Who can join?

The GRS Board is composed of between 7 and 13 members. These members are guides, parents of current students, and community members, including 1 GRS student.  Terms are 2 years for teachers, and 3 years for everyone else. We strive to have a teacher majority board, so if you are interested, please volunteer!

Election procedures

• Each year, some Board members end their terms and seats become available for new members. The process for joining the board is as follows:

  • The Board Executive Committee sets the election date in the spring of each year, and notifies the GRS community

  • Interested candidates should verify eligibility with MN Law and our bylaws  — or write boardchair@greatriverschool.org if you are unsure

  • Candidates fill out an application (linked here during the election)

  • Completed applications will be shared with the community at least 10 days before the election (linked here during the election)

  • The GRS community votes via a Google Form (linked here during the election)

  • If you receive the most votes, you have been elected to the school board!

We have a one-day “Board Retreat” each summer to orient new members. This year’s retreat is tentatively set for June 14, 2025.  Before being sworn in, Minnesota law requires members to participate in certified board training. Finally, you will be asked to complete a background check and swear a membership oath. After that, new terms begin on July 1.

• 2024-25 Annual Report & World's Best Workforce Plan

• Strategic Plan

• GRS Family Handbook 25-26

• GRS Local Literacy Plan

• Wellness Plan

• Total Special Education System (TSES) Handbook

• Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP)

• Water Lead Testing

• Enrollment/Lottery

• Transportation

• Bullying

• Early Admission - See Enrollment Eligibility Section in Enrollment/Lottery

• Nepotism Policy

• Meal Charging Policy

• Fund Balance Policy

• Grievance (Complaint) Policy

• Harassment & Violence Policy

• Board Election Policy

• Wellness Policy

• Student Journalist Policy

• Other Policies

If you have questions about policies, email policy@greatriverschool.org.

• Academic Honesty Policy

• Assessment Policy

• Inclusion Policy

• Language Policy

Great River's authorization by the State of Minnesota as a public charter school and Novation Education Opportunities (NEO) gives GRS credentials to grant a Minnesota high school diploma. As a charter school, GRS is an independent school district under the governance of our own School Board. Additionally, GRS is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Program as a World School for the 11th and 12th grade program. There is no accreditation process for Montessori Secondary schools.

All GRS faculty are state licensed.  All elementary faculty are trained Montessori teachers. The majority of adolescent faculty have attended a 5-week adolescent orientation program with the North American Montessori Teaching Association in Ohio. Others have taken courses with the MN Montessori Training Center or in Bergamo, Italy.  International Baccalaureate teachers are IB trained.

Adolescent students at Great River may take courses for college credit through the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program.  To learn more about this option, please visit this page or contact Director of Student Services Matt McElrath at mmcelrath@greatriverschool.org.

Follow this link for the official PSEO Notice of Student Registration form (‘24-’25)

Great River School is a public school and as a public school is required to administer standardized testing.  We administer the following tests:

• MCA math, reading, & science in Grades 3-11 (MDE Report Card)

• ACCESS for ELL (English Language Learners)

• FastBridge Learning (Grades 1-10)