Federal Education Policy
NACSA advocates federal policies that support and provide resources for strong authorizing activity across the country.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is the vehicle by which Congress sets policy and directs resources for K-12 public education in the United States. ESEA impacts charter schools, and charter school authorizing, related to: funding; assessments; accountability and oversight. This includes setting policy and funding priorities for the Public Charter School Program.
Appropriations and Federal Grants
Each year Congress authorizes funding for education priorities through the annual appropriations process. NACSA advocates for funding that supports a high-quality charter sector through a variety of federal programs.
Putting Policy into Practice
As public schools, charter schools are subject to the same federal requirements as traditional public schools. How charter schools fulfill these requirements, however, can sometimes look different. NACSA works with federal policymakers, authorizers, and the charter school community to ensure charter schools can meet all federal requirements while upholding the foundational charter school principles of autonomy, accountability, and transparency.
Resources
| Investing in Students by Investing in Charter School Authorizing |
| How Federal Policy Influences Education |
| How Federal Policy Influences Authorizing |