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 …


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 …