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 …


Buckeye Blues Again

Back in 2006, NACSA, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute issued ‘Turning the Corner to Quality,” a tough report on Ohio’s charter sector whose message …


Lessons from the Road to Better Accountability

LinkedIn recently reminded me of my five-year anniversary at NACSA.  Like most unsolicited emails from an App, it was an unwelcome reminder that an algorithm in a server farm is better at …


Open for Comment

Whenever a federal announcement capitalizes 19 out of 32 words (including prepositions and conjunctions) you can bet it is important. It can also require translation. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education …


Student Discipline, School Choice, and Charter School Flexibility

NACSA President and CEO Greg Richmond comments on Sarah Carr’s piece  in The Atlantic on discipline in New Orleans’ charter schools over at Education Post: …Carr’s article does an excellent job of describing how …


NACSA Launches New Communications Effort

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers is pleased to announce that Jobi Cates has joined the organization as Vice President of Communications. Cates comes to NACSA from Human Rights Watch, where …


Promoting Quality Charter Schools with Quality Authorizing

A new case study, funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), and conducted by the FSG consultants, was released today.  The study, Transforming Education in the Nation’s Capital, examines the practices …


Demystifying School Choice

This week at the Fordham Foundation’s event on the National Alliance for Public Charter School’s new state-by-state report on the health of the charter school movement, Scott Pearson, Executive Director of the …


NACSA Applauds Focus on Student Outcomes and Serving At-Risk Students

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) welcomed today’s release of the National Alliance for Public Charter School’s (the Alliance) new national report on charter school performance. “The Alliance report offers …


Passionate Advocate for Children and Former Authorizer Joins NACSA Staff

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers is pleased to announce that Karega Rausch will join the organization next month as Vice President of Research and Evaluation. Rausch is currently a member …


Responsible Governance, Strong Authorizing, and Smart Policy

NACSA’s Alex Medler and I have published an op-ed over at Real Clear Education on steps that charter school governing boards, authorizers, and policymakers can take to prevent charter school collapse: While many charters …