NACSA
As Number of Charter Schools Grows, Focus Should be on Quality
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) welcomes the new charter school data released by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The increase in the number of students attending charters, as well as the number of charter schools closed in the past year, are positive signs toward creating a system of high-quality school choice.
“Growth in charter schools is good, but only if those new schools are actually doing a good job for kids,” commented NACSA President and CEO Greg Richmond. “Charter schools have been growing at a double-digit rate for years, but growth alone isn’t our goal. Growth in the number of good schools must be our goal.”
Authorizers are the agencies, usually school districts, state education agencies or public universities, responsible for approving and monitoring charter schools. As charter schools continue to expand, authorizers will play a critical role in replicating successful charters and discontinuing low-performing schools.
Richmond continued, “We need to make sure that every single one of these two million children has access to outstanding educational opportunities. Authorizers hold the key of making this a reality.”
NACSA recommends authorizers use a minimum of 12 essential practices to ensure quality in the charter schools they oversee. View NACSA’s Index of Essential Practices to see how some of the nation’s largest authorizers are using these practices.
