This first-ever look at the national charter school pipeline—what schools are being proposed and by whom—reveals a diverse sector, with a tremendous variety of applicants and school models. Working with Public Impact, NACSA collected and analyzed nearly 3,000 charter school applications submitted to authorizers, located in 20 states, that oversee nearly two-thirds of all charter schools nationally. The analysis shows the significant impact authorizers have in shaping the public education landscape across the country.
A Call to Action
NACSA calls on stakeholders to use facts, not anecdotes, to take new actions that lead to more great schools.
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Top 10 Findings
Get the quick headlines at a glance, then dig into the complete analysis.
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Complete Analysis
Explore interactive charts that present our key findings on school models, operator types, and external support.
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Implications for Authorizing
Authorizing shapes the quality and availability of schools in communities. NACSA’s charter school pipeline data reveals three primary implications for authorizers.
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What’s Next
This initial analysis of the charter school pipeline is just the beginning. There’s significant work ahead.
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Pipeline Extensions
Diversity of Charter School Models
Facilities
Transportation
Local Releases
Georgia’s Charter School Pipeline
Additional Resources
Download Full Report
Press Release
Overview of Methods and Sample
Glossary
Notable Commentary
- ‘No-Excuses’ Charter Schools May Be Falling Out of Favor, Education Week
- Who Applies and Who’s Denied? Four Things We Learned From a New Report on America’s Charter Schools, Chalkbeat
- Separating Fact From Fiction: Five Important Findings About The Nation’s Charter School Landscape, Forbes
- 5 Insights About Which Charter Schools Are Opening and Why, The Hill
- What Charter School Applications and Approvals Say About the State of Authorizing, Fordham Institute
- Examining the Charter School Pipeline—the Value of Understanding the Charter School Market, The Alliance
- Reinvigorating the Charter School Pipeline, Future-Ed
- Why Is Charter School Growth Slowing? New NACSA Research Offers Insights — But No Easy Answers, Bellweather Education Partners
- New NACSA Report Highlights Trends From 3,000 Charter Applications, NCSECS