Slides: Handouts: Zeta Tax Receipt Letter Template Sample Donor Engagement Plan

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Slides: Handouts: Elected & Community Outreach Plan Template Elected Official Bio Template Elected Official Tour Invite Template

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Slides: Handouts: Talent Recruitment Handout

Slides: Cohort DISC Results linked here

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Slides: Handout: Board Member Assessment & Engagement Planning

Slides: Handout: Building Your Team: Opening Reflection Template

Slides: Handouts: Setting Academic Goals Root Cause Analysis Getting Academic Results as a Founder Case Study

Slides: Handouts: Right #1: Overview of Moving Adult Practice Right #2. Observing Teacher Implementation Right #3: Setting Clear Priorities for Moving Practice Right #4: Observing Effective Practice Right #5: Observing Instruction to Assess Progress Zeta Brilliance in Excellent Teaching (BiET) Learning Competencies and Rubric

Slides: Handouts: Consultancy Protocol

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Slides: Handouts: Template: Pitch Deck

Facilities for Early Stage Charters Slides:

Questions for Samreen Form: Here

Welcome & Mission/Vision/School Design: Bringing Culture to Life Slides:

Finance for Early Stage Charters Slides:

Preparing to Launch Mission & Vision Worksheet: Here

Z Combinator creates a close-knit cohort experience, including an online community forum for real-time conversation and requests for support. ​ Z Combinator Fellows make connections and relationships with each other that last beyond the program.

Z Combinator is all about creating communities of continuous learners. We provide virtual opportunities to keep learning (like open access to some of our in-house professional learning opportunities) and are already working on ways to keep our first two cohorts on their path to success. Our network of Z Combinator Fellow Alumni is crucial to our mission of ensuring every child in America has access to free, high-quality public education, pre-K to 12th grade.

Connecting is a crucial part of Z Combinator. We offer optional and as-needed virtual office hours with Zeta leaders in between in-person sessions to dive deeper on topics raised during workshops and to provide additional, timely support on school launch resource creation. This might look like small-group virtual pitch practice before an upcoming donor meeting, a 1:1 feedback session on your school launch plan with a Zeta leader, a group problem-solving session on your enrollment tactics, or other meetings to address questions that arise throughout your experience.

Z Combinator Fellows spend 24 days across 3 sessions in New York City at Zeta Charter Schools for intensive, hands-on learning. During these sessions, Fellows join Zeta’s network leaders for business and operations sessions (e.g., People Operations, Budgeting, Family Outreach); embed with Zeta leaders and teachers for interactive workshops during Zeta’s summer training and professional learning program; and engage in facilitated school launch planning from vision-setting to forming your tactical check-list leading up to Day 1; We balance our intensive, hands-on sessions during the day with opportunities to connect and rejuvenate with Z Combinator Fellows in our beautiful city in the evening.

We want you to have a wonderful experience while you visit and learn in the Big Apple! Fellows receive Z Combinator swag and participate in cohort outings to classic NYC experiences. (Past outings have included Broadway hits Hamilton and Lion King and a Mets baseball game. Future outings may vary.) Z Combinator also covers the cost of lodging, food, and transportation throughout your stay.

Through workshops, coaching, and individualized support, Fellows leave Z Combinator with a wide variety of exemplar Zeta resources and customized school launch deliverables, which include: a personal development plan, a polished fundraising pitch deck, a school launch project plan, an academic scope & sequence, a Year One budget, an organizational hiring/staffing plan, and so much more!

Pitch Practice Slides (same as previous):

Pitch Practice Slides:

Session Goals Review & Wrap Up Slides:

CEO "Ask Me Anything" Slides:

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Slides: Handouts: Employee Handbook Onboarding Planning Documents Vendor Comparison Form (if useful in comparing PEOs)

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Content Debrief Slides:

Slides: Ideal Team Player Self Development Action Plan: Link Ideal Team Player Self-Assessment: Link

Slides: Videos: A School with a Growth Mindset First Year Teacher Growth Mindset Community Student Results

If you have additional questions about Z Combinator, please contact us at zcombinator@zetaschools.org.

Stage 1: Z Combinator accepts applications on a rolling basis each spring. Our application window closes once all openings are filled, and no later than May 30. Stage 2: Z Combinator invites select Fellow candidates to complete a brief video interview. Stage 3: Z Combinator invites finalists to a virtual 30-min live interview with our team. Candidates will also submit 3 professional references at this time. Stage 4: Fellowship invitations are sent on a rolling basis. Stage 5: Final fellowship dates will be announced no later than June. Once these dates are released, Fellows' acceptance will be contingent on the ability to attend all sessions.

No. Because the Z Combinator Fellowship is grant-funded, we must ensure that all Fellows will attend each session and will not be able to admit anyone who is only able to partially complete the full Fellowship.

The application deadline is May 30, 2025. However, we fill seats on a rolling basis starting in mid-April. We encourage you to apply sooner rather than later!

The 2025-26 Z Combinator Fellowship Program supports charter school founders who are opening their schools in the Fall of 2026. If you fit this criteria, please apply!

Fellows are expected to attend all ~22 days in-person in NYC and two virtual sessions as well as complete deliverables between sessions. You should expect to spend a minimum of 20 hours working on deliverables between each session, though you may spend much more time, as all your hard work will lead to an even stronger school launch!

The Z Combinator Fellowship is fully funded by Zeta Charter Schools. We cover the cost of tuition, transportation, lodging, and food.

Session dates are still being finalized, but will be similar to prior years. Session 1 will take place in July over 2 weeks, Session 2 will take place in September for 1 week, and Session 3 will take place in January for 1 week. Between Session 2 and 3, we will have at least 2 virtual full-group check-ins. For reference, here are last year's dates: Session I: Mon., July 15, 2024 – Fri., July 26, 2024 (including travel to/from NYC) Session II: Sun., September 22, 2024 – Sat., September 28, 2024 (including travel to/from NYC) Virtual 1-hour Session: Oct., 2024 (Zoom meeting) Virtual 1-hour Session: Nov., 2024 (Zoom meeting) Session III: Mon., Jan. 13, 2025 – Fri., Jan. 17, 2025 (including travel to/from NYC)

As you will be in Zeta schools, professional dress is required. Zeta implements a "business casual" dress code, which means: (1) well maintained button-down shirt or professionally appropriate top, (2) professionally appropriate dress slacks or skirt, (3) professionally appropriate dress, (4) dress socks/hose, and (5) close-toe dress shoes. When touring, observing, or shadowing in schools, single-color sneakers are also appropriate for walking/standing comfort. Zeta occasionally implements dress-down days as specified in advance, which means: (1) professionally appropriate top and jeans or equivalent (no holes, rips, etc.), professionally appropriate shoes (does not include flip flops, beach shoes, gym shoes, etc.).

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Slides: Handouts: OD/Principal Debrief (Schooling, ODs) ZET 2024 / 2025, ZOE Scores

Slides: Handout: School Launch Project Plan