We believe the charter promise rests not on two, but on three pillars, including this one that’s often overlooked: access. Access to a good education is why families value charter schools, so it deserves more of our attention. That’s why we’ve been talking with charter school authorizers to understand how expanding and ensuring access is critical to their mission.
What are authorizers doing to uphold the principle of access? Quite a lot, it turns out. Promising collaborations between district schools and charters have emerged. Challenges arise as well, from the need for strong charter school operator applicants to the impact of transportation on children and budgets.
Listen to leading authorizers tell their access stories.