Our Mission
Helping small charter schools build the systems, leadership, and accountability needed to thrive and renew with confidence.
Who
we are
CharterLab Consulting is led by former charter and district executives who’ve done the work—not just advised on it.
We’ve served as authorizers, renewal evaluators, and school leaders. We know what boards need to see, what auditors look for, and what breaks down when capacity is thin.
We work with small California charter schools facing the gap between compliance expectations and operational reality. Our focus is governance, instructional systems, finance, and renewal positioning—the infrastructure that determines whether a school survives scrutiny or earns autonomy.
We don’t sell frameworks or multi-year engagements. We diagnose, stabilize, and build internal capacity so leaders can make sound decisions without us.
Our approach is direct, grounded, and built for schools that need expertise—not dependence.
What
we do
We work with small California charter schools (under 500 ADA) that are stretched thin, compliance-fragile, or preparing for renewal.
Using the CharterCode™ framework, we partner with school leaders to stabilize systems, clarify priorities, and reduce operational and renewal risk—across leadership, compliance, operations, and instruction.
The result is clearer systems, stronger leadership, and schools that are renewal-ready rather than reaction-driven.
Don Patzer
Founder and Principal of CharterLab
Engagement Options
Project-Based Engagements
Renewal preparation, LCAP development, governance support, CALPADS cleanup, compliance reviews, dashboard analysis, and strategic planning.
Fractional Leadership Support
Ongoing executive-level support for charter leaders who need strategic guidance across academics, compliance, operations, and governance.
CharterCode™ Implementation
Comprehensive assessment and implementation of the seven CharterCode systems.
Custom proposal following assessment
The CharterCode System
1.Clarifying Vision
We help schools craft or refine their mission, articulate measurable goals, develop authorizer-aligned petitions, and create a unified vision that drives instruction, culture, and strategic planning.
2. Anchoring Leadership
We provide board development, leadership coaching, role clarity systems, organizational design, and executive support to strengthen leadership.
3. Strengthening Instruction
We build curriculum alignment, assessment calendars, data cycles, MTSS/WIN structures, and coaching systems that improve achievement.
4. Compliance
We build and manage systems for CALPADS, SPED, fiscal oversight, LCAP, state reporting, audits, and renewal readiness.
5. Culture & Operations
We design school-wide culture plans, attendance systems, behavior frameworks, communication plans, and operational workflows.
6. Financial Health & Accountability
We support budget development, MYP planning, cash-flow modeling, HR compliance, policy creation, and back-office audits.
7. Sustainable Growth & Renewal
We provide renewal strategy, Dashboard analysis, enrollment forecasting, and long-range strategic planning.