“Honestly, it’s not that hard if you just ask schools what they need. We’re trying to be very clear that: a) we’re temporarily transitioning from oversight and accountability to support and guidance, and b) we don’t have kids, families, teachers, buildings, buses, meals, or distance learning plans to write, so reach out and let us run down answers for you.” –Erin Anderson

The Audubon Center of the North Woods in Minnesota is a nonprofit organization focused on environmental learning and education, including charter school authorizing. Its Charter School Division oversees 35 schools throughout the state. Erin Anderson, Director of Charter Authorizing, says her staff has shifted their focus in response to the disruption of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These disruptions mean that complete, accurate, and actionable academic data will likely not be available for school year 2019-20. What does this mean for charter school authorizing?

Hear how Erin answers this question in her conversation with her former Audubon colleague, NACSA’s Director of Leadership Development, David Greenberg.

Find more information about Erin Anderson and the Audubon Center here.

NACSA has compiled resources for charter schools and authorizers around COVID-19 here.