Chicago, Ill. – Today, members of the U.S. Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Committee reported out a bipartisan Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization bill to the full Senate.

In response, Greg Richmond, President and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), released the following statement of support:

“NACSA strongly supports the Senate’s ESEA reauthorization bill and its preservation of federal requirements that each state maintain a state-level accountability system, including an annual state testing component, to identify failing schools. Accountability is good for all of public education, including charter schools.

The charter school model was built on the premise of increased autonomy and innovation for schools in return for increased accountability for performance. While testing has become a heated political debate for many, data from consistent testing is essential for charter schools to uphold their promise to be responsible for their results.

As a leading voice for quality charter school authorizing, we are also pleased that bill reflects the increasing recognition of the importance of authorizing’s role in developing strong charter school communities. States receiving federal grant money for charter programs will be required to implement charter management processes that strengthen authorizing as well as, for the first time, be required to direct a portion of their grant funds to improving the quality of authorizing in their state.

As a current and former charter school authorizer, and as the President and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, I urge Congress to pass an ESEA reauthorization bill. Every American child deserves the opportunity to attend a great school, and this bill lays the ground work to open and expand the best possible charter schools for years to come.”