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) …


Ask the Right Questions About Charter School Graduation Rates

A few years ago, the California Charter School Association revealed Golden State charter performance didn’t align to the usual bell-shaped curve, but instead was clustered at the highest- and lowest-performance levels, creating …


Ask the Right Questions About Charter School Graduation Rates

A few years ago, the California Charter School Association revealed Golden State charter performance didn’t align to the usual bell-shaped curve, but instead was clustered at the highest- and lowest-performance levels, creating …


A Quarter-Life Crisis for Public Charter Schools?

Charter schools celebrate a milestone this year: 25 years. In a Huffington Post piece, NACSA President and CEO Greg Richmond gets real about the shortcomings of charters and shortcomings of the opponents. He argues it’s …


One Authorizer in Ohio: Doing the Right Thing

Here are edited excerpts of our Story Suite conversation with Mark Michael, Director of the Ohio School Sponsorship Program for the Ohio Department of Education. Mark participated in NACSA’s Leaders Program during …


One Set of Data/Four Unique Perspectives on Authorizing and Special Education

As part of NACSA’s 2015 annual survey, we asked authorizers for their perspectives and practices on issues at the intersection of authorizing and special education. We asked about oversight practices, what they do …


New Delhi: Reflections From an International Student’s Past and Present

Editor’s Note: This is Part II in a four part series highlighting public education challenges in New Delhi and how the U.S. charter model may be influencing education reform across the city. …


One Authorizer in Missouri: Making Public Schools the Public’s Schools

What follows are edited excerpts of our Story Suite conversation with Robbyn Wahby, founding Executive Director of the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. Robbyn also serves as a member of NACSA’s Board …


NACSA Names a Dozen Prominent Authorizing Professionals to Leaders Program

Today, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) announced the selection of the fifth cohort of its NACSA Leaders Program, a highly-selective and rigorous program providing leadership, management and authorizing training …


Live from DC: Negotiated Rule Making and Rube Goldberg Machines

As the second block of the U.S. Department of Education’s ESSA Negotiated Rulemaking Committee’s meetings wraps up, I can’t help but compare the whole process to a giant Rube Goldberg machine (for …


Getting It Right the First Time: Quality Practices Fuel Rigor

This year’s State of Charter Authorizing (SOCA) data revealed approximately 10 percent of large authorizers do not interview charter applicants on the merits of their application. Moreover, one in four large authorizers …