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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Public Charter Schools Success: A Summary of the Current Research on Public Charters' Effectiveness at Improving Student Achievement

Summary of high-quality research studies conducted to measure public charter school achievement since 2010.

NAPCS_2013_Research_Summary.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Serving English Language Learners: A Toolkit for Public Charter Schools

As incubators of innovation and creativity, public charter schools are positioned to provide ELL students a quality education.

NAPCS_ELL_Toolkit_04.02.13.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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.

NAPCS_2013 Model Law Rankings.pdf (6.00 MB)

Monday, December 17, 2012

Estimated Number of Public Charter Schools and Students, Dashboard Data from 2012-2013

Includes estimates of the number of charter schools and students in the 2012-13 school year, including the number of schools that opened and closed.

NAPCS 2012-13 New and Closed Charter Schools.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A Growing Movement: America's Largest Charter School Communities

The enclosed report, A Growing Movement: America’s Largest Charter School Communities identifies school districts that have the highest percentage and highest number of public school students enrolled in public charter schools.

NAPCS 2012 Market Share Report.pdf (1.00 MB)

Thursday, July 12, 2012

An Accident of History: Breaking the District Monopoly on Public School Facilities

Traditional public school districts hold a monopoly over the financing and ownership of public education facilities. With rare exceptions, public charter schools have no legal claim to these buildings. This monopoly is an accident of history. It would never have developed had there been substantial numbers of other public schools, not supervised by traditional districts, when public school facilities laws were written. The district model of facilities planning is not suited to a diverse portfolio of autonomous schools with distinct programs and life-cycles that require different spaces at different times.

NAPCS_An Accident of History_2012.pdf (2.00 MB)

Monday, July 09, 2012

Borrowing With Tax-Exempt Bonds, Second Edition

The purpose of this booklet is two-fold: first, to provide public charter schools that might not have previously considered or fully understood tax-exempt financing with relevant information about the benefits of, their eligibility for, and the procedures associated with, such financing; and second, to offer public charter schools guidance and best practices to follow so that they are well positioned to access the bond market if desired.

Borrowing with Tax-Exempt Bonds 2nd Ed..pdf (2.00 MB)

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Fulfilling the Compact: Building a Breakthrough, Results-Driven Public Charter School Sector

By taking these bold actions now, critical stakeholders can build a breakthrough sector and create a results-driven culture, which will improve the impact of charter schools on student outcomes and the education system.

Fulfilling the Compact_2012.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, May 21, 2012

Details from the Dashboard: Charter School Race/Ethnicity Demographics

Analysis of race/ethnicity breakouts for public charter schools and traditional public schools at the state and the school district level.

NAPCS 2010-2011 Race_Ethnicity Details from the Dashboard.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Mission to Serve: How Public Charter Schools Are Designed to Meet the Diverse Demands of Our Communities

Profiling public charter schools that are meeting the needs of communities across the nation

NAPCS_DiverseModelBrief_5_16_12.pdf (2.00 MB)

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

CMO and EMO Public Charter Schools: Interactive Data Tool

This interactive data tool lets you explore changes in the number of charter schools and students enrolled in charter schools operated by management organizations.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Beyond City Limits: Expanding Public Charter Schools in Rural America

While many of our finest public charter schools are located in cities, 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.

NAPCS_Beyond City Limits_Issue Brief_2_27_2012.pdf (5.00 MB)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Details from the Dashboard: Charter Schools by Geographic Region

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

Geographic Location Details from the Dashboard Report.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws, 2012

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) recently released the third annual ranking of state charter school laws. Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Public Charter School Laws analyzes the country’s state charter laws and scores how well each supports charter school quality and growth based on the 20 essential components from the NAPCS’s model charter school law. This report captures state legislation affecting the charter school movement in the last year.

NAPCS_2012_StateLawRankings_Final.pdf (1.00 MB)

Friday, November 04, 2011

Estimated Number of Public Charter Schools and Students, Dashboard Data from 2011-2012

This report gives estimates for the number of public charter schools that opened and closed at the start of the 2011-2012 school year.

NAPCS 2011-12 New and Closed Charter Schools.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, November 03, 2011

CMO and EMO Public Charter Schools: Dashboard Data from 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10

This report examines the growth, distribution and demographic information for public charter schools managed by non-profit charter management organizations (CMOs) and for-profit education management organizations (EMOs).

NAPCS CMO EMO DASHBOARD DETAILS.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Unionized Charter Schools: Dashboard Data from 2009-10

This report presents data collected by NAPCS during the 2009-10 school year on the teachers’ union status of every charter school nationwide.

NAPCS Unionized Charter Schools Dashboard Details.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, October 24, 2011

Career Compass: Discovering Job Opportunities in the Public Charter School Sector

The report contains a compilation of career narratives that reflect the breath and diversity of the employment opportunities in the charter movement. Because each charter school and support organization varies in size and mission, there are a wide array of skills and backgrounds valued by this entrepreneurial sector of independent public schools.

NAPCS_ Career_Compass_2011.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, October 17, 2011

A Growing Movement: America’s Largest Charter School Communities - Sixth Annual Edition | October 2011

Annually, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools examines the growing student enrollment in public charter schools. This report describes which communities have the highest percentage and number of public school students enrolled in public charter schools.

2011 NAPCS Market Share Report.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Toward an Equitable Future: Charter Schools and School-Funding Litigation

This issue brief examines the charter school funding landscape among the states, discusses whether charter schools receive equitable funding and draws parallels with school finance cases.

Final_Funding Inequity_IB_June2011.pdf (2.00 MB)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

State Facility Survey Blueprint: Lessons from Four States

Presented at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference by Maria Sazon, director of facilities initiatives, this powerpoint describes opportunities for charter leaders and advocates to improve facilities access for charter operators.

NCSC State Surveys Lessons. Final. 6.18.11.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Access to Available SD Facilities

This document was presented at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference by Maria Sazon, senior director of facilities initiatives.

NCSC Access to Availabe SD Facilities. Final. 6 13 11.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Facilities Financing- Selecting the Best Option for your Charter School or CMO

Presented at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference by Maria Sazon, director of facilities initiatives, this power point helps charter operators compare financing opportunities.

NCSC Facility Financing Options. Final. 6.13.11.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Thinking Outside the Charter Grant Box

Presented at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference by Kristin Yochum, director of intergovernmental affairs, this powerpoint describes opportunities for charter leaders to access federal grants.

Yochum_Thinking outside the charter funding box_presentation.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 State Legislative Session Summary

This document was presented at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference by Todd Ziebarth, vice president, state advocacy and support and Lisa Grover, senior director, state advocacy and support.

State Legislative Session Summary - 2011.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, June 17, 2011

Assess, Coordinate, Execute: How to ACE an Executive Director Search

This Issue Brief presents a meaningful strategy for how charter school boards can hire top-notch, well-suited leaders for their schools.

NAPCS_How_to_ACE_ED_Search_June2011.pdf (2.00 MB)

Thursday, May 12, 2011

The Promise of Citywide Charter Strategies

This study finds that city-based strategies have the potential to create a shared focus on high-quality schools and improve charter sector coordination. These city-based strategies can be effective at streamlining the path to improving charter school quality and ultimately lead to improved student achievement for the children we serve.

2011_Final_The Promise of Citywide Charter Strategies.pdf (6.00 MB)

Thursday, March 31, 2011

How Innovative School Districts are Learning to Share Public Education Facilities with Charter Schools

This report examines the public school facilities landscape in seven major cities and profiles the best practices for improving public charter school access to the existing stock of public school buildings.

2011 NAPCS Facilities Report - Making Room for New Public Schools.pdf (2.00 MB)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

How Do Charter Schools Get the Teachers They Want?

The latest publication issued by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "How Do Charter Schools Get the Teachers They Want?" examines the practices public charter schools employ to hire the teachers they need.

NAPCS_TeacherBrief_March2011.pdf (5.00 MB)

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Delivering on the Promise: How Missouri Can Grow Excellent, Accountable Public Charter Schools

The report is a clear analysis of Missouri’s charter school sector.

2011_Final_Missouri_Report.pdf (1.00 MB)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) recently released the second annual ranking of state charter school laws. Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Public Charter School Laws analyzes the country’s 41 state charter laws and scores how well each supports charter school quality and growth based on the 20 essential components from the NAPCS’s model charter school law. This report captures state legislation affecting the charter school movement in the last year, including moves states made to be more competitive under the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top program.

NAPCS_LawRankings_V12_Full.pdf (3.00 MB)

Friday, December 03, 2010

Measuring Charter Performance: A Review of Public Charter School Achievement Studies

We are pleased to offer you our latest report, "Measuring Charter Performance: A Review of Public Charter School Achievement Studies."

NAPCS_AchvmntStdy_D8.pdf (4.00 MB)

Monday, November 01, 2010

A Growing Movement: America’s Largest Charter School Communities - Fifth Annual Edition | November 2010

Charter schools have never had the opportunity we have now. In addition to ongoing support from the U.S. Department of Education and Obama Administration, a number of films focused on America’s education crisis have brought national attention to the promise of charter schools. But where in America are charter schools growing most?

AllianceMarket_Share_Report_FINAL_Nov2010.pdf (4.00 MB)

Monday, June 07, 2010

All Students Achieving through Reform (ALL-STAR) Act - Overview

"We'll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools." - President Obama, February 24, 2009, Address to a Joint Session of Congress

ALL-STAR-Act-S3441_Overview_May2010.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

A Blueprint for Quality, Growth and Sustainability: 2010-2012

"Dear Colleagues and Friends: On behalf of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, I am pleased to share A Blueprint for Quality, Growth and Sustainability: 2010-2012, which highlights the key aspects of the Alliance's 2010-2012 strategic plan while taking a look back at the Alliance's important work to date.

NAPCS-StratPlan_V7.pdf (1.00 MB)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Free to Lead: Autonomy in Highly Successful Charter Schools

Written by Public Impact’s Joe Ableidinger and Bryan C. Hassel, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools's latest issue brief, Free to Lead: Autonomy in Highly Successful Charter Schools, identifies seven distinct ways autonomy impacts operational and academic performance at five highly successful charter schools.

Issue_Autonomy_V4.pdf (1.00 MB)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Testimony of Caprice Young: Legislative Hearing on Quality Charter Schools and H.R. 4330, the All-STAR Act

On February 24, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools board chairman, Caprice Young, testified before the House Committee on Education and Labor at a hearing on quality charter schools and the All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act, H.R. 4330. The All-STAR Act supports the replication and expansion of high quality charter schools as a critical component of improving public education in America, and is one of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ top federal legislative priorities.

Caprice_Young_Testimony-Final-2_24_10.pdf (2.00 MB)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

How State Charter Laws Rank Against The New Model Public Charter School Law

It's very important to have better, clearer charter laws û laws that enable innovation, promote transparency about how charter schools perform and how they are held accountable, and provide fair access to public funds and facilities. We're encouraged that the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools supports creation of better charter school laws as models of learning, and we encourage authorizers to hold charters accountable for student performance.

DB-ModelLaw_Report_01-12-10.pdf (3.00 MB)

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Key Items Included in FY2010 Appropriations Conference Agreement

The House-Senate Conference Report agreed upon on December 9, 2009 appropriated funding to several different Department and Agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education. And within ED's finding $256 million for the federal charter school programs is the highest amount ever appropriated and a $40 million increase over FY2009.

FY2010_Conference_Agreement_Summary_120909.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, November 09, 2009

Alliance Comments on Investing in Innovation (i3) Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria

"The passage of the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 enabled two competitive grant programs aimed at drastically improving public education in America. Recently, the U.S. Department of Education released draft priorities and guidelines for the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) grant competition. On behalf of over 4,900 public charter schools across the country educating over 1.5 million children, the Alliance strongly supports the U.S. Department of Education's efforts to use the i3 fund to scale significant education reforms and find the next generation of notable educational innovations. The current draft is a commendable start, but we do believe it can be improved further. "

NAPCS_i3_111009_Comments.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Top Ten Charter Communities by Market Share: 4th Annual Edition

"Public charter schools’ presence in K-12 schooling continues to grow. In fact, charters now enroll more than one in five public school students (22%) in 14 communities – including major cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Demand remains strongest in urban areas – and as a result, charter “market share” is growing rapidly in cities and adjacent suburbs, even while the overall number of students remains a modest portion of nationwide enrollment. The Alliance uses public school enrollment data to find the highest local proportions of students enrolled in public charter schools and illustrates the healthy growth in public charter school enrollment in communities across the country. The report finds: "

MarketShare_P4.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund Summary of Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria

On October 9, the U.S. Department of Education officially released the Investing in Innovation (i3) fund's summary of proposed priorities, requirements, definitions and selection criteria. The i3 fund is a $650 million dollar fund authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support emerging innovative education reforms. The Alliance has created this summary to explain how the i3 fund will likely work and how it will potentially impact charter schools and the charter school movement.

Alliance_Investing_in_Innovation_Overview _102009.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, September 28, 2009

School Improvement Grants - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Proposed Requirements

On Friday September 25th, the Alliance submitted formal comments on the Department of Education's statement of proposed requirements for School Improvement Grants under the ARRA of 2009.

092509_NAPCS_School_Improvement_Grants_Comments-Final.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Number of Public Charter Schools & Student, 2009-2010

"With the start of the 2009-2010 academic year, over 400 new public charter schools will open their doors to students and more than 170,000 new students will be attending public charter schools. "

090903_2009-10_Charter_Schools.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Alliance Comments on Race to the Top Fund Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria

"On July 24, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan held a press conference to announce the release of the Administration's draft priorities and guidelines for the Race to the Top Grant (R2T) competition. On Wednesday, August 26 the National Alliance submitted formal comments on behalf of the charter school movement in support of the strong references in the draft to the role of charter schools and criteria around states supporting high-quality charter school movements. It is now more important than ever that the public take action to support or oppose elements with which they agree or disagree by August 28, 2009. Take action and make your voice heard today. Read how the Alliance has been working with the Department of Education to ensure that the ARRA benefits charter schools.

0826_R2T_Comments.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, July 31, 2009

Race to the Top Draft Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria Overview

On Wednesday, July 29th, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) formally released its proposed priorities for the Race to the Top Fund (R2T) authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These priorities prominently feature public charter schools as an effective reform that states need to embrace to increase their chances of winning an R2T grant. The final version of the priorities can be found here.

073109_Race_to_the_Top_Draft_Request_for_Applications_Overview_update.pdf (3.00 MB)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

2009 State Legislative Session Highlights

Most states have now wrapped up their legislative sessions. While the comments in favor of public charter schools by President Obama and Secretary Duncan have been quite helpful for charters, the current economic recession created one of the most challenging state policy environments in years. Within this environment, the primary goal of many state charter advocates has been to defend what they already have, while still trying to make positive changes where possible.

2009_State_Legislative_Session_Summary-July_2009_3.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, June 26, 2009

Moderate Senate Democrats Working Group Letter on Education Reform

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Letter-to_President_on_Ed_Reform_6_24_09.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, June 22, 2009

A New Model Law for Supporting the Growth of High-Quality Public Charter Schools

It has been 18 years since Minnesota passed the nation's first public charter school law, and public charter schools have become a prominent feature of public education serving more than 1.5 million students in over 4,900 schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

ModelLaw_P7-wCVR.pdf (3.00 MB)

Friday, June 19, 2009

2009 Public Charter School Dashboard

"Since 2005, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has released an annual "Dashboard" of leading statistical indicators about the growth and quality of public charter schools. This 2009 edition of the Dashboard makes four major improvements over previous releases.

DataDashboard.pdf (4.00 MB)

Friday, June 19, 2009

CREDO Reconsidered

See the attached memo from Alliance President and CEO Nelson Smith explaining how methodological shortcomings in the recent CREDO Report covered up the positive performances of charter schools.

CREDO_Reconsidered-final.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A Framework for Operational Quality: A Report from the National Consensus Panel on Charter School Operational Quality

A Framework for Operational Quality is designed as a guide for charter school leaders and support organizations as they establish schools that are prepared to achieve and sustain success. It recommends that leaders adopt a specific series of essential indicators, measures, metrics and targets for their operations. The report also serves to advise authorizers, philanthropists and lenders in monitoring the operational practices of high-quality public charter schools.

A_Framework_for_Operational_Quality_May_2009.pdf (2.00 MB)

Friday, May 15, 2009

Charter School Law Deskbook

The 2008-2009 edition of the Charter School Law Deskbook by Paul T. O'Neill and Todd Ziebarth published by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. is available for purchase online at the LexisNexis Store: http://www.lexisnexis.com/store/us/

051509_Charter_School_Law_Deskbook.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, May 07, 2009

House Resolution 382: National Charter Schools Week 2009

"House Resolution 382 recognizes the 10th annual National Charter Schools Week held May 3-9, 2009 and the significant impacts, achievements and innovations of charter schools. By passing this resolution, the House shows its support for the students, parents, administrators and teachers across the United States working to strengthen public education through the development of high-quality charter schools and calls on the people of the United States to demonstrate support for charter schools as well. Co- Sponsors of the resolution are:

09_House_NCSW_Resolution.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, May 04, 2009

2009 National Poll on Public Charter Schools

Three out of four voters (74%) support President Barack Obama's call on states to lift the limits restriction the growth of public charter schools, according to a national opinion poll recently conducted for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and released today.

2009_poll.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, May 04, 2009

National Charter Schools Week, 2009: A Proclamation

"On May 4, 2009 the President of the United States of America issues a proclamation stating: "The best public charter schools and their students are thriving in States that have adopted a rigorous selection and review process to ensure that autonomy is coupled with greater accountability. The growth of effective public charter schools benefits our children, and States have an important role to play in their expansion.

2009_NCSW_Proclamation.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, May 01, 2009

April 17: Guidance on the Maintenance-of-Effort Requirements in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program

"Purpose of the Guidance This guidance supplements the April 2009 Guidance on the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program and provides additional information on the statutory maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirements and the process through which a State applies for an MOE waiver. The guidance provides the U.S.

Att_MOE_guidance-4-17-09.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Charter School Achievement: What We Know

"To provide a full and fair picture of how charter schools are actually performing, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools commissioned in July 2005 an extensive review of the available research on charter school achievement. "Charter School Achievement: What We Know," is the fifth annual review of studies on public charter school academic performance.

Summary_of_Achievement_Studies_Fifth_Edition_2009_Final.pdf (1.00 MB)

Friday, April 10, 2009

April 10: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): Initial Guidance on State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Title I, and IDEA

On April 1, 2009 the U.S. Department of Education announced that the first round of stimulus funding, $44 billion, was available for states,districts, and schools from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Alliance made several key recommendations that were incorporated in to the Non-Regulatory Guidance for funding programs administered by the Department. These include the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF), Title I, IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Independent Living programs. Download this document to read the specific recomentations.

NAPCS_040109_ARRA_Guidance_B.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

New! Download the National Charter Schools Week Toolkit Here

"Since their inception 17 years ago, charter schools have grown at a fast pace and demonstrated great results in raising student achievement. Charter advocates across the country will celebrate this success during National Charter Schools Week 2009, set for May 3-9. How will your community celebrate National Charter Schools Week? Download this toolkit to read:

Tool_Kit_NCSW2009_03312009.pdf (8.00 MB)

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

2008-2009 Lottery Day Tool Kit

"Each year public charter schools across the country hold lotteries to determine which applicants will attend the schools. Schools must hold these lotteries because public demand for charters is so high. Yet many state and local policymakers continue to institute or maintain legislation which limit the growth of quality charters.

08-09_Charter_School_Lottery_Day_Event_Tool_Kit.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

'Loophole' Allows for Sweeping Flexibility in Stimulus Funds

This analysis of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is provided by www.schoolgrants2009.com and can also be found here.

Stimulus_Loophole_0324.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

FY09 Funding for Federal Public Charter Schools Programs

$216,031,000 appropriated to the Public Charter Schools Program, State Facilities Incentive Grants Program, and the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program for FY2009, a $5 million increase over FY2008.

FY2009_Public_Charter_Schools_Program_Funding_Explanation_2.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

March 2009 ARRA Overview

Click on the file below to download...

March_2009_ARRA_Overview.pdf (1.00 MB)

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Charter School Executives: Toward A New Generation of Leadership

"With an unprecedented increase in the number of public charter schools anticipated over the next 5-10 years, our movement must act now to prepare the school leaders of tomorrow. "Charter School Executive: Toward a New Generation of Leadership" recommends that a new kind of leadership development system is needed in addition to improving the current pipeline. Importantly, through collaboration within the movement, we must create a new kind of leadership credential granted by highly-qualified local institutions. In the end, evaluation of this system should be based upon student achievement gains in the schools headed by the leaders who hold this credential.

2008_Toward_a_New_Generation_of_Leadership.pdf (5.00 MB)

Friday, November 21, 2008

How Charter Schools Can Survive the Financial Crisis

"How can public charter schools best survive the current financial crisis? That's the question many in the charter school movement are asking themselves these days. It's also the question that three distinguished experts addressed in a recent teleconference hosted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The answers are worth knowing... Read a summary of the event (PDF below) or listen to the teleconference at www.publiccharterschools.org/listen.

Assessing_Financial_Risk_Summary.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

2008 Top 10 Charter Communities by Market Share

"The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released its third annual report on public charter school enrollment in the largest communities based on market share. A record 12 communities have at least 20% of their public school students enrolled in public charter schools, double the number from just two years ago. Additionally, 64 communities now have at least 10% of public school students in charter schools. These numbers illustrate that charter enrollment growth at the community level remains strong.

2008_Market_Share_Report.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Teacher Leadership in Public Charter Schools

"Introduction At a recent education conference, the managing partner of a high-performing charter school network said that for every teaching vacancy, the network received 80 to 100 applications. Most, he said, are from teachers working in traditional school districts, yet they are willing to be employed through a one-page "at-will" agreement - not a contract. Why? Because they want to work in a school that is effective in educating disadvantaged students, he said - and because they want to work alongside others who are as passionate as they are.

Teacher_Leadership_in_Public_Charter_Schools.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, October 20, 2008

Corporations, Chambers, and Charters: How Businesses Can Support High-Quality Public Charter Schools

At a time when many students are not graduating from high school prepared for postsecondary education and work, two-thirds of the new jobs being created require advanced training or a college education. Business leaders believe that high-quality education is paramount to America's ability to compete globally. Charter schools, as independently operated public schools, strike many business leaders as one of the most effective ways to have a tangible effect on pre-K through secondary education.

ICW_Report.pdf (2.00 MB)

Monday, June 30, 2008

The Color of Success: Black Student Achievement in Public Charter Schools

As educators across the country work to improve educational opportunities and results for Black students, they have an emerging tool at their disposal: public charter schools. In numerous communities throughout the nation, these innovative, tuition-free public schools û which provide administrative flexibility to a school's staff and a rich learning environment with high expectations for its students û are making notable strides in advancing Black student achievement.

The_Color_of_Success_Full_Report.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

State of the Movement 2008 Speech by NAPCS President Nelson Smith

"Nelson Smith, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools President New Orleans, June 24, 2008 Still We Rise

2008_State_of_the_Movement.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, June 20, 2008

A Framework for Academic Quality: A Report from the National Consensus Panel on Charter School Academic Quality

The charter school idea is based on a simple, compelling bargain: greater autonomy in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement. Sixteen years after the nation's first charter school opened in Minnesota, there are 4,300 charter schools serving 1.2 million students in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Yet the quality of these schools across the country varies greatly, ranging from those that rank among the nation's finest schools to some that serve their students poorly and improve little over time.

NAPCS_CSQC_Report.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

National Student Enrollment in Public Charter Schools (2007-08 School Year)

Get the latest information on student enrollment in public charter schools across the country in the 2007-08 school year. Find the most up-to-date information on our state page.

file_2007_08_Charter_Numbers.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, May 12, 2008

Principles and Standards For Quality Charter Support Organizations

Continuing its national effort to support and promote high-quality public charter schools, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has released a new publication: Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Support Organizations. Six fundamental principles for effective CSOs are defined and examined: quality, sustainability, advocacy, technical assistance and services, community, and growth. Standards that describe the essential responsibilities and practices that align with the overarching principals are provided throughout the document.

file_NAPCS_Principles_S_35BFE8.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

National Poll on Public Charter Schools

More than three out of four voters (77%) favor giving parents more options when choosing a public school for their children, with minority voters (82%) and parents (81%) most strongly expressing a desire for greater public school choices. After hearing a description of public charter schools, three in five (60%) parents expressed interest in enrolling their children in a charter school. These results and others reflect wide iinterest in public charter schools as an alternative to traditional public schools that are failing to meet students' needs.

file_NAPCS_Frequency_Questionnaire_3_31_08.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, May 05, 2008

2008 Charter Dashboard

The results of the national opinion survey and a compendium of new public charter school statistics û The Public Charter School Dashboard û were released this morning during National Charter Schools Week (May 5-9) in a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the country's leading organization supporting the expansion of high-quality charter schools.

file_Charter_Dashboard_2008.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Accelerating the Success of Kansas Charter Schools

Thirteen years after a charter school law was enacted in Kansas, these innovative public schools have yet to take root in the Sunflower State. The purpose of this issue brief is to provide an analysis of those areas of the charter school law in Kansas that need to be strengthened to create the conditions for success for the state's public charter schools.

file_NAPCS_Success_in_Kansas_Web_Version.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Familiarity Breeds Content: As the Charter Movement Grows, So Does Public Approval

"A review of recent national and state-level polling data suggests that as the movement is expanding and people are becoming more familiar with charter schools, support is growing as well. "To know them is to love them" may overstate the case, but the trend is moving in that direction.

file_NAPCS_Familiarity_Breeds_Web_Version_2.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

National Alliance 2007 Progress Report

"Toward Quality and Growth: The National Alliance and the Charter School Movement 2007 After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, city and state leaders took the unprecedented step of rebuilding the New Orleans public education system largely as a network of public charter schools. Today 57 percent of New Orleans' students attend charters, the highest percentage of any city in the nation. And according to state data, their achievement is gaining by leaps and bounds.

file_NAPCS_2007_Report_0.pdf (4.00 MB)

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Top 10 Charter Communities by Market Share: 2006-2007: Second Annual Edition

In the year that has elapsed since our first report on charter market share, the list of communities with sizeable proportions of charter school students has grown. According to data from the 2006-07 school year, there are now 29 communities, with many ties in percentages, occupying our "Top 10" charter-market slots, with New Orleans again heading the list at 57 percent of students enrolled in public charter schools. In the year that has elapsed since our first report on charter market share, the list of communities with sizeable proportions of charter school students has grown. According to data from the 2006-07 school year, there are now 29 communities, with many ties in percentages, occupying our "Top 10" charter-market slots, with New Orleans again heading the list at 57 percent of students enrolled in public charter schools.

file_MarketShare2007.pdf (0.00 MB)

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Charter School Achievement: What We Know (Fourth Edition)

To provide a full and fair picture of how charter schools are actually performing, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools commissioned in July 2005 an extensive review of the available research on charter school achievement. The review is updated periodically, and this fourth edition incorporates new studies published in the past year. The report now includes 70 comparative analyses of charter school and traditional public school performance, including a study-by-study look at central findings and methodological strengths and weaknesses.

Summary_of_Achievement_Studies_2007.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, September 10, 2007

Testimony of Nelson Smith before the House Committee on Education and Labor

In September, 2007 Alliance President Nelson Smith testified before the House Committee on Education and Labor the draft reauthorization bill co-sponsored by Reps. George Miller and Buck McKeon.

091007NelsonSmithTestimony.pdf (0.00 MB)

Sunday, July 29, 2007

The Bottom Line

School districts across the country are having financial problems, and charter schools are increasingly getting blamed. Charters are accused of taking money from "the public schools," although they are public schools themselves. Charters are even taking the blame for rising taxes.

file_Financial_Impact_of_Public_Charter_Schools_Brief.pdf (2.00 MB)

Monday, July 09, 2007

Financial Impact of Public Charter Schools Brief

In addition to providing families with much-needed public education options, a new analysis shows that quality public charter schools can have positive effects on a community's finances, that many of the financial arguments against charter schools are flawed, and that creating more high-performing charter schools is a fiscally sensible path to take.

Financial_Impact_of_Public_Charter_Schools_Brief.pdf (2.00 MB)

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Number of Charter Schools and Students in the 2006-07 School Year

A report on the number of charter schools and students in the 2006-07 school year.

2007_Charter_Numbers_1_.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Federal Charter Schools Program: A New Model for Quality Growth

"Over the past year, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has engaged in a nationwide dialogue with charter school operators, key stakeholders, and other supporters to consider what changes ought to be considered as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, and the CSP as part of it, approaches reauthorization in 2007. Throughout our dialogue, we asked charter school supporters to identify their top goals for the CSP. Four such goals emerged regularly: 1. Supporting quality start-ups

New_CSP_Model.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, May 04, 2007

2007 Charter Dashboard

The 2007 Charter Dashboard indicates the pace of charter school openings is picking up speed. The number of charter schools that opened in each of the past three years û between 400 and 450 per year û was noticeably higher than the average of the previous four years (340) and nearly twice as high as in the 2003-04 school year (260).

Charter_Dashboard_2007.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Peeling the Lid Off State-Imposed Charter School Caps

Parental demand for high-performing public charter schools is going unmet in 25 states and the District of Columbia, where some type of limit, or cap, is constraining charter school growth. According to an Issue Brief released today by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (Alliance), while some states have made progress in amending their charter school restrictions, progress as a whole has been slow.

file_Issue_Brief_3_09_07rgb.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Creating the Schools Our Nation Needs: NCLB Reauthorization and the Promise of Public Charter Schools

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has fundamentally changed the landscape of public education in America. In this report the Alliance recommends NCLB improvements.

file_NAPCS_NCLB_Statement_Singles_for_Web_1_.pdf (0.00 MB)

Friday, December 08, 2006

Charters As a Solution?

"The restructuring provisions in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are a Rorschach test for charter supporters. To the Market Optimists, the six brief paragraphs of NCLB Section 1116 look like the greatest growth opportunity ever. "Reopening the school as a public charter school" is Option #1 on the list of NCLB's restructuring alternatives.All those dysfunctional schools, "needing improvement" for years, all prior remedies exhaustedùwhere else would parents turn but to charter schools?

file_ednext_20071_57.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Charter High Schools: Closing the Achievement Gap

More evidence on how charter schools are raising the bar about what's possible in public education was released today by the U.S. Department of Education. Charter High Schools: Closing the Achievement Gap comes on the heels of the most important charter school story of the year in which The New York Times Magazine showcased middle-school charters for their success in closing the achievement gap among low-income and minority students. Both accounts illustrate that charter schools can, and do, work at scale.

file_doereport.pdf (4.00 MB)

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Measurement and Metaphor: Comments on Hopes, Fears, and Reality, What Do I Still Want to Know?

Bruno V. Manno, senior fellow in education, Annie E. Casey Foundation and vice chairman, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, asks and answers a question provoked by Hopes, Fears, and Reality: What do I still want to know about chartering after reading this report? He focuses on two issues inspired by this publication. One is about measurement and the other is about metaphor.

Bruno_Manno_Commentary.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, November 27, 2006

Signs of Promise: Hispanic Student Achievement in Charter Schools

A growing body of research is producing encouraging news about the performance of Hispanic students in public charter schools.

file_Issue_brief_11_8_06Eng_issue_brief_NAPCS.pdf (3.00 MB)

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Turning the Corner to Quality: Policy Guidelines for Ohio Charter School Program

Responding to a request from top Ohio elected officials, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools prepared this report, which sets forth 17 recommendations to make Ohio's charter school program the strongest in the nation.

file_OhioChartersFINALforprint.pdf (1.00 MB)

Thursday, September 07, 2006

2006 Top 10 Charter Communities by Market Share

With more than a million students now enrolled in public charter schools, and with long waiting lists to boot, we know that the charter school movement is succeeding in offering families new hopes and new choices.

marketsharepiecefinal914.pdf (0.00 MB)

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

2005 Annual Report

Just 14 years since their inception, public charter schools are thriving. There are now over 3,600 charter schools serving more than a million children across 40 states and the District of Columbia. In city after city, charter schools rank among the best public schools.

file_final05annualreport.pdf (2.00 MB)

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

10 Things You Should Know About Charter Schools

Back-to-school is just around the corner and now is a great time to spread the word about charter schools. Download this fact sheet and share it with members of your community, including media and policy makers.

file_10thingsaboutcharters.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Number of Charter Schools and Students: 2005-2006 School Year

A state-by-state look at the number of charter schools and the number of students they serve.

2006_Charter_Numbers_1_.pdf (0.00 MB)

Monday, May 22, 2006

What NAEP Is Really Telling Us About Charter Performance

Last October, charter supporters received some good news upon the release of the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as "The Nation's Report Card." Since the report received scant media attention (reporters still seem to be consulting the less impressive 2003 NAEP data), let's note the main points:

Charter_Data_Point.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, May 11, 2006

2006 Charter Dashboard

Growth and Quality in the Charter School Movement: 2006 Dashboard

Charter_Dashboard_2006.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Delaware District and Charter Revenue Analysis

(none)

Delaware_Report.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

The Renaissance of Urban Education: Charter Schools in America's Cities

(none)

file_webissue_brief_060425.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, May 01, 2006

New Jersey Suffers from Severe Inequities in Funding

Public charter schools in New Jersey receive nearly a quarter less in revenue per pupil than the state's traditional school districts, according to a new report released today by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The data pinpoints Newark and Trenton charter schools as facing the most severe inequities in the state, with each receiving 44 percent and 38 percent less, respectively, per pupil than the cities' school districts.

New_Jersey_Report_Template.pdf (0.00 MB)

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Policy Principles for Creating New High Quality Schools Under NCLB's Restructuring Requirements

Without more clarity, districts and states could simply slap the charter label on chronically low performing schools without changing much else û including student results. Therefore, there is a need for thoughtful guidance for districts and states who decide to head down this road to ensure that real change and improvement takes place for the students now attending struggling schools.

Policy_Principles.pdf (0.00 MB)

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Charting a Clear Course

A guide by Bryan Hassel and Margaret Lin for schools seeking a productive, high-quality contracting relationship with school-management firms.

548_file_Charting_a_Clear_Course_2005_reprint_final.pdf (1.00 MB)

Friday, February 10, 2006

Stunting Growth

"The Alliance has released the first of its 2006 Issue Briefs, titled "Stunting Growth: The Impact of State-Imposed Caps on Charter Schools." This report identifies the states with legislated limits on charter school growth and documents the impact these laws have on families seeking high quality public schools.

533_file_caps.pdf (1.00 MB)

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Chartering 2.0 Summit Proceedings Document

This summer, the Alliance gathered some of the nation's top charter school leaders and education reform experts to consider and prepare for the next generation of the charter school movement. The event was extremely productive and thought-provoking. These important discussions were captured and are now available in a brief, accessible proceedings document.

539_file_proceedingspdf.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

The Answer Key: How to Plan, Develop and Finance Your Charter School Facility

(none)

653_file_CharterSchoolGuide_AnswerKey.pdf (1.00 MB)

Thursday, September 01, 2005

A State Policymaker's Guide to Alternative Authorizers of Charter Schools

This issue brief from the Education Commission of the States is designed to help policymakers think through what kind of alternative authorizing structures may make sense for their states.

685_file_6469.pdf (1.00 MB)

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Charting a Clear Course: A Resource Guide for Building Successful Partnerships between Charter Schools and School Management

Of all the decisions made by boards of public charter schools, few are more important than deciding whether to contract for school management services. Choosing well requires balancing multiple considerations of finance, accountability, personnel, and public relations. Since the achievement and well-being of children hang in the balance, a helping hand is clearly needed.

file_Charting_a_Clear_Course_2005_final.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, August 01, 2005

Charter School Funding: Inequity's Next Frontier

Of all the controversies swirling around the nation's charter schools, none is more hotly contested than the debate over funding.

644_file_Charter_School_Funding_2005_FINAL.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, August 01, 2005

Renewing the Compact: A Statement by the Task Force on Charter School Quality and Accountability

A growing body of research shows that the performance of most charter schools is strong and improving over time with some achieving spectacular results. Yet in looking forward and considering how chartering can expand to meet the needs of more families, the Task Force on Charter School Quality and Accountability believes that the charter compact must be reaffirmed and reinvigorated. The freedom to innovate must be protected against re-regulation. Accountability for results must be clearer and more certain. And achievement must be the first priority.

Renewing_the_Compact_2005.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Charter School Achievement: What We Know

(none)

1363_file_CharterSchoolAchievement705.pdf (1.00 MB)

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

State of the Charter Movement

The Alliance released a data-rich report that provides timely, valuable information on key elements of the charter movement: growth, academic achievement, accountability, public opinion, and policy. The report also features a dashboard, to be updated annually with indicators of progress.

543_file_sotm2005.pdf (1.00 MB)

Monday, January 31, 2005

Studying Achievement in Charter Schools: What Do We Know?

More and more data have become available over time about how well individual charter schools are doing. This report by Bryan Hassel summarizes and provides commentary on 38 comparative analyses of charter and district performance, including a study-by-study look at central findings and methodological strengths and weaknesses.

712_file_Final_Paper_1_27_05.pdf (0.00 MB)

Thursday, June 05, 2003

Charter School Authorizing: Are States Making the Grade?

This report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute is the first significant study of the organizations that authorize charter schools. The report examines 23 states and the District of Columbia to determine how supportive they are of charter schools, how good a job their authorizers are doing, and how policy makers could strengthen their states' charter programs.

686_file_CharterAuthorizing_FullReport.pdf (3.00 MB)