NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

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One Million Lives Campaign

NACSA Launches Charter Operator Tracker (Beta) to Support Quality Authorizing in Florida

Today the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) announces the launch of its Charter Operator Tracker (Beta), a new database of information about charter school management organizations and the schools they …


NACSA Commends Bipartisan Charter Provisions included in Every Child Achieves Act

Today, the U.S. Senate passed S. 1177, more commonly referred to as the “Every Child Achieves Act” (ECAA), a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In response, Greg Richmond, …


NACSA Recognizes U.S. House of Representatives for Strong Charter School Provisions included in the ESEA Reauthorization Act

Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 5, a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In response, Greg Richmond, president and CEO of the National Association of …


NACSA Congratulates Senior Advisor Nelson Smith, Newest Charter School Hall of Fame Inductee

Chicago, lll. – The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) is pleased to congratulate Senior Advisor Nelson Smith on his election into the National Charter School Hall of Fame, an honor …


NACSA Helps Build Charter School Authorizing Talent with Launch of Fellowship in Partnership with University of Minnesota

Chicago, Ill. – Nearly 25 years after passing the nation’s first charter school legislation, Minnesota continues to lead charter school education with the launch of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers …


Authorizing for Impact: What We Learned at the 2019 NACSA Leadership Conference

Dr. Bettina Love kicked off the 2019 NACSA Leadership Conference with a passionate and provocative keynote asking us all to put something on the line to build something better and bigger for …


Minutes Matter: Reducing Reporting Burdens with Performance-Based Waivers

This piece is part of our interactive Authorizer Showcases, which highlight how authorizers around the country are tackling obstacles related to access, accountability, and autonomy. “Minutes matter,” says Beth Topoluk, executive director …


How to Have Fun at #NACSAcon 2019

We know charter school authorizers actually think it’s fun to choose from 50 in-depth conference sessions, led by over 100 expert speakers on authorizing topics. We also know authorizers think it’s fun …


Analysis of Georgia’s Charter School Proposals and Approved Schools Reveals Growing, Diverse Sector  

CHICAGO — A new report released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) offers a first-ever look at the trends in Georgia’s charter school pipeline—what kinds of schools are being …


Authorizers Have an Important Role in Supporting Students with Disabilities

At a recent convening of the National Center for Special Education in Charter School’s (NCSECS) Equity Coalition, a panel discussed the question “who is looking out for students with disabilities in high-choice …


Authorizers Must Ensure the Charter Sector Lives Up to Its Many Promises

What is the purpose of a charter school? Often, when talking about the role of charter schools, proponents focus on a single purpose. Some claim parental choice alone is enough for charters …


2019 Legislative Trends Impacting Authorizing: Diverging Opinions on Statewide Authorizing (Part 2)

This week, we continue our two-part series on 2019 legislative trends with a look at two diverging approaches to statewide authorizing that emerged in statehouses across the country Expanding or Strengthening Statewide …


2019 Legislative Trends Impacting Authorizing: More Expectations and Protecting Autonomy (Part 1)

Despite the tenor of the national rhetoric, 2019 was a quiet year for charter school legislation in statehouses across the country. That said, as we reflect on this year’s legislative activity, two …


Authorizers Are Key to Equity Efforts: Takeaways from The Century Foundation’s Report on State Policies Targeting Equity and Access

As public schools with the flexibility to do things differently, charter schools have the unique potential to meet the particular needs and interests of their individual communities when it comes to ensuring …


North Carolina’s Nosedive: The Disgraceful State of Its Charter School Law

As a proud resident of Raleigh, watching North Carolina continuously pass harmful laws that weaken the quality of its charter schools has been like watching someone you love make bad choices over …