Operations and Finance Cohort

Thank you to everyone who joined our May 12 Operations & Finance cohort meeting focused on authorizer relationships. As schools navigate year-end wrap-ups, this session provided a helpful overview of the authorizing landscape in Colorado and practical guidance for building strong, collaborative partnerships with authorizers.

A special thank you to our guest speaker: Dr. Mackenzie Khan, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA), for sharing insights on effective authorizing practices and strategies for fostering positive school-authorizer relationships.

Key Takeaways
- Authorizing 101. Mackenzie provided an overview of the authorizing process, including the role authorizers play in oversight, accountability, renewal, and supporting high-quality schools.
- Communication matters. Strong authorizer relationships are built on proactive, transparent, and consistent communication especially around financial, operational, and academic performance.
- Trust and collaboration take intentional effort. Schools and authorizers may have different priorities at times, but regular communication and collaborative problem-solving can help prevent tension and build stronger partnerships.
- CACSA is a resource. CACSA supports authorizers across Colorado through training, tools, networking, and technical assistance. While not all of Colorado’s 46 authorizers are members, CACSA can also be a helpful resource for schools navigating challenging authorizer relationships or looking to strengthen engagement with their district.
- Training opportunities are available. Mackenzie encouraged schools and districts to reach out if board or authorizer trainings would be helpful.

Meeting Resources
Slides: Both slide decks are posted in the Documents Tab

Recording: View Recording
Passcode: F%2cfgH+

Next Up
May 21, 2026 (BON) – Preparing for a Successful Audit
June 9, 2026 – Year End Wrap-Up

Thank you again for the work you are doing as the school year wraps up and planning for next year continues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

Created: May 22, 2026 01:05:13 PM