NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

Press Releases


NACSA Selects Third Cohort for Leaders Program

The success of the charter school sector depends on having strong authorizers capable of managing a portfolio of high-performing schools and ensuring that every charter school provides an outstanding education to its …


Strong Authorizing Practices Produced Better Schools for 230,000 Students in 2013

More than 230,000 students are attending better schools in 2013 because of the actions of charter school authorizers across the country, according to the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). Authorizers …


National Association of Charter School Authorizers and the Charter School Growth Fund release recommendatons for successful replication of high-performing charter schools

State policies must change to differentiate and grow high-performing charter schools and weed out the low performers according to a report released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) …


NACSA Calls on Nation’s Charter School Authorizers to Act Now to Maintain Accountability

In a statement released today, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) cautioned that while the upcoming shift to Common Core standards provides a long-term opportunity to improve the nation’s schools, it …


NACSA releases recommendations on accountability measures for alternative charter schools

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) today released Anecdotes Aren’t Enough: An Evidence-Based Approach to Accountability for Alternative Charter Schools, a report that sets out recommendations for appropriate accountability systems …


New Resource: Maintaining Lottery Integrity in Times of Crisis

Clear and transparent lotteries are critical to ensuring equitable access for students to enroll in charter schools. All states require the use of lotteries in situations when charter schools are oversubscribed, and …


When Moving Too Quickly Fails: On Supporting Communities During Disasters

By Patrick Dobard, CEO, New Schools for New Orleans A Note from NACSA: We are fortunate to have Patrick Dobard as a NACSA board member. His wisdom and thought partnership are invaluable. …


What Charter School Authorizers Can Do Right Now to Address COVID-19

“Communicate, listen, and go slow.”  -Patrick Dobard On Wednesday, NACSA hosted a community conversation with over 150 charter school authorizers and support organizations, the first in an ongoing series of conversations to …


At Last? Will Florida Finally Get More Charter School Authorizing Options?

A bill pending in Florida’s House of Representatives could finally accomplish what charter school advocates have been working on for nearly two decades: adding an alternative to district charter school authorizers. The …


Latest Federal Budget Proposal Is a Big Loss—Not Only for Charter Schools, But All Public Schools

The President’s recently-released 2021 budget proposal would be harmful to public education, especially charter schools. While President Trump and his administration have expressed a commitment to school choice, this proposal abandons dozens …


What We’re Watching: Trends from NACSA’s 2020 Charter School Advocacy Survey

For the third year, NACSA surveyed advocacy organizations and policy partners across the country to learn more about what is on their agendas and what charter related legislation they anticipate in the …


Is 2020 the Year States Finally Tackle Charter School Access Issues?

By most measures, 2020 will likely be a quiet legislative year. In addition to being a presidential election year (in case you hadn’t noticed), eleven states will hold gubernatorial elections and 44 …


Year in Review: 2019 in Authorizing Policy

As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on all that 2019 meant for charter school authorizing. It was an important year, with key legislative changes in …


Getting Everyone on the Bus: Transportation is a Key Charter School Equity Issue

Do public school choice options really work if students don’t have reliable transportation to and from the school they choose to attend? Two recent opinion pieces raise this question—one at the heart …


Federal Support Has Helped Grow the Charter School Sector; Can it Help Improve It?

For 25 years, Federal Charter School Program (CSP) grants have provided financial assistance for the design and initial implementation of charter schools and the evaluation of their effects. With more than 7,000 …