Level 1
Emerging
Reactive. Ad hoc. Dependent on individuals.
Governance exists nominally but is not systematically practiced. The board meets minimum legal requirements inconsistently. Success depends on individual heroics rather than repeatable processes. Governance quality is fragile and would deteriorate significantly if key individuals left.
Gate Requirements
To achieve Level 1, a school must satisfy every gate below. Requirements are cumulative — all prior-level gates must remain in effect.
- School is legally incorporated as a nonprofit
- Board has minimum required seats (per bylaws)
- School has an active charter agreement
- Board has met at least once in the past 90 days
Domain Characteristics at Level 1
D1
Board Composition & Competency
Board has required seats filled but little formal orientation, inconsistent training, and no succession planning.
D2
Governance Processes & Compliance
Meetings happen but notice compliance is inconsistent, minutes are often late or incomplete, and policies exist but aren't actively maintained.
D3
Strategic Oversight & Accountability
Board receives reports but doesn't actively drive strategy. Leadership evaluation is informal or absent.
D4
Financial Governance & Sustainability
Budget is approved annually but financial oversight between meetings is limited. Treasurer may be the only board member engaging with financial data.
D5
Transparency & Stakeholder Accountability
Required notices are posted but community engagement is minimal. Authorizer relationship is reactive.
Signals & Indicators
What governance data typically shows for a school at this maturity level.
- Governance Maturity Score typically 0–45
- Meeting notice compliance below 70%
- Less than 50% board certification completion
- Multiple unresolved Critical policy audit findings
- No financial documents uploaded in 90+ days
Authorizer Perspective
Significant governance risk. Likely to receive compliance notices from authorizer. Renewal at risk if not addressed.
Integration profile status at Level 1
| Profile | Status | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| CGMI-C · Compliance | Diagnostic | Identify which compliance frameworks are not yet satisfied by current governance maturity. |
| CGMI-A · Authorizer | Not active | Significant governance risk. Not suitable for formal authorizer recognition. |
| CGMI-P · Partner | Not active | Network tracking not applicable below Level 2. |
Advancement
Moving to Level 2: Developing
Aware. Basic processes in place. Compliance-focused.
See Level 2 requirements →