NACSA Blog

NACSA Blog

Press Releases


NACSA Announces Second Cohort of Authorizing Fellowship Program at University of Minnesota

Program continues to build pipeline of charter school authorizing talent Today, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) announced the second cohort of its Innovation in Education Fellowship at the University …


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 …


NACSA Applauds Passage of Washington State Bill to Save Charter Schools

CHICAGO – Yesterday, the Washington State House of Representatives passed SB 6194, a bipartisan bill allowing public charter schools to continue operating in the state. In response, Greg Richmond, president and CEO …


New Report Examines Loophole that Allows Failing Charter Schools to Remain Open

Calls to close loophole known as “authorizer shopping” in order to provide better opportunities for kids A new report released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) finds authorizer …


New Report Highlights Closure and Composition Trends in National Charter School Authorizing Landscape

Today, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) released its annual State of Charter Authorizing (SOCA) report through an interactive website featuring the largest amount of data about authorizing trends in …


NACSA Cheers Passage of Comprehensive Charter School Reform Bill in Ohio

Today Ohio state lawmakers passed House Bill 2 (HB 2), a comprehensive charter school reform bill. In response, Amanda Fenton, director of state and federal policy at NACSA, issued the following statement: …


Insights from the First Charter State

Minnesotans are not just nice people—in our experience with MN authorizers, they are smart, savvy, and generous when they share their insights. Minnesota was the first state in the nation to adopt …


U.S. Department of Education Announces State Education Agency (SEA) Grant Recipients of the Charter School Program (CSP)

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) is pleased to congratulate all state educational agency (SEA) grant recipients of the Department of Education Charter School Program (CSP) grant. On September 28, …


NACSA Urges Ohio Legislature to Pass Charter School Reform Bill

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) fully supports Ohio House Bill 2 (HB 2) as passed by the conference committee today. We are pleased with the legislatures’ commitment to this …


Expecting More from Authorizers: A Great Read from Fordham

Today the Fordham Institute published a great commentary piece by Jamie Davies O’Leary on why we should expect more of our gatekeepers of charter schools: authorizers. Authorizers, known as sponsors in the …


Announcing Our Featured Conference Speaker: Colorado State Senator Mike Johnston

Mike Johnston Colorado State Senator As a former co-founder and principal of Colorado’s first public high school in which 100 percent of seniors were admitted to four-year colleges, Colorado State Senator Mike …


Hint: One of the Answers is “Authorizing”

Richard Whitmire, Emerson Collective fellow and prolific education author, lays out “5 Ways to Stop Bad Charters from Derailing Education Reform” in The 74 – and we know at least one of the answers: it’s …


California Authorizers Take the Lead to Improve Charter School Quality and Oversight in State

NACSA commends the Alameda County Office of Education’s new Charter Authorizers’ Resource Network (CARSNet) and California Charter Authorizing Professionals (CCAP) as they kick off the California Charter Authorizers Conference—the first-ever conference focused …


U.S. Department of Education Emphasizes Charter School Oversight, Including NACSA’s National Authorizing Standards

Chicago, Ill. — Today the U.S. Department of Education announced the next round of Charter Schools Program (CSP) grants. In a press conference, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan voiced his support …


The Toughest Part of Being an Authorizer

Closing a charter school is the toughest decision an authorizer will have to make, and it is a decision no one takes lightly. Closures require detailed preparation, and careful deliberation with all …