NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

Press Releases


Multi-State Analysis of Charter School Proposals and Approvals Reveals a Diverse Sector Shaped by Authorizers

Report uncovers increased share of freestanding school proposals, decrease in for-profit and “No Excuses” proposals, and few proposals receive philanthropic support.  CHICAGO — A new report released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) offers a never-before-seen …


New Digital Campaign Highlights the Need to Improve Charter School Authorizing

New explainer videos demystify the role of charter school authorizers, which remains largely misunderstood 25 years into the charter school movement. The critical role authorizers play in determining the overall quality of …


NACSA CEO Testifies to Congress on Power of Charter School Authorizing

On June 13, 2018, NACSA President and CEO Greg Richmond and a select panel of education reform leaders will testify in front of the House Education and Workforce Committee on the value of charter …


NACSA Testifies on CA Authorizing Bill SB 1362

Today, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Policy Director Veronica Brooks-Uy will testify before the California Senate Education Committee on SB 1362, a bill that addresses charter school authorizing issues …


New Report Identifies What Charter School Authorizers Do Differently to Achieve High-Performing Portfolios

New report finds successful authorizing depends on great leadership, institutional commitment, and strong professional judgment CHICAGO — Today, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) releases “Leadership, Commitment, Judgment: Elements of …


Community-Centered Education Isn’t New: Lessons Learned From Reviewing a Public Charter School Application for Endazhi-Nitaawiging, Indigenous Education By and For Its Community

This blog post was written by David Greenberg, Director of Leadership Development at NACSA. These are David’s reflections after participating in the new public charter school application process with Osprey Wilds ELC, and do not necessarily …


Oregon Charter School Weighted Lottery Bill Relies on Lessons Learned from Pilot Program

A bill pending in the Oregon Senate, would permit charter schools to use a weighted lottery so that they can give enrollment priority to traditionally underserved students. If the bill is enacted, …


How Diverse-by-Design Public Charter Schools Meet Community Needs

This blog post was written by Sonia C. Park, Executive Director, Diverse Charter Schools Coalition. The mission of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition is to catalyze and support the creation and expansion of high-quality, diverse-by-design …


Meeting Community Aspirations in MN: Community-Centered Charter Schooling in Action

This blog post was written by David Greenberg, Director of Leadership Development at NACSA. These are David’s reflections after participating in the new school application process with Osprey Wilds ELC, and do …


Four States Show There’s More Than One Way to Expanding Charter School Authorizing Pathways

This year, West Virginia, Iowa, Florida, and Wyoming have enacted legislation to expand authorizing pathways. Prior to these bills, three of the four states only allowed district authorizers. In the case of …


Will We Finally Tap The Learning Expertise That Is Present in Oft-Overlooked Communities?

Please find the full op-ed originally posted on the Education Post website in May 2021.  Karega Rausch is the president and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. Naomi N. …


Assessments Must Be Part of the Post-COVID Education World

States and schools now have a clear understanding of their annual assessment pathway, waiver or not, with the majority of states pursuing testing. (As NACSA has stated before, assessments in 2020-2021 should …


Florida Expansion of Authorizing Blemished by Late Discriminatory Amendment

What originally caught our eye on Florida’s SB 1028 was the expansion of authorizing privileges to higher education institutions. Technically, colleges in Florida were already allowed to authorize charter lab schools, but SB 1028 would …


Students-desk-writing-coursework

Transformative Charter Schools Are Not Created in a Lab: Here’s Why

This blog post was written by Susie Miller Carello, Executive Director, SUNY Charter Schools Institute.  At the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute (SUNY), we believe that all students, regardless of where they …


Statement on the Verdict of the Derek Chauvin Trial

We grieve for the racism and brutality Black people continue to face in this country, and the murder of George Floyd. The long, hard work to become a more just nation requires …