Charter & Private School Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a charter & private school business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for charter schools and independent and faith-based private K-12 schools. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual programs, contracts, and campus.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abuse & Molestation | Covers abuse claims against staff and volunteers — check the limit, form, and whether it covers negligent hiring. | Core | |
| School Leaders E&O / D&O | Covers claims over education decisions, special education, discipline, admissions, and board governance. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers student and visitor injuries on campus, in athletics, and on trips. | Core | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims by teachers and staff, a frequent source of school suits. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required for employees. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto / Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers school buses, vans, and staff driving students. | Prevalent | |
| Student Accident | Pays medical bills for injured students, including athletes, regardless of fault. | Prevalent | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers student records, ransomware, and FERPA-related breaches. | Prevalent | |
| Property & Business Income | Covers buildings and equipment, plus extra expense to relocate classes after a loss. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits above GL, auto, and abuse; authorizers and lenders often require it. | Prevalent | |
| Crime / Fidelity | Covers theft of public funds, tuition, and activity accounts. | Situational | |
| Foreign Travel Liability | Needed for international student trips. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by charter and private schools is how abuse and hiring claims are covered. Courts are holding schools liable for hiring decisions — Minnesota's Supreme Court let a suit proceed against a charter that never checked a teacher's references — and abuse coverage is often sublimited, claims-made, or excludes negligent hiring. Charter schools add a second gap when a management organization employs the staff: each party may assume the other's policy responds. Confirm your abuse limit and form, and read your management agreement for who insures whom.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your charter & private school coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Charter & Private School Insurance · Charter & Private School Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a charter & private school business need?
The core coverages for a charter & private school business are Abuse & Molestation, School Leaders E&O / D&O, Commercial General Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my charter & private school coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.