NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

Press Releases


NACSA on ESSA Title I State Plans: “Accountability and Transparency Must Be Meaningful”

In a comment letter submitted today to the US Department of Education (ED), NACSA recommended changes to proposed Title I provisions under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that would ensure accountability and …


NACSA Statement on Secretary King’s Remarks at National Charter Conference

In response to US Education Secretary John King’s speech today at the National Charter School Conference in Nashville, Tenn., Greg Richmond, president and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers …


Statement on Rhode Island Senate Bill 3075

With all eyes on the Rhode Island budget bill passed by the General Assembly last week and its impact on charter schools, another bill with similar consequences for the state’s charter school …

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New Report Recommends Reforms to Address Significant Underperformance by Full-Time Virtual Charter Public Schools

National Alliance, 50CAN and NACSA propose specific policy recommendations for states to rein in poor practices in full-time virtual charter public school movement The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the 50-State …


NACSA signs Charter Schools Equity Coalition Statement on Discipline

Today, NACSA and 19 other organizations released the following statement addressing equity and student discipline in our schools. CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO CREATE INCLUSIVE, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS A …


Authorizer Conversations: Erin Anderson on Support and Accountability in a Pandemic

“Honestly, it’s not that hard if you just ask schools what they need. We’re trying to be very clear that: a) we’re temporarily transitioning from oversight and accountability to support and guidance, …


Updated April 20: State Education Policy Responses to COVID-19

As it becomes more and more clear that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will span months, not weeks, state legislatures are already responding. Below are some of the major issues state …


Have You Asked What Your Charter Schools Need?

“A brave leader is someone who says I see you. I hear you. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m going to keep listening and asking questions.” – Brene Brown In …


Helping Charter Schools Access Federal Resources for COVID-19

With so much changing daily regarding COVID-19 and the federal response to it, it can be difficult to keep up with everything that could help support charter schools during this challenging time. …


New Bellwether Toolkit Helps Authorizers and Schools Reground, Prioritize, Plan, and Connect in Response to COVID-19

By Tresha Ward, Katie Rouse, Stephanie Spangler, and Eleisha Nelson-Reed of Bellwether Education Partners Over the last four weeks, authorizers across the country have had to make a flood of challenging and …


Responding to Crisis Demands Balance: Three States Offer Models for Planning with Flexibility

As of April 9th, 17 states have already closed or recommended school building closures for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. With extended closures inevitable for more states, how can charter …


How One Charter School Authorizer is Responding to COVID-19

By Scott Pearson, Executive Director of the D.C. Public Charter Schools Board This is a critical time for authorizers. How we respond to COVID-19 will make a difference to the lives of …


New Resource: Maintaining Lottery Integrity in Times of Crisis

Clear and transparent lotteries are critical to ensuring equitable access for students to enroll in charter schools. All states require the use of lotteries in situations when charter schools are oversubscribed, and …


When Moving Too Quickly Fails: On Supporting Communities During Disasters

By Patrick Dobard, CEO, New Schools for New Orleans A Note from NACSA: We are fortunate to have Patrick Dobard as a NACSA board member. His wisdom and thought partnership are invaluable. …


What Charter School Authorizers Can Do Right Now to Address COVID-19

“Communicate, listen, and go slow.”  -Patrick Dobard On Wednesday, NACSA hosted a community conversation with over 150 charter school authorizers and support organizations, the first in an ongoing series of conversations to …