Video of Charlie, as 12th grade student ambassador. GGA has supported her with challenges in learning. She was part of Model Congress, pitching bill on climate change.

Karen Dresden discussed Girls Global's goals attainment process, which involved four pathways. Pathway B was the most relevant, requiring performance better than the state or sector or beating the previous year's data. Girls Global partially met Pathway B by meeting four out of seven measures. The implications of this for the 5th Year Review were discussed, with a report expected two weeks before the 4/28/25 meeting. PCSB can decide full continuance, full continuance with conditions, or begin revocation. The Academic Committee expects continuance with conditions because goals are not met outright, and GGA is currently under financial monitoring. The committee should receive the report 2 weeks prior.

A discussion occurred regarding the instructional methods used to achieve growth in the measures. An instructional coach mentors current teachers. A spiral review of content to ensure a full academic year is reviewed in classrooms. Students are provided with data, grades, and printouts with grades and attendance. Showcase helps students to produce something and pay more attention in class. Created content calendars with teachers. The importance of growth is measured during the 5-Year Review, but it is noted that scores can take a while to move.

Karen presented 3 data points

• MAP data: MAP assessment, which is adaptive as the student answers, is given to 9-10 grades. This year we are seeing growth in math and ELA. This takes time like learning a language, but growth is a good sign to keep building on. New MAP norms are coming for post-pandemic changes. 
• 9th Grade on Track: Currently, 26 students are not on track in the 9th grade. They are working on credit recovery with them and communicating their data with the students and families.  The goal is to have no more than 10% of students not on track to graduate by end of summer.
• Attendance: The school is making sure students and families understand that they need to be in school. This will become important for ASPIRE data in the coming years. 

Karen Venable-Croft provided an overview of the Sisterhood Summit, with a four-pillar rotation format and various activities planned for the event. Anita shared updates on the alumni connection network, with two confirmed speakers from Spelman and Trinity. The network aims to foster sisterhood and retention at their schools. 

Laura and Karen VC discussed the school's budget and enrollment projections. They submitted a conservative projection for the next five years, reflecting enrollment around 185 students with slight upward growth. However, they also have a contingency plan for more aggressive growth goals. The budget is being finalized over the next four to five weeks, with two drafts showing a balanced budget. The 5-year Review is scheduled for April 28th

Andria addressed the DC budget waiting on the House to approve its budget. DC needs advocacy for spending authority. Calls and emails are highly recommended to Congress. 

Andria discussed the risk and audit committee's role in addressing potential issues, such as HR and safety concerns. She also mentioned the need for a committee chair and the importance of having conversations about risk, plus having board members with experience in HR.

Questions arose as to whether this committee should be included in other committees. The governance committee will continue to evaluate a future chair and the needs of the committee.

Climate is different but Karen believes that our collective voices are being heard. Advocacy work is so important. 

• 5-year review: GGA has been preparing for this, and the board has been very supportive. We need to pay attention to 5 categories and provide oversight to ASPIRE and data points. At the next meeting with PCSB, they'll be highlighting areas of growth and strategy for goal attainment.
• Scholarship pillar: 9 students/2 staff awarded IB Inquiry learning trait, who were voted on by their peers. 
• Enrollment: We currently have 279 applications, and this is important for GGA's financial health. They try not to keep a wait list but offer a seat right away. and this year they also offered 8 mid-year enrollments.
• Financial update: Due to the dismantling of Dept of Ed, we need to be proactive, working with EdOps to address. So far we've drawn down 50% of federal funds, and Karen is confident they will be able to draw down rest of grants. The Perkins grant still needs to be drawn down. Pathways use this fund, and this will be addressed soon.
• Fundraising - $157K goal with 32% raised so far.
• 76 days of cash on hand projected.
• 1 teacher vacancy in social studies, which is filled with a long term sub. They are not filling special ed teacher gap.
• Discussion is continuing with landlord about occupancy expenses.
• The school has been able to keep the reduction in expenses made earlier this year.
• They are looking at contingency and forecasting to stay strong, paying attention to enrollment and fundraising.
• A question was presented: What are plans for increasing enrollment yield over the years? And retention?