June 22: New Model Law For Supporting The Growth of Public Charter Schools: A Guide to Strengthening State Charter Legislation
Washington, D.C. – A new guide designed to help policymakers strengthen state charter school laws was released today by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
A New Model Law for Supporting the Growth of Public Charter Schools draws on a growing body of research and analysis of charter schools, plus the recommendations of a national study group, to identify 20 essential components of a strong charter law.
The new model law addresses several key challenges largely ignored in existing legislation, including:
- Equitable Access to Capital Funding and Facilities including multiple provisions such as: a per-pupil facility allowance (equal to statewide average per-pupil capital costs); facility grant and revolving loan programs; a Charter School Bonding Authority (or access to all relevant state tax-exempt bonding authorities available to all other public schools); the right of first refusal to purchase or lease at or below fair market value a closed or unused public school facility or property; and clarity that no state or local entity may impose any facility-related requirements that are stricter than those applied to traditional public schools.
- Authorizer Accountability System Required, whereby all authorizers must affirm interest to become an authorizer (except for a legislatively-created state public charter school commission) and participate in an authorizer reporting program based on objective data, as overseen by some state-level entity with the power to remedy.
- Performance-Based Charter Contracts Required, with such contracts created as separate post-application documents between authorizers and public charter schools detailing at least academic performance expectations, operational performance expectations, and school and authorizer rights and duties.
“Our intent is for the model law to be useful to the 41 jurisdictions with charter laws as well as the 10 states that have yet to enact a charter law,” said Nelson Smith President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. “While we recognize that a high-quality charter school sector requires high-quality authorizers, outstanding school leaders and teachers, effective support organizations, and engaged parents and community members – the foundation for a strong sector lies in supportive laws and regulations.”
“In the past 18 years many important lessons have been learned about what works to support the growth of high-quality charter schools and what doesn’t,” said Todd Ziebarth Vice President of Policy of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, who led the year-long development project. “The time is right for a new model law that supports more and better public charter schools based upon lessons learned from experience, research, and analysis.”
A New Model Law for Supporting the Growth of Public Charter Schools will be released at the 9th Annual National Charter Schools Conference at the Walter E. Washington Conference Center in Washington, D.C. in a special session at 3:15 pm, Room 204C. A copy of the document can be downloaded at www.publiccharters.org/ModelLaw.
Charter schools are independent public schools that are free to innovate and are held accountable for improved student achievement. They foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are given the freedom to meet students’ needs, and students are provided the structure they need to learn. In 40 states and Washington D.C., over 4,600 public charter schools serve more than 1.4 million public school students.
Contact:
Bill Schulz - (202) 521-2828
Sarah Johnson - (202) 521-2826
pressroom@publiccharters.org
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (www.publiccharters.org) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement.
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