NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

Press Releases


National Association of Charter School Authorizers Appoints Education Leaders to National Advisory Board

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of seven distinguished professionals to its National Advisory Board. The 23- member board is comprised of leaders from …


National Survey Shows Charter School Closure Rates Dropped in 2010-2011 School Year

January 30, 2012 (Chicago, Ill.) – A report released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) indicates charter school closures have declined over the past three years. These findings …


NACSA Hails Congressional Action to Strengthen Charter School Authorizing

In adopting the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010, Congress recognizes for the first time the important role charter school authorizers play in determining charter school quality, winning it praise from the National …


NACSA Announces 2009 Awards for Excellence

The NACSA Awards for Excellence program celebrates individuals and organizations that advance the authorizing profession in three fields: • Advancing Knowledge, • Improving Policy, and • Improving Practice. NACSA announced the 2009 …


The Fund for Authorizing Excellence

NACSA established The Fund for Authorizing Excellence (The Fund) earlier this year to provide direct support to NACSA members who are working to create charter environments that foster schools with high student …


Authorizer Conversations: Erin Anderson on Support and Accountability in a Pandemic

“Honestly, it’s not that hard if you just ask schools what they need. We’re trying to be very clear that: a) we’re temporarily transitioning from oversight and accountability to support and guidance, …


Updated April 20: State Education Policy Responses to COVID-19

As it becomes more and more clear that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will span months, not weeks, state legislatures are already responding. Below are some of the major issues state …


Have You Asked What Your Charter Schools Need?

“A brave leader is someone who says I see you. I hear you. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m going to keep listening and asking questions.” – Brene Brown In …


Helping Charter Schools Access Federal Resources for COVID-19

With so much changing daily regarding COVID-19 and the federal response to it, it can be difficult to keep up with everything that could help support charter schools during this challenging time. …


New Bellwether Toolkit Helps Authorizers and Schools Reground, Prioritize, Plan, and Connect in Response to COVID-19

By Tresha Ward, Katie Rouse, Stephanie Spangler, and Eleisha Nelson-Reed of Bellwether Education Partners Over the last four weeks, authorizers across the country have had to make a flood of challenging and …


Responding to Crisis Demands Balance: Three States Offer Models for Planning with Flexibility

As of April 9th, 17 states have already closed or recommended school building closures for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. With extended closures inevitable for more states, how can charter …


How One Charter School Authorizer is Responding to COVID-19

By Scott Pearson, Executive Director of the D.C. Public Charter Schools Board This is a critical time for authorizers. How we respond to COVID-19 will make a difference to the lives of …


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 …