Welcome to The Charter Connection!
The National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) acknowledges the unprecedented state of schools and the education system during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Grantees, schools, charter school support organizations, and state offices are facing unforeseen and untold challenges, and we know you all are coping and adjusting. We hope you, your colleagues, and the people you care about are safe and well. Please visit the NCSRC COVID-19 Resources page for information helpful to Charter School Programs (CSP) grantees and the charter sector.
A Note to CSP Grantees: The Department of Education has received your questions about how COVID-19 impacts your grants and it encourages grantees to initiate or maintain such communication. NCSRC can also collect any questions that you may have. If you are a grantee with grant-related questions, please contact us.
Welcome back to the Charter Connection. There is something for every corner of the charter sector in this issue, including new resources on replication and facilities and a poll to help us better meet your needs. Before you dive in, take a minute to visit our website and check out our updated charter school funding opportunities database.
We’re here to help.
-The NCSRC Team
New Resources
A Case Study in Replication
For the more than 4,000 charter schools around the country that operate as independent schools without the support of a larger management organization, opening a second school is one means of serving more students. This case study considers the key decisions and processes that contributed to one school’s successful replication. It includes a written report, resources for more information, and videos featuring school leaders, parents, and the new school’s authorizer. Preparation for Replication: Case Study of AECI
Charter School Facilities
The challenge of acquiring and maintaining appropriate facilities is familiar to many across the charter school sector. Using national and regional data, this brief report identifies three trends that will affect charter schools for the next several years. Charter School Facilities: Emerging Trends
More Information, Please
The last issue of the Charter Connection shared “What is a Charter School?” This new infographic was so popular that we added more information useful to understanding the charter school sector. Feel free to share it! What is a Charter School?
COVID-19 Resources
The National Charter School Resource Center has created a webpage of resources to support Charter School Programs (CSP) grantees during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Resources
Be a Tattletale!
We're taking a poll. What do you use the NCSRC website for most frequently?
Voting Results:
- 14% State Resources
- 14% New Reports and Tools
- 14% Case Studies
- 50% Funding Updates
- 7% Charter Sector News and Events
What's Happening?
CSP Announces Charter Management Organizations Awards
On March 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education awarded approximately $65 million in new funding to 13 different Charter Management Organization (CMOs) under the FY 2020 Charter School Programs (CSP) Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools program. The CMOs propose to replicate or expand over 100 high-quality public charter schools over the next several years. Over 95% of the funding was awarded to CMOs proposing to create or expand public charter schools in Qualified Opportunity Zones. To learn more about the CSP, please visit http://oese.ed.gov. For more information about the awarded applicants, please visit the Awards page.
From Our Partners
Four Domains for Significant and Sustainable Charter School Improvement
WestEd’s Four Domains for Significant and Sustainable Charter School Improvement is customized for stakeholders across the charter school sector to facilitate policy and practices that can support school improvement across four domains: leadership, talent, instruction, and culture.