Knowledge Core Keyword: Essential Practices

Since the start of the charter movement, authorizing practices have evolved. We know what practices are critical to fostering high-performing charter schools. We recognize our duties to ensure the autonomy of the schools we oversee, to protect the rights of students and the public, and to close schools that are not living up to our expectations.

The Index of Essential Practices details 12 practices, derived from NACSA’s Principles & Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing, which are critical to fulfilling the responsibilities of an authorizer. It is meant to help strengthen authorizer practices and policy throughout the country.

The Index also serves as an important tool for authorizer self-evaluation. It includes data on individual authorizer practices self-reported in responses to NACSA’s annual survey of authorizers. NACSA recommends that authorizing staff and boards, charter schools, and lawmakers look to see how many Essential Practices are in place for them, and implement any missing practices.

Authorizers play a vital role within the charter school community. By implementing these 12 essential practices, they help pave the way for every charter to be a great educational option for children.

Since the start of the charter movement, authorizing practices have evolved. We know what practices are critical to fostering high-performing charter schools. We recognize our duties to ensure the autonomy of the schools we oversee, to protect the rights of students and the public, and to close schools that are not living up to our expectations.
This second edition of the Index of Essential Practices details 12 practices, derived from NACSA’s Principles & Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing, which are critical to fulfilling the responsibilities of an authorizer. It is meant to help strengthen authorizer practices and policy throughout the country.

The 2012 Index also serves as an important tool for authorizer self-evaluation. It includes data on individual authorizer practices self-reported in responses to NACSA’s annual survey of authorizers. NACSA recommends that authorizing staff and boards, charter schools, and lawmakers look to see how many Essential Practices are in place for them, and implement any missing practices.

Authorizers play a vital role within the charter school community. By implementing these 12 essential practices, they help pave the way for every charter to be a great educational option for children.