Public Charter Schools Blog RSS Feed

Happy-Holidays!

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Our office will be closed from Christmas Day to New Years Day. We wish all of you a happy holidays, safe travels, and look forward to working with you in the new year!

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Link-and-Likes

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commissioned a report to look at how high-performing CMOs were dealing with succession planning. Check out these three case studies of charter organizations that have been through leadership transitions.

Like: Atlantic City already held a special place in my heart. I have vivid childhood memories of running up and down the boardwalk, darting between the arcade and the ocean. Now, I have something new to add to those treasured memories - attending and presenting at the New Jersey Charter Schools Association's 4th Annual Conference.

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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: In preparation for National Charter Schools Week (NCSW), we will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 18th at 4:00 pm EST. During the webinar, we will review the 2012 NCSW Advocacy Toolkit, offer guidance on potential activities, and answer any questions that you and your members may have about how to improve public charter school laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels. Please join us for the first in a series of webinars designed to offer tips and tools to more fully engage the collective action of charter school individuals and communities in policy advocacy. Click here to register.

Like: I stayed up late last week to watch the NCAA Men's Basketball Final between the University of Kentucky and the University of Kansas. It was made even more special knowing that a charter school graduate, Anthony Davis, led Kentucky to win the championship. The commentators talked at length about the depth of talent on the Kentucky team and stressed that talent in isolation was not enough to win the game. To win, these talented players had to work as a team, be generous, and supportive of each other. That's exactly what they did! Let us take a page out of their playbook as we look down the road at National Charter Schools Week. This week is the only opportunity where the light shines solely on charter schooling in the United States. Together, let's make sure the light shines so brightly that it reaches Mars!
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Links-and-Likes

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Kern, Senior Manager of Research and Analysis, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute just released a video documentary about two schools in their sponsorship portfolio (Ohio speak for authorizing) that are located in "the Appalachian region of the Buckeye State."

Like: Fordham's documentary provides great in-depth context about the challenges and opportunities facing rural public charter schools that we identified in our Beyond City Limits: Expanding Public Charter Schools in Rural America issue brief.
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Links-and-Likes

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Jenny Wanger, National Charter Schools Conference Coordinator, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The whole nation now knows that Mayor Cory Booker is a real hero—but here at NAPCS, we knew that already after he spoke at last year’s National Charter Schools Conference. You can read a transcript of his speech here.

Like: Speaking of the National Charter Schools Conference, you can register now for a pre-conference hosted by the U.S. Department of Education. They’re doing a full-day seminar on special education, and bringing in some of the best in the country to present.

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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Reminder: NAPCS is hosting a state advocacy webinar tomorrow, April 18th at 4:00 pm EST. During the webinar, we will review the 2012 National Charter Schools Week Advocacy Toolkit, offer guidance on potential activities, and answer any questions that you may have about how to improve public charter school laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels.

Like: National Charter Schools Week gives us an opportunity to act in a collective voice. To stand up for the rights of the next generation. To continue to struggle for freedom. Let us come together to remind them that we are powerful, we are informed, and we will NEVER rest until justice for all is achieved.
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Links-and-Likes

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kristin Yochum, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: In their blog today, the US Department of Education highlighted Secretary Duncan’s comments at last week’s National Action Network’s (NAN) 14th Annual Convention here in Washington. The Secretary discussed the social justice and economic security implications of ensuring an excellent education for all children.

Like: I strongly believe that the most important civil rights issue of our time is ensuring an excellent education for all children. The Secretary told the NAN's convention that he plans to reaffirm Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Dream” with the group on the National Mall next year. I will be there as well. Let’s remind ourselves today.

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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: This article gives food for thought about the role of education in governors' races.

Like: I look forward to coming together as a community, getting to know one another and sharing our triumphs and challenges during this year's National Charter Schools Week. Events are scheduled to take place locally, statewide and nationally.
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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kristin Yochum, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture have teamed up to enhance agricultural education and related programs that promote postsecondary and career pathways, according to an interagency agreement to advance agricultural education. “Agricultural educators face unique challenges—but they also can tap into unique strengths within their tight-knit communities," Secretary Duncan said. "Agricultural education is very much about the jobs of the future—and not a backwards-looking curriculum to preserve the past.”

Like: Parental demand for public charter schools is by no means limited to urban centers. In fact, nearly half of all charter schools are found outside city limits. Notably, rural charter schools are the fastest growing segment of the sector, with nearly 20 percent of all charter schools housed in rural areas.
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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: For more ideas on how you can be an active participant during this year's National Charter Schools Week (NCSW), please download the 2012 NCSW Advocacy Toolkit.

Likes: I went to see Marley, a new documentary that chronicles the life, music and legacy of Bob Marley. My earliest memories include Bob Marley songs, and his music gets high rotation in my iPod even today.
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Links-and-Likes

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Kern, Senior Manager for Research and Analysis, tells us her favorites of the day

Links: Tony Robert’s ‘laugh so you don’t cry’ insider account of the Georgia State legislature vote on the public charter school constitutional amendment.

Likes: Gotye’s “Thanks for your time.” I wish I was the type of person who could turn my annoying customer service experiences into artistic expression.
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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Anna Nicotera, Director of Research and Evaluation, tells us her favorites of the day:

Links: Charter school enrollment in D.C. is up 8%--will it be enough to maintain the number 2 position on our next market share report?

Likes: With 2011-2012 school data pouring in, lots of work to do to get ready for our June Dashboard release.

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Links-and-Likes

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Links: The Politics K-12 blog examines the National Governor’s Association interim proposal to give states lots of running room when it comes to crafting their accountability plans under ESEA reauthorization.

Likes: Everywhere I turned this past weekend, I could not get away from the news of Whitney Houston's death. I've loved Whitney's music as long as I can remember. My favorite performance was at the Super Bowl singing the national anthem. It is a rendition that never ceases to raise the hairs on my arms and warm my heart with pride of being a citizen of this fine nation.

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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Eric Paisner, Vice President of Knowledge and Partnerships, tells us his favorites of the day:

Link: A neat way to show how the administration proposes to spend $3.7 trillion.

Likes: the way the charter sector is sharing data on schools. Check out these examples from D.C., Louisiana, New Mexico, and Ohio.

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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kristin Yochum, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: NCPSE compiled a go-to resource for national and state organizations that take a stand on school choice.

Like: Jon Stewart tests Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on February 16th. Jon pushed the Secretary on Race to the Top’s (RTT) focus on rewarding states with the highest achievement rates, and the impact that ultimately has in the classroom. Do yourself a favor and check out the whole interview--Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. (Part 2 has the most focus on RTT, for the other RTT-geeks out there).
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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Kern, Senior Manager of Research and Analysis, tells us her favorites of the day:

Links: The President of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) and a Detroit News op-ed give insight on the debate surrounding the removal of Michigan's growth cap on cyber charter schools.

Likes: The Mackinac Center for Public Policy conducted analysis of online charter school spending trends. The table below compares Michigan Virtual Charter Academy’s current spending to conventional district averages in 2010 (the most recent data available):

Itemized spending as a percent of total general fund spending	MVCA (FY’12)	Conventional district average (FY’10)
Instruction	61%	60%
Instructional support	9%	10%
Administration/Management	17%	12%
Technology Services	7%	-
Authorizer fee	3%	-
Operations and maintenance	2%	10%
Transportation	0%	4%
Other	0%	4%
Total noninstructional spending	29%	30%

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Links-and-Likes

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Jenny Wanger, National Charter Schools Conference Coordinator, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: This was one of the original policy papers written on charter schooling. I love looking at this and reflecting on how far we’ve come since the first school opened 20 years ago.

Like:We’re very excited to have the conference in the Twin Cities this year. And with perfect summer weather, we know it’s going to be a great time. Are you coming?
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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: I just read an article in the NY Times about a new film, 'Won't Back Down,' that is starting to get buzz even though it won't be released until September. The film tells the story of a group of parents and teachers trying to utilize the parent trigger law to reform their underperforming schools.

Like: Just last week, Chelsea Clinton did a segment on Rock Center with Brian Williams about a remarkable collaboration between The Learning Community charter school and surrounding non-charter public elementary schools in Rhode Island. What I always find most intriguing about making films is which stories make it to the big or small screen.
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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Chad Miller, Senior Director of Federal Advocacy, tells us his favorites of the day:

Link: AEI’s new report, “Strengthening the Civic Mission of Charter Schools,” looks at how charter schools are uniquely poised to rethink the role of public schools in preparing students to become informed and engaged participants in the American political system.

Likes: That the Pittsburgh Steelers follow me on Twitter.
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Links-and-Likes

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Katherine Schaff, National Charter Schools Conference Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Calling all K-12 students: Help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first charter school by imagining the School of the Future. Unleash your creativity, enter our contest, and win prizes!

Like: Whenever I’m looking to spice up a meal, I look no further than this blog. Easy and delicious recipes coupled with great photography and music pairings make for a mouth-watering experience. Hungry yet?
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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Eric Paisner, Vice President of Knowledge and Partnerships, tells us his favorites of the day:

Links: We've got a ton of new resources on rural charter schools—which are the fastest growing segment of the public charter school sector. Check out our issue brief, Details from the Dashboard report, blog, Dashboard data page, press release, and EdWeek article covering the issue brief.

Like: USDA's Rural Development Community Facilities support program, which has been accessed by KIPP Delta (a featured case study in our issue brief).
Click here for more information.

Links-and-Likes

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Chad Miller, Senior Director of Federal Advocacy, tells us his favorites of the day:

Link:NAPCS has a new federal policy update that examines charter school-related programs in the Administration's Budget Request for FY 2013.

Like: Elmore James's "Shake your Money Maker"
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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Bill Gates provides valuable food for thought on teacher evaluations in this NYT op-ed.

Like: I spent the last two days fulfilling my civic responsibilities by serving as a juror in petit court.
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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Jenny Wanger, National Charter Schools Conference Coordinator, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: I’ve been reading a lot lately about data-driven decision making and how much schools can benefit from using some simple methodology to make sure that their students succeed.

Like: For next time you have a whole lot of books, a very big ladder, and a lot of patience! This is one of those rare articles that makes very complex math seem simple.
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Links-and-Likes

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Kern, Senior Manager for Research and Analysis, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: This Details from the Dashboard report presents statistics on the number of charter schools and students enrolled in charter schools by the four geographic regions: urban, suburban, towns and rural areas.

Like: Our latest issue brief on rural charter schools has "10 FACTS ON RURAL EDUCATION IN THE U.S." that might surprise you:

1. There are more than 11 million students enrolled in rural public schools, which is 25 percent of all public school enrollees.
2. One-third of the nation’s public schools and more than one-half of all school districts are classified by the U.S. Department of Education as rural.
3. Rural school enrollment in the U.S. is rising. Between 2006 and 2009, rural enrollment grew by eight percent, while enrollment trends in non-rural schools were stagnant.
4. More than half of all rural students in the U.S. are concentrated in just 11 states. North Carolina has the largest population of rural students, followed by Texas, Georgia, Ohio, and Virginia.
5. The five states with the highest percentage of rural students are Maine, Vermont, South Dakota, North Carolina and Mississippi.
6. Rural families typically have fewer public and private schooling options than their counterparts in urban and suburban communities; 82 percent of rural students attend assigned (non-charter) public schools, compared to 64 percent of city students and 75 percent of suburban students.
7. The demographic characteristics of rural students vary by region. Eighty percent of rural minority students reside in the Southeast and Southwest.
8. The average graduation rate of rural high schools hovers around 75 percent, which is on par with suburban high schools and significantly higher than city high schools.
9. The college enrollment rate in rural areas (27 percent) is lower than the rate in cities (37 percent), suburban areas (37 percent), or towns (32 percent).
10. Adults in rural areas are less likely to have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher than adults in cities and suburbs. In 2004, 21 percent of adults ages 25-34 attained a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 34 percent of adults in cities and suburbs.

Click here for more information.

Links-and-Likes

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kristin Yochum, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The US Department of Education announced that they have received 27 more applications for ESEA Flexibility. They will announce which of these applicants will join the already approved 11 states later this spring.

Like: Neil deGrasse Tyson could probably make paint drying sound fascinating!! I agree with Jon, “Neil deGrasse Tyson 2012!”
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Links-and-Likes

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Emily Persons, Administrative Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Arizona lawmakers want to give parents control of a school’s fate.

Like: Next time you’re craving dumplings, learn how to fold your own.
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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The RAND Corporation released a report that examines the actions and perceived working conditions of first-year principals, relating information on those factors to subsequent school achievement and principal retention.

Like: Last week, I attended the 11th Annual South Carolina Public Charter Schools Conference. Though I missed dancing in the soul train line at the '70s dance party that I boogied down during last year's South Carolina Public Charter Schools Conference, I did get to co-present this year at a session with Jane Taylor of the Alliance of Public Charter Schools of South Carolina and Jill Shahen of the New York Charter Schools Association/Elevate.
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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ivy Morgan, Research Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Connecticut governor and education commissioner to consider increasing the number of charter schools in statewide education strategic planning.

Like: This is an interesting plan for education-focused, mixed-use community redevelopment in Newark, NJ.
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Links-and-Likes

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kristin Yochum, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The US Department of Education released new data on minority students. The data highlights a number of really important issues, including that “minority students across America face harsher discipline, have less access to rigorous high school curricula, and are more often taught by lower-paid and less experienced teachers.” This is really significant information, and the first step to correcting these problems is knowing where and how severely they exists. If you are a data nerd, like me, check out the full report.

Like: We recently had an internal training on a database system called Salsa. Coupled with the recent AMAZING weather, I wanted to share my signature blueberry salsa recipe. Put it on grilled meat, or just scoop it up with a chip. A certain state commissioner of education might even be known to spread it on a bagel.

4 Cups of Blueberries
2 Jalapeño peppers, diced (keep seeds if you like the heat)
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 large red onion, diced
1 lime, juiced
1 pinch of salt

Pulse 2 cups of the blueberries in the food processor 4 or 5 times, until they are chopped, but not completely juiced. Transfer the processed berries into a bowl and add the whole berries, jalapeños, diced onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Stir and refrigerate before serving.
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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Kern, Senior Manager for Research and Analysis, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: NAPCS has been the leading voice in the effort to amend the Internal Revenue Service Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled “Determination of Government Plan Status.” This regulation would force states to prohibit charter school teachers from participating in state retirement plans. Check out our webpage devoted to this issue, which spotlights the latest developments, including: media coverage, public statements made by lawmakers, position statements issued by our supporters, white papers, and data.

Like: Today's spectacular spring weather in D.C. makes me think of this song.

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Links-and-Likes

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Gabrielle Roberts-Hendy, State Services Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: The desire for education reform, including the need for more charter schools, provides common ground for Democrats and Republicans.

Like: The Booker T. Washington Public Charter School for Technical Arts’ adult education “Virtual Enterprise Program” teaches D.C. residents how to develop business plans and ideas in order to gain more meaningful skills and employment.
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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Links: The U.S. Department of Education has released notices for Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants for Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 2012 as well as the Education Research and Special Education Research Grant Programs inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2013.

Like: Spring has sprung here in the swamp (aka Washington, D.C.). It is easily my favorite time of year!
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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Emily Persons, Administrative Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Retired Exelon CEO Guest Teaches at Chicago Public Charter School.

Like: I loovee Girl Scout cookies! I can’t wait to try to make my own Thin Mints.
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Links-and-Likes

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Kern, Senior Manager for Research and Analysis, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Fordham's Mike Petrilli shares 3 thoughts on the future of school integration.

Like: D.C. is definitely guilty of this, but the "must reads" are different than in Portland(ia).
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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Eric Paisner, Vice President of Knowledge and Partnerships, tells us his favorites of the day:

Link: Does your school have a leadership succession plan? Check out this assessment & management tool for charter schools.

Like: EdWeek has a new blog dedicated to better public school options.
Click here for more information.

Links-and-Likes

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taishya Adams, Director of State Services, tells us her favorites of the day:

Links: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the award of three Charter Schools Program grants, totaling $54.8 million, to increase public school options in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. You can read our take here.

Like: Congratulations to the Georgia Charter Schools Association for their hard work in advocating for the recently passed constitutional amendment by the Georgia Legislature to restore to the state the power to authorize public charter schools. Now, it is onto the ballot box in November.
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Links-and-Likes

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Anna Nicotera, Director of Research and Evaluation, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Spring is here, the weather is fantastic, and you’ll find me listening to This American Life while walking the dog.

Like: As a Denver native and big Broncos fan, I am ecstatic about the Peyton Manning news this week. Looks like his foundation has given money to charter schools in the past. Maybe in between preparing for the Super Bowl, we can get him involved in charter schools in Colorado!
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Links-and-Likes

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rachel Locklear Hall, Federal Advocacy Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Encouraging news about the U.S.high school graduation rate.

Like: This is a picture of 4 girls I taught two years ago at a Charter School in Brooklyn called Excellence Girls Charter School. If this adorableness doesn’t make you love charter schools, I don’t know what will.

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Links-and-Likes

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Katherine Schaff, National Charter Schools Conference Intern, tells us her favorites of the day:

Link: Getting excited for the National Charter Schools Conference? I sure am! Take a sneak peek at some of this year’s sessions.

Like: I can’t help but brag about the talented musicians that come from my hometown, Chicago. Check out Andrew Bird’s new album Break It Yourself.

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Mississippi Coalition for Public Charter Schools Calls for Smart Legislation in 2013,” NAPCS data and report on rural charter schools cited in Education Week’s Charters & Choice Blog, Jan. 2
“Chicago charter school subject to private-sector labor laws,” legal brief filed by NAPCS cited in WBEZ Chicago Public Media, Jan. 2

News to Know

“Education Week’s Top Charter School Stories for 2012 & Predictions for 2013,” Education Week’s Charters & Choice Blog, Jan. 4
“Mississippi Lawmakers Gear Up to Pass Charter School Bill,” Jackson Free Press, Jan. 3
“Why California Must Lead the Way in Closing Underperforming Charter Schools,” EdSource, Jan. 2

Audience Favorites

Facebook—Great article about the success of a small, rural Kansas public charter school with a focus on agricultural, project-based learning. Before it converted to charter status in 2007, it had struggled to keep up enrollment. Now the Walton Rural Life School is looking to expand in order to accommodate students on its waiting list.

Twitter— @charteralliance "Rural School Turned Charter Grows from Low Enrollment to Wait List" bit.ly/UJenGx via @educationweek #ruraled

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.

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Walton Foundation announces its total investments in charter schools,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in Saporta Report, Jan. 7
“State may consider 11 new charter schools in Durham,” NAPCS Market Share report cited in Durham Herald-Sun, Jan. 8

News to Know

“Virginia Governor Calls for Public Charter School Expansion,” Washington Post, Jan. 11
“Sandra Bullock Receives People's Choice Humanitarian Award for Charter School Work,” Ace Show Biz, Jan. 10
“Charter School Bill Filed in Kentucky House,” WFPL, Jan. 9
“Mississippi Business Group Joins Push For Public Charter Schools,” Clarion Ledger, Jan. 8
“Maine Governor Wants to Remove Cap on Charter Schools,” Maine Sun Journal, Jan. 7

Audience Favorites

Facebook— This GreatSchools video tackles the question 'What Are Charter Schools?'

Twitter—@charteralliance Congrats to #SandraBullock, the 1st @peopleschoice Favorite Humanitarian for her work w/ a New Orleans charter school bit.ly/VMQht4

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.

Click here for more information.

Media-Round-Up

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Public Charter Schools Reach New Milestone: Record 6,000 Schools Are Serving 2.3 Million Students,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) and NAPCS data quoted, PR Newswire, Jan. 15
“Report Says Florida A National Leader In Charter School Growth — Another Says It’s Not Fast Enough,” Nina Rees and NAPCS data quoted, WLRN, Jan 15
“California Charter Schools Grow At Fastest U.S. Rate,” NAPCS data cited, Huffington Post, Jan. 15
“Report: Florida second in nation in public charters,” NAPCS data cited, Miami Herald, Jan. 15

News to Know

“Massachusetts Bill Would End Charter Cap,” Boston Globe, Jan. 18
“Mississippi Senate Passes Charter School Bill,” Clarion Ledger, Jan. 17
“New York City Mayoral Candidate Outlines Education Proposals,” Wall Street Journal, Jan. 16
“Study: Michigan Charters Give Students an Edge,” Detroit News, Jan. 15
“Tennessee Lawmakers to Consider Statewide Charter Authorizer,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, Jan. 14

Audience Favorites

Facebook—Public Charter Schools Reach New Milestone: Record 6,000 Schools Are Serving 2.3 Million Students. “The growth of the public charter sector continues because parents are demanding quality options for their children,” said Nina Rees, NAPCS president and CEO. Learn more about the growth in public charter schools and student enrollment here.

Twitter—@educationweek There are a record 6,000 #charter schools for the 2012-13 school year, @charteralliance says: blogs.edweek.org/edweek/charter… via @EWKatieAsh

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.

Click here for more information.

Media-Round-Up

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Charters Adjusting to Common-Core Demands,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in Education Week, Jan. 22
“Virginia gets a flunking grade for charter schools — again,” NAPCS Model Law rankings report cited in Watchdog.org, Jan. 23
“Triangle faces wave of new charter schools,” NAPCS Market Share report cited in News & Observer, Jan. 20

News to Know

“Report: Districts Should Partner With Charters on Resources, Practices and Facilities,” Education Week, Jan. 25
“Mississippi House Passes Charter Schools Bill,” Mississippi Press, Jan. 24
“Ball State Revokes Charters of Seven Indiana Schools,” Muncie Star Press, Jan. 23
“Charter Schools See Largest Boom Since Their Inception 20 Years Ago,” Daily News, Jan. 22

Audience Favorites

Facebook— K-12 schools across the country are invited to enter the Green School Makeover Competition. Fill out the form below for a chance to win $75,000 in funding, along with Global Green USA’s technical assistance in seeing the plans through to completion. http://www.globalgreen.org/greenschoolmakeover

Twitter— @ILCharters to launch #samefunding campaign aimed to correct unequal per pupil funding during @schoolchoicewk bit.ly/145dA7k #SCW

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.

Click here for more information.

Media-Round-Up

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News
This week, NAPCS released its 4th annual model law rankings. The report received over 42 media placements, and Nina Rees (President & CEO) and Todd Ziebarth (Senior VP of State Advocacy) were frequently quoted. Some of the media coverage of the model law report includes:

Education Week’s Charters & Choice blog, EdNews Colorado, WDEL, Minnesota Public Radio, KAAL-TV, MinnPost, Daily Herald, Pueblo Chieftain, Sun-Sentinel, WFSU, State Impact, NewsChief, Times-Picayune, Advocate, EdSource, Post and Courier, MLive, Atlanta Business Chronicle, KLAS-TV, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, CityWire, Boise State Public Radio, WPRI, Virginia Business, MarketWatch, Seattle Weekly, Advocate, Union Leader, Post and Courier, Clarion Ledger

News to Know

“Charters' Path to Success or Failure Set Early, Study Finds,” Education Week’s Charters & Choice blog, Feb. 1st
"Most New Jersey Charter School Facilities Outdated, Analysis Finds,” Star Ledger, Jan. 31
“Former Florida Governor Urges Independent Authorizer for Arkansas,” NWA Online, Jan. 30
“Texas Charter Schools Say Their Smaller Share of State Aid is Unconstitutional,” Austin American-Statesman, Jan. 29
“National School Choice Week to Include 3,500 Events in 50 States,” Education Week’s “Charters & Choice” blog, Jan. 28

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Photo Album: National School Choice Week Celebration in Wyoming.

Twitter—Today we released our 2013 annual rankings of state charter school laws. How did your state measure up? bit.ly/Wresj7

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Minnesota’s Charter Law Ranked No. 1,” NAPCS model law report cited in Forest Lake Times, Feb. 7
“Critics of Montana’s public schools press lawmakers for options,” Lisa Grover (Sr. Director of State Advocacy) quoted, Laurel Outlook, Feb. 6
“Idaho’s Charter School Law Could Be Revamped Soon,” NAPCS model law report cited in Idaho Statesman, Feb. 4
“Florida praised for support of charter schools,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) and Todd Ziebarth (Sr. Vice President for State Advocacy) quoted on NAPCS model law, Pinnellas News, Feb. 3
“Maine comes in second in 2013 rankings of state charter laws,” Nina Rees and Todd Ziebarth quoted on NAPCS model law, St. John Valley Times, Feb. 3

News to Know

“The Demographic Power Behind Effective Charter Schools,”National Journal, Feb. 8
“D.C. Public Charter School Enrollment Outpaces School District, Washington Post, Feb. 7
“Maine Approves Two More Public Charter Schools,” Bangor Daily News, Feb. 6
“Texas Judge Rules Public School Funding Unconstitutional, Except for Charters,” Washington Post, Feb. 5
“Charter School Growth Fund Paying Off, Study Says,” Education Week’s Marketplace K-12 blog, Feb. 4

Audience Favorites

Facebook— In a recent CBS Evening News segment, Sci Academy senior Simone Smith was asked what it meant to be able to pick her public charter high school. Smith replied, "It meant everything. I don't think I would be here if I wasn't able to pick the high school that I wanted to go to. Because I don't feel like you can be truly educated without having a choice. I think having a choice is kind of education."

Twitter—@KendallMassett Great time learning with my @charteralliance Master's Class colleagues! pic.twitter.com/9Dkne3V7

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Utah’s Charter Law Drops in Ranking Due to Other States’ Improvement,” NAPCS Model Law report cited in KSL, Feb. 12
“Growth of Charter Schools in D.C. Continues,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in Washington Post, Feb. 10
“State Ranks High in Charter Schools,” Nina Rees and Todd Ziebarth (Sr. Vice President for State Advocacy) quoted in American Press editorial, Feb. 9

News to Know

“Bloomberg Gives Final State of the City Address,” Wall Street Journal, Feb. 15
“Bill Seeks to Expand Oversight of Arizona Charters,” Arizona Republic, Feb. 14
“PBS Series to Profile Charter School Success Stories,” San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 13
“Report: Cities Have Hundreds of Empty Schools for Sale,” Washington Post, Feb. 12
“D.C.'s Doing Something Right: Number of Kids in Public Schools Keeps Rising,” Education Week’s Policy Notebook blog, Feb. 11

Audience Favorites

Facebook— The producers of Breakthroughs with Martin Sheen announced a new report series on success stories inside public charter school education, which are set to air this March. In an upcoming report, educators tell their stories about how public charter schools are giving students different ways to learn that are producing results in test scores and eventually college acceptance statistics.

Twitter— @annanicotera New research tackles question: are #charters more likely to push-out low-performing students? The short answer is no. bit.ly/12GlGnM

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

News to Know

“Idaho House Bill Would Help Fund Charter Facilities,” Idaho State Journal, Feb. 22
“In D.C., Public Preschool Already the Norm,” Washington Post, Feb. 21
“Texas Bill Could Be Most Important Change to Charter Law Since 1995,” Austin American-Statesman, Feb. 20
“Wisconsin Governor Proposes Statewide Charter Authorizer,” Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Feb. 19

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Great opportunity for K-12 teachers: Hilton HHonors™ is giving teachers a passport to see the world and bring their experiences back to the classroom through Teacher Treks. Learn more and submit your grant application at www.hhonors.com/TeacherTreks

Twitter— @annanicotera: @CREDOatStanford Releases New Study Finding Positive Performance of New York City #Charter Schools bit.ly/WWEFHl

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“California-based charter school system works to win over parents ahead of Memphis opening,” Todd Ziebarth (Sr. Vice President for State Advocacy) quoted in Memphis Commercial Appeal, Feb. 24

News to Know

“Charter Schools Bill Advances in Kentucky Senate,” Courier-Journal, Mar. 1
“Wisconsin Governor’s Plan Would Give Public Charter Schools More Autonomy,” Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 28
“Mathematica 2013 Study: KIPP Charter School Students Outperform Public School Peers,” Huffington Post, Feb. 27
“Massachusetts Education Board Approves Three New Charter Schools,” Times-Union, Feb. 26
“Activists, Teachers Apply for Washington’s Charter School Commission,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Feb. 25

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Our President & CEO Nina Rees issued a statement on sequester: "There is no doubt that these drastic cuts will greatly harm our public education system, for public charter schools and traditional public schools alike."

Twitter— @charteralliance: @CREDOatStanford report finds that MA charter students gain more learning in a yr than district school peers bit.ly/ZMvo7r

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Charters Are Providing Hope,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) letter to the editor of the New York Times, Mar. 3
“Broad Foundation Reveals How Top Public Charter School System Sends All Graduates to College,” Nina Rees quoted in PRNewswire press release, Mar. 5

News to Know

“Report: Florida Public Charter Schools Outperform Traditional Public Schools,” News-Press, Mar. 8
“Nine Named to Washington Charter Schools Commission, Herald Net, Mar. 7
“New Jersey Announces $125 Million to Support New Jersey Charter Schools,” New Jersey Newsroom, Mar. 6
“Number of Proposed North Carolina Charter Schools Hits Record High,” News & Observer, Mar. 5
“Letter: Charter Movement Shows ‘Signs of Bold Corrective Action,’” New York Times, Mar. 4

Audience Favorites

Facebook— We're so glad that Dr. Michael Lomax will be participating in our general session at the National Charter Schools Conference. Visitwww.publiccharters.org/conference for more information.
“Children deserve a good education now, not when education reform transforms all of public education. Charters offer parents those right-now choices.” –Dr. Michael Lomax

Twitter—@charteralliance: "School facilities shouldn't be a barrier to a quality education"-@gatesfoundation on loans for RI charter facilities bit.ly/YNrQv7

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Massachusetts Considers Eliminating Caps on Charter Schools,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in Wall Street Journal, Mar. 10

News to Know

“Rocketship to Open Eight Schools in Nashville,” Tennessean, Mar. 15
“Wisconsin Charter School Association In Favor of Governor’s Plan for Multiple Authorizers,” WUWM, Mar. 14
“Study: Median D.C. Charter School Outperforms Median Traditional School,” Washington Post, Mar. 13
“Chicago to Change School Funding Formula,” Chicago Tribune, Mar. 12
“Recent Pennsylvania Legislation Would Overhaul Charter School Funding,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mar. 11

Audience Favorites

Facebook—This year's National Charter Schools Conference has two great pre-conferences in the works: one for Dropout Recovery schools, and another for enhancing your STEM curriculum. Head to our website to learn more.

Twitter— @charteralliance Florida Charter School Students Outperform Traditional Public School Counterparts bit.ly/10wUDat

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

News to Know

“U.S. Senators Introduce Amendment to Replicate High-Quality Charter Schools,” Chattanoogan, Mar. 22
“New Hampshire House Committee Votes to Retain Charter Schools Bill,” Sentinel Source, Mar. 21
“Op-ed: Remove Massachusetts’ Cap on Charters in High-Need Communities,” Commonwealth Magazine op-ed, Mar. 20
“Florida Senate Committee Discusses Charter School Bills,” Tampa Bay Times, Mar. 19
“In Texas, An Attempt to Expand Public Charter Schools,” New York Times, Mar. 18

Audience Favorites

Twitter—@charteralliance Op-ed: Remove Massachusetts’ Cap on Charters in High-Need Communities bit.ly/10iAWVs

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

Will Obama's Budget Recognize Charter Schools?, Nina Rees (President & CEO) editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Mar. 26

News to Know

“Idaho Senate Passes Charter School Facilities Funding Bill,” Spokesman-Review, Mar. 29
"D.C. School Facilities Plan Considers Charters for the First Time,” Washington Post, Mar. 28
“Mississippi House Narrowly Rejects Charter Schools Bill, But Issue Not Dead,” Mississippi Press, Mar. 27
“Teacher-Prep Programs Zero In on Effective 'Practice',” Education Week, Mar. 26
“Editorial: Unchain the Charters in Chicago,” Chicago Tribune, Mar. 25

Audience Favorites

Facebook—In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, our President Nina Rees urges the White House, Congress and state-level policy makers to give public charter schools their fair share of funding, eliminate state caps on their growth and hold them accountable for performance. “The data are in. Charters can—and do—deliver top-notch education even to the most disadvantaged of American students.”

Twitter—@charteralliance The wait to get into a Chicago charter school is among longest in any US district; @chicagotribune calls for change trib.in/16bQL1K

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“The thirst for charter schools,” NAPCS data cited in Chicago Tribune op-ed, Apr. 4
“Mississippi Passes Major Improvements to its Public Charter School Law,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in NAPCS press release, Apr. 3
“Idaho Lawmakers Approve More Modest Charter School Law Overhaul,” NAPCS Model Law cited in Boise State Public Radio, Apr. 3
“Miss. Senate gives final OK to charter schools,” NAPCS Model Law cited in Sun Herald, Apr. 3

News to Know

“Florida House Passes Two Charter School Bills,” Florida Current, Apr. 5
“Mississippi Charter School Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk,” Clarion Ledger, Apr. 4
“A Crucible of Change in Memphis,” New York Times, Apr. 3
“Maine Governor, Charter Supporters Protest Proposed Changes in Funding,” Kennebec Journal, Apr. 2
“Letter: Charters Are Lifting the D.C. Public School System,” Washington Post, Apr. 1

Audience Favorites

Facebook— In his New York Times column, Thomas Friedman shared the results of a new international benchmark study which shows that two U.S. public charter schools—BASIS Tucson North and North Star Academy in Newark, NJ—are literally outperforming every country in the world!
http://publiccharters.org/Blog/Default.aspx?id=381

Twitter—@Charteralliance Public Charter Schools' Performance Tops New Study on Global Competitiveness bit.ly/YVwBqE; Pres of #1 schl will speak at #NCSC13!

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Media-Round-UP

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Charter School Operators Defend Performance,” NAPCS data cited in Philadelphia Tribune, Apr. 11
“Louisiana parents have power in their children's education, study says,” NAPCS Model Law cited in Times-Picayune, Apr. 11
“Obama Budget Increases Education Spending, Flatlines Key Funds For Poor And Students With Disabilities,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) cited in Huffington Post, Apr. 10
“LePage proposes taking money from education aid for legal defense,” Lisa Grover (Sr. Director of State Advocacy) quoted in Bangor Daily News, Apr. 9
“Exploring the Link Between Charters and Private School Enrollment Decline,” NAPCS data cited in Education Week Charters & Choice blog, Apr. 9
“Give charter schools chance to learn, grow,” NAPCS Model Law cited in Bangor Daily News Op-Ed, Apr. 8
“N.C. charter school oversight plan does not include ‘best practices,’ expert says,” Todd Ziebarth (Sr. VP for State Advocacy) quoted in Sacramento Bee, Apr. 6

News to Know

“Texas Senate Passes Charter School Bill,” Austin American-Statesman, Apr. 12
“Montana House Committee Considers Public Charter Schools,” Beartooth NBC, Apr. 11
“Tennessee Senate Delays Action on State Charter Authorizer,” Times News, Apr. 10
“New York City Mayor Announces New Schools, Including 26 Charters,” New York Times, Apr. 9
“South Carolina Charter Schools Receive Awards,” WBTW, Apr. 8

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Take ACTION: Click to link below to ask your Member of Congress to support more federal funding for public charter schools! http://salsa.publiccharters.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9186

Twitter—@charteralliance: @DSSTPubSchools CEO to testify at @EdWorkforce hearing on #STEM education at 10 AM EST tomorrow 1.usa.gov/ZBk2Ej

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Unions' Charter-School Push,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in Wall Street Journal, Apr. 15

News to Know

“Ohio House Proposal Would Increase Charter School Funding,” Plain Dealer, Apr. 19
“Among Five Cities, D.C. Charters Have Biggest Funding Disparity with Traditional Public Schools,” Washington Post, Apr. 18
“New Hampshire Charter School Advocates Start Online Petition for School Approvals,” Nashua Telegraph, Apr. 17
“North Carolina Charter School Bill Would Create Independent Authorizing Board," WFAE, Apr. 16
“L.A. Mayoral Candidate Pledges to Be the ‘Education-Reform’ Mayor,” Los Angeles Times, Apr. 15

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Public Charter Schools Hold Top Rankings on Washington Post’s Challenge Index: In the past three years, public charter schools have grown from 17 percent, to 25 percent, and this year 28 percent of the schools in the top 100 Challenge Index high schools--and have held the #1 rank for two years running. Congratulations to these public charter schools being recognized for providing a rigorous academic experience for their students. http://www.publiccharters.org/Blog/Default.aspx?id=386

Twitter—@charteralliance: May 5-11 is just around the corner! RT @Mashea: National Charter Schools Week is less than 3 weeks away! #CharterSchools#SchoolChoice #NCSW

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Lift cap on urban charters,” op-ed by Nina Rees (President & CEO), Worcester Telegram, Apr. 25
“Charter Schools vs. Public: Is One Better Than the Other?” NAPCS research summary cited in Take Part, Apr. 25
“Charter School Research Largely Positive, Says New Summary,” NAPCS research summary cited in Education Week’s Charter & Choice blog, Apr. 24
“Three little-known facts about charter schools in Michigan,” NAPCS market share report cited in Michigan Radio, Apr. 24
“Why Are 2 of U.S. News's Top 5 'Best High Schools' Arizona Charter Schools?” Nina Rees quoted in The Atlantic, Apr. 23
“Advocate for rural public charter schools,” NAPCS Beyond City Limits issue brief cited in Daily Tarheel letter to the editor, Apr. 23

News to Know

“Charter Parents United Rally for Equal Funding in Chicago,” Chicago Sun-Times, Apr. 26
“Public Charter Schools Rank High in U.S. News & World Report’s List of Best High Schools,” U.S. News & World Report, Apr. 25
“Atlanta Parent Starts Petition to Restore Charter School Funding,” East Atlanta Patch, Apr. 24
“Opinion: In Kentucky, Let Failing Schools Become Charter Schools,” WDRB, Apr. 23
“Tennessee Legislature Adjourns Without Passing Charter School Bill,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, Apr. 22

Audience Favorites

Facebook— U.S. News and World Report released its 2013 Best High Schools Rankings: 28 public charter schools are among the top 100; Three charter schools hold the top five rankings. Congratulations to these charter schools recognized as the top public high schools in the nation!

Twitter—@charteralliance: Board Chair of #2 and #5 ranked @USNewsEducation #2013BestHighSchools will be a keynote panelist at #NCSC13 bit.ly/12hBpqQ

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Charter Schools Unionize,” NAPCS Unionized Charter Schools Report cited in Wall Street Journal, May 1
“Kentucky Charter Schools Movement May Get Bump From Carl Rollins' Resignation,” NAPCS spokesman quoted in WFPL, Apr. 29

News to Know

“D.C. Charters Underfunded, Leaders Tell Council,” Washington Examiner, May 3
“Two Michigan Districts Transformed by Charter Operators,” Education Week, May 2
“Texas House Education Panel Approves Charter School Bill,” Dallas News, May 1
“Florida to Provide $91 Million for Charter School Facilities,” Bradenton Herald, Apr. 30
“Bill Would Allow Connecticut Districts to Share Charters’ Scores,” CT Mirror, Apr. 29

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Granada Hills Charter HS won its third consecutive national title in Academic Decathlon on Saturday, beating out about 50 other teams—including its closest competitor, El Camino Real Charter High School. Congratulations to these public charter school students for their incredible achievement!

Twitter—@charteralliance: Research Shows that the Presence of Public Charter Schools Leads to Improvements in Traditional Public Schools bit.ly/YmAUh6

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Huntington Learning Center Honors Charter Schools During National Charter Schools Week,” NAPCS National Charter School Week activities cited in Market Watch, May 9
“Texas charter school waitlist numbers remain fluid,” NAPCS national waitlist data cited in KHOU, May 9
“State leaders honored for charter school measure,” NAPCS Charter Champions award cited in WTVA, May 8

News to Know

“Maine Governor Proposes Lifting Cap on Charters,” Bangor Daily News, May 10
“Texas State Senator Tells Rally Charter School Bill Will Pass,” Houston Chronicle, May 9
“Op-ed: Celebrating Charter School Successes: This Week and Every Week,” Hill op-ed, May 8
“President Obama Proclaims National Charter Schools Week,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 7
“Charter Schools Pioneer to Visit Maine,” Boston Globe, May 6

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Welcome to National Charter Schools Week 2013! Please share your photos and stories during NCSW--which gives us, as a community, the opportunity to highlight and share in our successes, lessons learned, and raise awareness of what public charter schools can offer.

Twitter—@charteralliance: Public Charter Schools are 5.8% of all public schools & 13% of @Newsweek's top 100 #BestHighSchools bit.ly/16kgNTw #NCSW #edreform

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“New Poll: Moms Prefer More School Choice,” NAPCS data cited, North American Press Syndicate, May 16
“Broad Foundation Names Three Finalists for Charter Schools Prize,” NAPCS National Charter Schools Conference cited, Education Week’s District Dossier blog, May 15
“Georgia Charters Create Alternative Teacher Pipeline,” Lisa Grover (Sr. Director of State Services) quoted, Heartland, May 10

News to Know

“Texas House Votes to Lift Cap on Charter Schools,” Houston Chronicle, May 17
“The Bronx Is Burning — With Charter School Applications,” New York Daily News, May 16
“Charter School Caps Looking for Big Lift in Texas, Massachusetts,” Education Week’s State EdWatch blog, May 15
“Minneapolis Charters Inspire Change in School System,” Minnesota Public Radio, May 14
“Illinois Charter Commission to Decide Virtual School Appeal,” Daily Herald, May 13

Audience Favorites

Facebook—While charter schools are only 6% of all public schools, they're prevalent on the U.S. News & World Report, Washington Post, and Newsweek annual rankings of public high schools across the nation. Click the link to see if your public charter school made the top 100 on one or more of these rankings lists. http://www.publiccharters.org/Blog/Default.aspx?id=419

Twitter—@charteralliance: Tour of @phoenixcharter serving challenged adolescents. What's fair accountability for "alternative" schls? #NCSC13 bit.ly/15NwOSF

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“New Poll: Moms Prefer More School Choice,” NAPCS national waitlist data cited, East Oregonian, May 24
“New Jersey bill would convert public schools into charters with vote,” NAPCS Model Law cited, Newsworks New Jersey, May 23, 2013

News to Know

“32 New Michigan Charter Schools Set to Open in Fall 2013,” Michigan Radio, May 24
“High-Quality Charter Authorizing Ensures High-Quality Charter Schools,” Education Next, May 23
“Study: Boston Charters Outperform Traditional Schools on Key Tests,” Boston Globe, May 22
“Charter Schools Rank High on New List of Best Schools in Central Texas,” Culture Map Austin, May 21
“Op-ed: What Michigan's Charter Schools Can Teach the Country,” Wall Street Journal op-ed, May 20

Audience Favorites

Facebook— A handful of public charter schools in the L.A. Unified school district are using arts to inspire students to stay in school. Gabriella Charter School incorporates nearly 5 hours of dance per week into the regular school day for first through eighth graders. “One benefit of Gabriella's dance-based program,” said Principal Lisa Rooney, “is that it gives kinetic learners a chance to experience success – often for the first time.” http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2013/05/24/13763/unusual-charters-use-dance-string-instruments-to-m/?slide=2

Twitter—@charteralliance: Thousands from @MasteryCharter gathered for #CollegeSigningDay to celebrate 450 seniors headed to college bit.ly/YWLERh

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 31 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in “Illinois Senators Kirk, Durbin Introduce Bill to Expand Successful Charter Schools,” eNews Park Forest, May 24

News to Know

“Report: Charter Schools Bright Spot in Silicon Valley Achievement Gap,” San Mateo Daily Journal, May 31
“Op-ed: New Yorkers Increasingly Support Public Charter Schools,” New York Daily News, May 30
“Gates Foundation Pledges Money to New Washington State Charter School Incubator,” KMAS News Radio, May 29
“Texas Legislature OKs Bills Expanding Public Charter Schools,” Dallas News, May 28

Audience Favorites

Facebook— The regular registration rate for the 2013 National Charter Schools Conference expires after June 7. Please join us for the professional development, networking, and a bit of 4th of July fun. Keynote speakers include Armando Perez (aka Pitbull), Secretary Arne Duncan, Joel Klein, and a panel of education leaders. You can register for the conference on our website. http://publiccharters.org/conference/2013/getting-there/registration.aspx

Twitter— @Ninacharters Excited to announce that Armando Perez @Pitbull with @MasteryCharter will open #NCSC13 on July 1 in DC!

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Media-Round-Up

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“State charter schools leader takes national job,” NAPCS’s hire of Russ Simnick cited by Indianapolis Business Journal, the Post-Tribune and Inside Indiana Business, June 4
“3-Minute Interview: Linda Moore, charter schools Hall of Famer,” NAPCS Hall of Fame inductee Linda Moore interviewed in Washington Examiner, June 2

News to Know

“Illinois Bill Would Guarantee Military Families 33 Percent of Charter Seats,” Lake County Journal, June 7
“Public Charter Schools Help Turn Dropouts into Graduates,” Education Week series, June 6
“Maine Charter School Commission Considers Moratorium on New Charter School Applications,” Kennebec Journal, June 5
“North Carolina Public Charter Schools Association Opposes Separate Charter Board,” News & Observer’s Under the Dome blog, June 4
“Newark Charter Schools Receive $10 Million,” Newark Patch, June 3

Audience Favorites

Facebook— During Good Morning America’s 2013 Summer Concert Series, Armando Pérez, aka Pitbull, talked about SLAM (Sports Leadership & Management), the public charter school he's opening in Miami. Register now for the National Charter Schools Conference to see Pitbull speak on July 1st! http://gma.yahoo.com/video/mr-worldwide-im-only-legal-143636528.html

Twitter— @charteralliance: NEW NAPCS Report and Infographic on public charter school facilities bit.ly/112559n

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Media-Round-Up

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NAPCS in the News

“Tech, education leaders talk STEM challenges,” Nina Rees (President & CEO) quoted in POLITICO, June 12
“Most Charters Don't Have Sufficient Room to Grow, Study Says,” NAPCS survey report cited in Education Week Charters & Choice Blog, June 10

News to Know

“Newark Proposes New Charter Admissions Policy,” Wall Street Journal’s Metropolis blog, June 14
“State District to Run Struggling Schools in Virginia,” Education Week, June 13
“Illinois Virtual Charter School Withdraws Appeal,” Daily Herald, June 12
“Maine Senate Approves Charter School Bill,” Morning Sentinel, June 11
“Education Pioneers Comes to Memphis,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, June 10

Audience Favorites

Facebook— Friday Fact: In the past five years, the growth of public charter school student enrollment has increased nearly 80%, and the number of schools has grown by 40%. Given this demand, the ability to access and finance adequate facilities is a critical part of public charter school growth. http://www.publiccharters.org/Blog/Default.aspx?id=432

Twitter— @educationweek Half of charter schools will outgrow their current facility over the next 5 years, @charteralliance survey finds: blogs.edweek.org/edweek/charter

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NAPCS-Monthly-Newsletter

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

With June marking the kickoff for this year’s National Charter Schools Conference, we are excited to see many of you in person in our nation’s capital very soon! The largest gathering of the year for the public charter school movement, this year’s conference runs from June 30-July 3 and will feature more than 4,000 attendees as well as fantastic speakers, panels and sessions.

To stay updated on all of our activities and happenings in the public charter school sector, follow me on Twitter along with @charteralliance and #NCSC13 for conference tweets, subscribe to The Charter Blog, and make sure to sign up for our mailings—including news clips, press releases and other important announcements.

Best regards,

Nina Rees
President and CEO
@Ninacharters

Conference Update—Welcoming Pitbull
As a sign of the broad reach and resonance of the public charter school movement, worldwide music superstar Mr. Armando “Pitbull” Pérez will kick off this year’s National Charter Schools Hall of Fame induction ceremony. A globally successful musician, performer, business entrepreneur, fashion icon and actor whose career sales exceed five million albums and 40 million singles worldwide, Mr. Pérez will join us to talk about his decision to open a charter school this fall in Miami called SLAM (Sports Leadership and Management) Charter School.

SLAM’s mission is to innovatively and deeply prepare students for secondary studies and beyond. Through an emphasis on preparation for sports-related careers, SLAM’s teaching philosophy centers on the “3 Rs”: rigor, relevance and relationships. Operating a middle and high school, the school’s first cohort of students will begin classes in the fall of 2014.

Mr. Pérez is one of the most powerful voices speaking out today on behalf of young Americans and communities. The National Alliance applauds his leadership in drawing attention onto the need to give all young people access to good public schools. You can read more about Mr. Pérez and our other keynote speakers on our website.

ESEA—Reauthorization Sooner is Better than Later
As many of you know, the potentially long process of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—the federal statute that governs the majority of federal investments in K-12 education—has begun. I recently put forward a few reasons why Congress and the Administration should focus on reauthorization sooner, rather than later.

First, many of the Administration’s most effective programs—such as Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation Funds (i3) and the Charter School Replication and Expansion Grants—are not etched into law yet. If ESEA is not reauthorized, these programs may fall by the wayside, which would mean that countless future charter schools may never come to pass.

Second, we have seen overwhelming bipartisan agreement on a host of ESEA reforms,such as strengthening the Charter Schools Program, which passed the House with strong majority. Despite disagreement over some other key aspects of reauthorization, because the House and Senate have already been through this reauthorization exercise twice, putting together a strategy that would get a bill to the finish line would be challenging, but would be well within reach.

Finally, if media attention around the Common Core is any indication, America may be ready to have a more substantive discussion about education policy. You can read more here.

To learn more about ESEA reauthorization, read the National Alliance white paper: Free to Succeed: Public Charter Schools & the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

ESEA—Tests taken, lessons learned through NCLB Sanctions
This past month, the National Alliance participated in a forum held by the American Enterprise Institute which explored a new analysis from Duke University that indicates certain NCLB sanctions have proven more effective than others. Specifically, this analysis found that the threat of significant school restructuring raised student achievement in underperforming schools. You can watch the forum in its entirety here.

ESEA Legislation
The Senate HELP Committee approved the Strengthening America’s Schools Act; and on June 19, the House Education and Workforce Committee started its consideration of H.R. 5, The Student Success Act. Both bills would make changes to the federal Charter Schools Program. In particular, both would increase the number of entities eligible to apply for grants from the Department of Education. We are analyzing the bills very closely on a number of important issues related to charter school quality, growth and innovation. We are working with Congressional staff in the Senate and House, and we’ll continue to keep you apprised of what’s going on in Washington, D.C. as these bills advance.

Click hereto view a chart that compares select provisions from the ESEA bills introduced by Senator Harkin, Senator Alexander and Chairman Kline against current law and ESEA Waivers.

STEM
According to the responses to our recent national survey, over 20 percent of public charter schools indicated a STEM or math/science instructional focus. Given the prominence of a STEM-focus in public charter schools, the National Alliance was recently invited to join two important dialogues on STEM Education – POLITICO’s Pro Technology team discussion on the current state of STEM education and U.S. News’ STEM Solutions conference.

At the POLITICO forum, I had the pleasure of joining Tom Kalil, White House deputy director for technology and innovation, Becky Pringle, NEA secretary-treasurer, and Eric Schwarz, co-founder and CEO of Citizen Schools, for a conversation focused on the implications of STEM on the American workforce as well as what to expect for STEM policy in the year to come.

POLITICO's Jessica Meyers (left) and Tony Romm (right) are joined by Eric Schwarz (second from left), Nina Rees (third from left), Becky Pringle (third from right) and Tom Kalil (second from right).

I also joined a fantastic team at the STEM Solutions conference, which included Maria Klawe, Harvey Mudd College president, Arthur Levine, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation president, Camsie A. McAdams, U.S. Department of Education Senior Advisor on STEM Education, Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education, and Richard Middleton, regional vice president of the southwestern region at the College Board, to address the question: 'Are we moving too slowly?'

About the National Alliance
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector.

Click here for more information.

NAPCS-Monthly-Newsletter

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

On the heels of National Charter Schools Week and the 30th anniversary of the publication of the landmark report, A Nation at Risk, we extend our thanks to advocates across the nation who have mobilized in support of high-quality public charter schools. And we are even more excited to see so many of you in person in our nation’s capital on June 30th-July 3rd during our largest gathering of the year, the National Charter Schools Conference.

I’m also glad to report that states have been continuing to take action to strengthen their public charter school sectors. Strong bipartisan support in Mississippi to dramatically strengthen the state’s charter school law was matched by impressive action on the part of parents, advocates and elected leaders in Massachusetts and Texas, working to lift unreasonable caps on charter schools (read my recent op-ed on Massachusetts).

To stay updated on these and other advocacy efforts follow me on Twitter, @Ninacharters, and through our website.

Best regards,

Nina Rees
President and CEO
@Ninacharters

Conference Update – 2013 Charter Schools Hall of Fame
Each year the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools inducts a special group of individuals and organizations into the National Charter Schools Hall of Fame. The honor goes to individuals and organizations that have: pioneered efforts to develop and grow charter schools; committed to and contributed to charter schools and education; proposed and implemented innovative ideas; and, inspired others in the charter school movement.

We are excited to announce the 2013 inductees to the National Charter Schools Hall of Fame: the Walton Family Foundation; Lisa Graham Keegan, CEO of the Education Breakthrough Network and former Superintendent of Public Instruction from Arizona; and Linda Moore, founder of the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Washington D.C.

The 2013 inductees will be officially honored on July 1, 2013 at the National Charter Schools Conference. The conference is filling up – so make sure to register by June 7th, the last day to receive regular registration rates, and stay tuned to #NCSC13 for all the latest conference updates!

Public Charter Schools Rank Among Top Public High Schools in the Nation
The rankings are in! Every year, U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Post and Newsweek rank public high schools across the nation.

Newsweek recently came out with their Transformative High Schools list, which takes students’ socioeconomic status into account by looking at schools that serve a high percentage of students who receive free- or reduced-price lunches. Sixteen public charter schools were on the list, comprising 64 percent of the nation’s top 25 “Transformative” schools – despite public charter schools making up only six percent of public schools nationwide. Also, no surprise, all top five schools were public charter schools!

Also, according to U.S. News & World Report, 28 public charter schools were in the top 100 – and three were in the top 10. The Washington Post’s “Most Challenging High Schools” list also put 28 public charter schools in their top 100 – and four in their top 10. In Newsweek’s “America’s Best High Schools” list, 13 public charter schools were in the top 100, with two BASIS charter schools reaching the top 10. According to The Atlantic, BASIS students were found to be several years ahead of their classmates when it came to proficiency in basic subjects. As I stated in this article, "[this] is a sign that there is something in their formula that needs to be replicated as quickly as possible because it seems to be producing great results."

Reflecting Back – National Charter Schools Week 2013
During this year’s National Charter Schools Week, Americans heard from parents, officials and public charter school advocates.

President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation recognizing National Charter Schools Week 2013. U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) expressed strong support for public charter schools, marking the official start of what was the 14th annual week of recognition. Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) editorialized in The Hill about the need for all parents and families to have the option to enroll their children in high-quality public charter schools.

We had the privilege of recognizing this year’s Charter Champions that week: Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Congressman John Kline (R-MN), Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves, State Senator Gray Tollison (MS) and Mayor Karl Dean (Nashville, TN) – public officials unmatched in their service to parents and students of the charter school movement.

Congressman Kline presented with a 2013 Charter Champion award
(Image via the National Alliance for Public Charter School)

In the Golden State, more than 150 school leaders and parents attended the California Charter Schools Association's 20th Anniversary Advocacy Day, where they met with elected officials to discuss the impact charters are having on students’ success. The Texas Charter Schools Association welcomed more than 700 parents, students, teachers and charter leaders, who rallied on the steps of the state capitol to show their strong support for charter schools. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools hosted more than 500 parents, teachers, and students in Springfield, who called for equitable funding for public charter schools.

Parents rally at the Texas state capitol
(Image via Austin American-Statesman)

As President Obama said, “… charter schools choose to locate in communities with few high-quality educational options, making them an important partner in widening the circle of opportunity for students who need it most.”

Representing Public Charters on STEM
Last month, the House Education and Workforce Committee requested our assistance with finding a public charter school witness for a Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary hearing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). We secured Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools from Denver, CO, to testify on “Raising the Bar: Reviewing STEM Education in America.” In addition to his views on STEM, he emphasized the importance of federal support for charter schools during his testimony.

Click here for more information.

NAPCS-Resource-Roundup-for-National-Charter-Schools-Week

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

National Charter Schools Week (NCSW) is just around the corner—May 5th-11th. During National Charter Schools Week, we celebrate achievements in the school house and the state house. These achievements could not have been possible without the commitment of teachers, leaders, parents, and advocates from all parts of the country.

In preparation for NCSW, this blog features the publications that NAPCS has produced about public charter schools this year. We hope these resources will help your efforts to increase awareness that charter schools are public schools dedicated to improving our nation’s public education system and advocate for a more favorable policy environment for charter schools.

National Charter Schools Week Toolkit
This toolkit is meant to be used as a simple resource for showing examples of events and activities in states, as well as some examples and templates for promoting NCSW.

Public Charter Schools Success: A Summary of the Current Research on Public Charters' Effectiveness at Improving Student Achievement
This report examines high-quality research studies conducted to measure public charter school achievement since 2010.

Serving English Language Learners: A Toolkit for Public Charter Schools
A complicated mix of federal and state laws govern the education of English Language Learner (ELL) students and can make understanding the legal requirements challenging. This toolkit breaks down key federal laws and policies and provides examples of state laws where appropriate. It also gives real world examples from public charter schools across the country and provides a basic framework for conceptualizing, implementing and monitoring an ELL instructional program.

Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws
Now in its fourth year, Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Public Charter School Laws ranks each of the country’s 43 state charter school laws. Each state receives a score on its law’s strength based on the 20 essential components from the NAPCS model law, which include measuring quality and accountability, equitable access to funding and facilities and limited caps on charter school growth.
Click here for more information.

NAPCS-Valentine

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Click here for more information.