NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

Press Releases


New Report Examines Slow in Charter School Growth

A new report released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) analyzes an unexpected finding from a recent charter school growth report: the rate of charter school growth is …


Report: Washington Charter School Policies Strongest in Nation

Washington ranks first in the country—tied with Indiana and Nevada—when it comes to state policies that promote a strong charter school sector, according to a new report out today from the National …


With Federal Investments in School Choice on the Horizon, Report Urges States to Improve Charter Policies

An analysis released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) calls for states to update charter policies to ensure that any increased spending on charter school expansion leads to …


NACSA Responds to Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Report

In response to the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) report “Nationwide Assessment of Charter and Education Management Organizations,” the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) released the following …


NACSA Responds to John Oliver’s Segment on Charter School Oversight

Last night, HBO’s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver ran a segment on charter school oversight. In response, Greg Richmond, president and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) …


NACSA’s Food Services Resource Calls for Ensuring Charter Access and Equity

There’s an urgent need to ensure that charter schools are accessible to all students and promote equity across school systems.  The USDA estimates that there are 13 million students in this country that live …


School Reopenings: One Authorizer Focuses on Student Safety in Reopening Plans

This is a guest blog post by Scott Pearson, former Executive Director of the DC Public Charter School Board and NACSA Board Member. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has required urgent and …


Moving Beyond “Accountability” in Monitoring a Virtual Learning Environment

This is a guest post by Laura Stabler, Director of Academic Performance and Accountability at CMU’s Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools.  Do you ever feel like Alice from the literary classic Alice’s Adventures …


Missouri’s Charter School Authorizer Oversight: Not Pretty, But It’s Working

The headline of a recent story covering the Missouri State Board of Education could, on first read, be seen as a knock on charter school authorizing. After all, when state officials threaten sanctions or even revocation …


NACSA Statement on School Reopenings

Any school opening plan must include state and local health guidelines and be driven by two cornerstones: the health and safety of students and staff, and continuous learning for students. We know …


Authorizer Conversations: Dr. Kelli Peterson Addresses Racism and Injustice in Education in America

    Dr. Kelli Peterson, NACSA National Advisory Board Member and new Assistant Superintendent, Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity at the Louisiana Department of Education, addresses racism, inequity, and injustice in America and …


The Paycheck Protection Program: What is an Authorizer’s Role?

As you may know, part of the federal stimulus packages that were passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is a federal loan program: The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This program provides …


Authorizer Conversations: Peng Chao on Balancing “Meaningful Support” and Autonomy

In the next installment of Authorizer Conversations, NACSA’s interim VP of Policy, Veronica Brooks-Uy interviews Peng Chao, Executive Director of the Charter Schools Office at the School District of Philadelphia. Peng shares …


Charter School Authorizers Must Rebalance Accountability, Flexibility, and Support During the Pandemic

This guest blog was written by Miho Kubagawa, a Partner with New Schools Venture Fund. When schools closed in March, I naively assumed that the biggest challenge public schools would face this …


Message to the Charter School Authorizing Community from Karega Rausch, Interim President & CEO

To the Authorizing Community: Like so many of you it has taken me some time to process a range of emotions after seeing Black people being murdered, most visibly George Floyd and …