The Charter Blog
29 Jun 2007
The Charter Schools Program Enhancement Act of 2007
Hurray for H.R. 2904...
Yesterday, Representative Charles W. Boustany (R-LA) introduced an important piece of education reform legislation, “The Charter Schools Program Enhancement Act of 2007”, that officially kicks off the discussion of charters in the NCLB reauthorization process.
This bill would make several improvements to a highly successful program. (In fact, it incorporates many of the recommendations put forward by the National Alliance, which were distilled from over a year and a half of meetings and discussions with charter school stakeholders.
Highlights include:
- Continuing support for charter start-ups
- Providing greater support for the expansion and replication of successful charter models.
- Strengthening the Education Secretary's ability to use grant selection criteria to encourage improvements in state charter laws.
- Allowing charter school authorizers to serve as grant administrators in addition to state education agencies.
- Allowing the Secretary of Education to allocate funds between the Charter Schools Program and State Facilities Incentive Grants Program.
- Creating a national dissemination program to encourage the sharing of charter schools’ best practices among public schools across the nation.
We would also like to thank all of the original co-sponsors: Representative McKeon (R-CA) Representative Hoekstra (R-MI), Representative Castle (R-DE), Representative Fortuno (R-PR), and especially Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). Rep. McCarthy’s support made this a bi-partisan effort, demonstrating again that charters aren't about party; they're about providing new, high-quality public education options for children.
BG
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Carlo Rodriquez
Charter World loses friend and ally...
Florida’s kids, and the nation’s charter community, lost a good friend this weekend. Carlo Rodriguez, who had served as a charter authorizer in Miami-Dade, and who had just recently moved to head the state’s charter office, passed away. He will be sorely missed.
When news broke that Carlo would take over the state charter office, there were high-fives all around — we knew he would be just the kind of “critical friend” that Florida’s burgeoning charter movement needed. He was tough, but he was also a believer, and a passionate advocate for kids.
Carlo had served on the board of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. NACSA’s President, Greg Richmond, has posted this fitting and heartfelt tribute, and we couldn’t say it any better.
Carlo’s family requested donations in his name to the Make A Wish Foundation. The Florida Consortium of Charter Schools has agreed to collect the donations. Checks should be made payable to the Make A Wish Foundation and mailed by July 2nd to:
Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
1607 Village Square Boulevard
Suite 7
Tallahassee, FL 32309
NS
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