the most underrated lever for sustainable enrollment growth and how turning re-enrollment into a relationship moment can help make families your greatest ambassadors. For retention tips, read the full article at the link. https://hubs.la/Q04nMTVT0

If a family searches "best charter school near me" right now, does your school show up?

Schema markup is the small piece of code that tells Google and AI search engines exactly what your school is — and most schools don't have it. SEO and digital strategy consultant Niki Blaker breaks down exactly what it is, why it matters, and how to do it yourself. Read Niki's latest article at the link. https://hubs.la/Q04m0d8N0

Avela surveyed 500+ charter families about their enrollment experience, and the findings should shape how every charter school thinks about its website. From how families research schools to where applications fall apart, the data points to three things worth getting right before next enrollment season. Read the full article by Alex Weitzel at the link. https://hubs.ly/Q04n8yw90

In our Building for Growth live event, we brought together facilities experts and a charter leader who's navigated a complex expansion firsthand. Dr. Tandria Callins of Language and Literacy Academy for Learning shares the hard-won lessons from her own expansion. Read the key takeaways from our experts or watch the full event at the link! https://hubs.la/Q04rFy040

Every growing school eventually faces the same challenge: the space that once supported your mission now limits it. Michael Soh, Director of Construction & Development at Grow Schools, breaks down the strategic questions to ask before you renovate, expand, or relocate — plus why big facility projects need a nearly four-year planning runway, and the creative solutions that provide relief in the meantime. Read the full article at the link.
https://hubs.la/Q04rFpSW0

Your website is often the deciding factor for over half of families making their final enrollment decision — and it's working 24/7, whether it's working for you or against you.

Niki Blaker, design strategist and founder of Five Sigma Studio, shares how to turn your school's website into your hardest-working enrollment ambassador: content that shifts with the enrollment season, metrics that actually matter (hint: it's not only about traffic), and the smooth mobile experience families expect. Get the full website guide at the link! https://hubs.la/Q04rFJ2C0