1. As America’s charter schools grow in size and influence, so too does their risk profile.
And while modern education already comes with an extensive set of risks, charter school
executives face additional exposures that are unique to their organization. In an arena
where innovation and freedom of choice reign supreme, how do today’s charter schools
maintain their independence in the face of risk?
Understanding the risks your school faces and developing a strategic plan to mitigate
them will go a long way in helping you meet your objectives. To help you along the way,
we’ve compiled a list of the top risk concerns facing charter schools, along with workable
solutions that will protect your organization both now and in the future.
CHARTER SCHOOLS
TOP 10
RISK RUNDOWN
READ ON FOR THE TOP RISK CONCERNS >>

2. EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
Your staff is essential to your organization achieving academic excellence. It also poses
the highest risk to sustained success through issues such as wrongful termination, at will
vs. contract employees, wage and hour discrimination, and harassment.
THE SOLUTION: First and foremost, do everything in your power to provide a fair and unbiased
work environment. All personnel issues should be handled uniformly and hiring should be
formalized with stringent pre-screening criteria. Be sure to document all HR issues extensively and
familiarize yourself with protected classes. Finally, don’t be a lone ranger. Ask for help from legal
and claim resources.
STAFF/VOLUNTEER
INJURIES
From slips and falls to injuries suffered during sanctioned activities, your staff and
volunteers face countless risks while in the line of service.
THE SOLUTION: Educate your staff on the most frequent injuries suffered at schools through
proactive training and awareness and perform a Job Safety Analysis. Mitigate unnecessary risks
by outsourcing functions like maintenance, food service, custodial, and bus drivers.
SUPERVISION
“Lack of supervision” is among the most frequent claims against schools, making
it imperative to pay close attention to organized sports, play areas, and interactions
between students.
THE SOLUTION: Be highly attentive during play periods, establish clearly defined rules for the play
area, and keep students accountable. To maximize safety, institute a formalized inspection process
and train your staff on risk management.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The prevalence of social media blurs the line between professional and personal
relationships and poses a privacy issue for both staff and students.
THE SOLUTION: Establish a written policy defining your staff’s use of social media for school
business and ensure it is adopted by the board and signed by each employee. Hold training
sessions on the “red flags” associated with social media use and monitor activity closely.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
The rate of special education enrollment is outpacing the rate of general education
enrollment. As these numbers continue to rise, charter schools must remain vigilant in
managing the risks associated with special education compliance.
THE SOLUTION: Hire an experienced director of special education and a highly trained teaching
staff that can design effective curricula to meet academic needs. Individual Education Plans
(IEPs) are essential to special education, so place a strong emphasis on proper training and
documentation.
ATHLETICS AND PLAY AREA
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CHARTER SCHOOLS
TOP 10
RISK RUNDOWN

3. CONTACT
Tom Boobar, MBA, MS, CSP
Vice President
949 260 5096
Tom.Boobar@alliant.com
CA License No. 0C36861
© 2015 Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved. [2014-2473]
TRANSPORTATION
Off-site activities are paramount to a charter school education, requiring a broad range of
modes of transportation, including students driving in staff vehicles, charter buses, van
services, and even public transportation.
THE SOLUTION: Establish clearly defined guidelines for student transportation and ensure that an
experienced driver is used for large groups (15 or more). When chartering a bus or van, review the
contracts carefully to transfer liability and ensure that the school is added as an additional insured
by the charter company.
BUSINESS RISKS
Charter school business is unlike any other business. The unique structure of your
organization and its associated business interactions make it highly susceptible to
various risks.
THE SOLUTION: Review your list of insureds and work with your insurance partner to determine
if additional insureds need to be included. Also, look at your geographical reach (are you local,
regional, national?) and your board structure in relation to your policy. Finally, take a look at all of
those acronyms and number sequences (LLC, Inc., CMO, 501(c)3, etc.) as they all carry their own
unique insurance implications.
FACILITY CONTRACTS
AND INDEMNIFICATION
Charter schools have an extensive array of contractual obligations (funding sources,
leases, foundations, accreditation requirements, and vendors to name a few) and the
wrong indemnification language can put you at risk.
THE SOLUTION: Have your insurance partner review the insurance section of each contract and
involve them (along with legal) in the early stage of negotiations.
TRANSFER OF RISK
When vendors come on campus, the school can be held liable if they are not added to
the policy.
THE SOLUTION: Keep a folder of certificates of insurance on site and update it frequently, adding
vendors that enter the premises as “additional insureds.”
CRISIS AND
EMERGENCY PLANNING
You never know when an unforeseen crisis will hit, whether it’s a natural disaster like an
earthquake or wildfire or a man-made hazard like an on-campus shooting or bus accident.
THE SOLUTION: Plan, plan, plan. Begin with an emergency response plan (ERP) to address
the crisis and a business continuity plan (BCP) to safeguard your operations. Establish a crisis
management team that can take immediate action and use your communications infrastructure
(phone, email, social media) to ensure you can provide regular updates on the event.
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