Get Schooled on Public Education

Charter Schools: What You Need to Know

Our Dear New Leaders Series continues with a conversation featuring our President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Starlee Coleman. In this episode, Starlee shares the pivotal moments that inspired her 25-year advocacy journey and why public education is essential for a thriving democracy. Hear her personal story as a parent, her vision for educational equity, and what’s ahead for charter schools in 2025 and the opportunities under a new administration.Featured GuestStarlee Coleman, President and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter SchoolsKey TakeawaysCharter schools are free, public, and open to all.Public education is foundational to a strong economy.Access to a high-quality public education should not depend on a student’s zip code or their family’s financial status.Charter schools help equalize opportunities by providing high-quality, public, and tuition-free education to all students.Policymakers can help increase the impact of the Charter Schools Program for students and families by increasing the flexibility of the program to ensure funding can be fully utilized.QuotesStarlee Coleman, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools"Every child deserves an environment where they can thrive, not just survive.""The strength of our economy is built on the foundation of a well-educated workforce."Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:53 - The Role of Education in Democracy, Economy, Health, and Equity05:20 - How Charter Schools Meet the Needs of Diverse Students08:45 - Enhancing Charter Schools with a Supportive Administration09:44 - Challenges of Grant Programs and the Need for Flexibility10:15 - Outro

Charter Schools: Strengthening Accountability in Public Education

In our Dear New Leaders Series, we’re educating elected officials, policymakers, and the general public on critical topics in public education. In this episode of Get Schooled on Public Education, we discuss accountability in charter schools and the vital role of authorizers. The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) is the sole authorizer of all public charter schools in Washington D.C. Hear directly from the DC PCSBs’ Director of Data and Accountability, Kirsten J. Floyd and Chief School Performance Officer, Melodi Sampson, as well as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ Senior Director of Policy, Katie Burke.Featured GuestKirsten J. Floyd, Director of Data and Accountability, DC Public Charter School BoardMelodi Sampson, Chief School Performance Officer, DC Public Charter School BoardKatie Burke, Senior Director, Policy, National Alliance’s for Public Charter SchoolsKey TakeawaysCharter schools are public schools with increased autonomy to innovate and meet students' needs. In exchange, they are held accountable for meeting performance expectations set by their authorizers.Authorizers oversee academic, financial, and operational performance through charter agreements, which outline specific goals and accountability measures.Charter schools are required to make key information, such as budgets, tax forms, and annual reports publicly available. This transparency enables families and the public to understand school performance and operations.Effective legislation should empower local decision-makers to adapt to unique contexts to support tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of students and communities.QuotesKirsten J. Floyd, Director of Data and Accountability, DC Public Charter School Board“In a school's charter agreement, there are specific charter goals and academic achievement expectations that are outlined that tell how they will show their impact on student academic outcomes.”Melodi Sampson, Chief School Performance Officer, DC Public Charter School Board“Charter school authorizers are really critical in terms of holding schools accountable, and we do this by doing public reporting on school performance on an annual basis, even throughout a school year.”Katie Burke, Senior Director of Policy, National Alliance’s for Public Charter Schools"Charter schools are public schools that are independently operated, which means they have the autonomy to meet the needs of their students.”Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:04 - Charter Schools: Autonomy in Public Education03:27 - Tools for Oversight: Compliance, Audits, and Financial Accountability07:34 - Tailoring Education Policies through Local Decision-Making08:17 - Outro

Charter Schools Program: Empowering Schools and Students

The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the only source of federal funding that supports the growth of charter schools to meet the needs of students and families. In our Dear New Leader Series geared toward educating elected officials on important charter school topics, we break down the CSP and discuss its impact on schools and students. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ Director of Policy, Fiona Sheridan-McIver and the President & CEO of Helix Community Schools in Louisiana, Preston Castille, share more about this vital program on the Get Schooled on Public Education podcast.Featured Guest:Fiona Sheridan-McIver, Director of Policy, National Alliance for Public Charter SchoolsPreston Castille, President & CEO of Helix Community Schools in LouisianaKey Takeaways:Charter schools are free, public, and open to all.The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the nation's only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools.Charter schools face significant hurdles when it comes to securing facilities.A proposed federal bill, The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, would expand facilities support programs for charter schools.A proposed federal bill, The Empowering Charter School Educators to Lead Act would provide more equitable access to pre-planning resources needed to open a charter school.Helix Aviation Academy is a K-12 public charter school located in Louisiana and features a curriculum focused on careers in aviation, space exploration, and cyber technology.Helix Aviation Academy is a 2023 CSP grant recipient and has been able to provide more resources for students with the funds.Policymakers can help increase the impact of the CSP for students and families by increasing funds and the flexibility of the program.Quotes:Fiona Sheridan-McIver, Director of Policy, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools“The Charter Schools Program exists to help expand opportunities for students…by providing critical funding to address the challenges of opening and operating new charter schools around the country”Preston Castille, President & CEO of Helix Community Schools in Louisiana“We teach the core courses, but we add something extra, we create an opportunity for children to be exposed to and learn about the aviation profession.”

Charter Schools: How Funding Works

The Dear New Leaders Series aims to educate elected officials, policymakers, and the general public about important topics in public education. In this episode of Get Schooled on Public Education, we discuss how charter schools are funded, and the role federal policies play in shaping this process. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ Senior Director of Government Relations, Ron Rice, joined the conversation.Featured GuestRon Rice, Senior Director of Government Relations, National Alliance for Public Charter SchoolsKey Takeaways:Charter schools are free, public, and open to all.Charter schools are innovative public schools designed to meet the needs of students, families, and communities.The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the nation's only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools.Charter schools face significant hurdles when it comes to securing facilities.A proposed federal bill, The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, would expand facilities support programs for charter schools.Quote:“Charter schools are all publicly funded.” - Ron RiceChapters00:00 - Introduction01:29 - Navigating Unique Funding Opportunities02:58 - Relying on Philanthropy for Building and Facilities04:47 - The KIPP Success Story and Community Empowerment05:26 - Bridging Community Gaps through Charter Education06:29 - Supporting education bill for equitable school facilities08:44 - Outro

Charter Schools: Students Finding an Educational Home

The Dear New Leaders Series is designed to educate elected officials, policymakers, and the general public about key issues in public education. In this episode of Get Schooled on Public Education, we discuss findings from a new report, Do You Know Where The Children Are? A Five Year Analysis of Public School Enrollment Trends. We explore enrollment shifts, significant growth amongst different student populations, and how the trends align with overall population changes. We also discuss the vital role policymakers play in supporting the growth of high-quality public school options. Hear directly from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools,’ Senior Director of Policy, Research, and Evaluation, Drew Jacobs, who co-authored the report.Featured GuestsDrew L. JacobsSenior Director of Policy, Research, and Evaluation at the National Alliance for Public Charter SchoolsLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewljacobs/Episode TakeawaysCharter schools are free, public, and open to all.Over the past five years, nearly 400,000 new students have enrolled in charter schools.There’s growing parental demand for more public education options that meet the evolving needs of students and families.Charter school enrollment has increased amongst White, Black, and Hispanic student populations.Eighty-four percent of states showing charter school enrollment growth outpaced school-aged (5-17) population growth.Policymakers are instrumental in supporting the growth of high-quality public school options.Quotes"We see a 400.000 student enrollment gain in charter schools, which is about a 12% gain" - Drew L. JacobsChapters00:00 - Introduction01:27 - Charter School Gains Amid District Losses: Unveiling the New Normal05:03 - Hispanic Enrollment Surges as White Student District Numbers Decline09:03 - Varied Charter School Enrollment Trends Among States10:34 - Enhancing Availability of Quality Public Education Choices11:32 - Outro