Media Round Up

NAPCS in the News

• “Mississippi Coalition for Public Charter Schools Calls for Smart Legislation in 2013,” advocacy efforts by a coalition including the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Mississippi First, the Black Alliance for Educational Options, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, and the Mississippi Association of Realtors cited in PR Newswire, Dec. 13
• “New 'Trigger' Law May Increase Number of Charter Schools,” David Hoff (Vice President, Communications) quoted in Kansas City Infozine, Dec. 13
• “Charter Schools Continue to Grow,” David Hoff quoted in North County Times and U-T San Diego, Dec. 11
• “Charter school leaders urged to educate Legislature on their mission,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) cited in Reporter-News, Dec. 9

News to Know

• “Charter School Expansion Top Priority for Mississippi Lawmakers,” Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Dec. 14
• “High-Performing Charter Schools Wooed by Districts,” StateImpact, Dec. 13
• “Harmony Charter Schools, IDEA Charter Network, and KIPP DC Win in Race to the Top-District Competition,” Houston Chronicle,  Monitor, and Washington Post,  Dec. 12
• “Brookings Ranks New Orleans, New York, D.C. Best Cities for School Choice,” Washington Post, Dec. 11
• “Arkansas Lawmakers to Consider Changes to Charter School Law, Republic, Dec. 10

Audience Favorites

Facebook—What's your dream for charter schools and how can we help you deliver on it? Share your dreams here, and then in person at the National Charter Schools Conference. http://www.publiccharters.org/conference

Twitter— @Ninacharters I dream of a day when public charter schools can meet the demand to provide a quality education for all children who need one. #ncsc13

You can stay up to date on all the developments in the public charter school sector by subscribing to our regular news updates…Sign up here.

NAPCS Congratulates recipients of the Race to the Top District Grant

Three public charter school networks were big winners in the Race to the Top–District grants. 

The U.S. Department of Education announced that the Harmony Public Schools won $30 million, IDEA Public Schools will receive $29.2 million, and KIPP DC was awarded $10 million in the highly competitive grant program. 

The other 13 winners were traditional public school districts.

NAPCS congratulates all of the winners and will share more details about the charter applicants and how they will invest the money from the program.

Media Round Up

NAPCS in the News

• “Grants Back District-Charter Collaboration,” Nina Rees (President and CEO) quoted in New York Times, Dec. 5
• “Texas Charters Look to Legislative Agenda,” Nina Rees cited in San Angelo Standard-Times, Dec. 5

News to Know

• “California Appeals Court Reverses Charter Facilities Decision,” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 7
• “Gates Foundation Gives $25 Million to Help Charters, Traditional Schools Cooperate,” Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Dec. 6
• “Boston Wins Gates Foundation Grant for District-Charter Collaboration,” Boston Globe, Dec. 5
• “Editorial: In Chicago, Build On Successes of Charter Schools,” Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 4
• “Op-ed: Public Charter Schools Save Taxpayers Money,” Wall Street Journal, Dec. 3

Audience Favorites

Facebook—  Washington State is official on our Public Charter Schools Dashboard! Check out this comprehensive data resource to learn more about public charter schools in 42 states and D.C.
http://dashboard.publiccharters.org/dashboard/policy/page/overview/year/2013

Twitter— @JBernalYESPrep: @Ninacharters says charters are advancing the cause through talent, passion, innovations, and accountability. #tcsaconf

You can stay up to date on all the developments in the public charter school sector by subscribing to our regular news updates…Sign up here.

Gates Foundation Awards Grants to Communities Focused on Public Charter and Traditional School Collaboration

Today, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced new competitive funding for seven cities as part of its goal to foster for bold collaboration between public charter and district schools. The cities receiving grants totaling nearly $25 million are: Boston, Denver, Hartford (CT), New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia and Spring Branch (TX).

These communities are part of a group of 16 cities that have signed District-Charter Collaboration Compacts. In these cities, public charter and district school leaders, teachers, superintendents, and other community partners, such as mayors, local teachers’ unions and/or school board members, are working together to ensure all students in their communities receive a high-quality education that prepares them for college and career.