Public Charter Schools: A National Overview Lisa S. Grover, Ph.D., Senior Director, State Advocacy, NAPCS

National Overview 2.5 million charter school students 6,446 charter schools 100% growth since (1.29 students) 600,000 on waiting list © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools2

State by State First law passed in MN in 1992 (200 students) 42 states and DC have charter laws Top 5 districts with charter school enrollment: New Orleans, LA (79%) Detroit, MI (51%) District of Columbia (43%) Flint, MI & Kansas City, MO (36%) Gary, IN (35%) © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools3

State by state Charter high school market share is more prevalent in the Midwest and Northeast South and West experience significant charter school growth in © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools4

State Charter Law Rankings Each January, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools releases a ranking of charter laws in 42 states and the District of Columbia, using the model law as the standard. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools5

State by State 8 states without public charter school laws: AL, KY, MT, NE, ND, SD, WV, VT 12 states with the weakest public charter school laws: AK, CT, IA, KS, MD, NJ, OK, RI, TN, VA, WI, WY © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools6

Top Five State Charter Laws 1. Minnesota 2. Indiana 3. Louisiana 4. Maine 5. Colorado © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools7

South Carolina Ranked #15 (out of 42 states and DC) 147 points out of 228 © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools8

South Carolina’s 2013 Ranking Last year, South Carolina’s ranking went from 103 points in 2012 to 141 points in Its ranking went from #25 to #12(out of 43) This jump occurred because of changes to its law in authorizing, charter contracts and access to extracurricular activities. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools9

South Carolina’s 2014 Ranking South Carolina’s ranking fell from#12 to #15(out of 43) This drop had more to do with the aggressive changes made in other states than with any steps backward in South Carolina © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools10

Strengths and Areas to Improve Comprehensive charter school monitoring & data collection processes Allows a variety of schools Fiscally and legally autonomous schools Ensure equitable funding Authorizer accountability Access to facilities and facility funding © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools11

Four Pillars of Strong State Laws Autonomy Accountability Funding and facilities Authorizing © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools12

Autonomy School-level flexibility is one of the core principles of public charter schooling. The four things that state laws must include to ensure charter school autonomy are: 1. Provide fiscal and legal autonomy to charter schools. 2. Require that charter schools have independent governing boards. 3. Provide an automatic waiver from many state and district laws and regulations. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools13

Autonomy 4. Exempt public charter school from existing collective bargaining agreements. The state laws that are strongest for charter school autonomy are the District of Columbia and Oklahoma. There has been an increasing amount of effort focused on preventing the re-regulation of charter schools (e.g., the new teacher evaluation requirements in many states). © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools14

Accountability School-level accountability is another one of the core principles of public charter schooling. The four things that state laws must include to ensure charter school accountability are: 1. Include transparent charter application processes. 2. Require performance-based charter contracts. 3. Include comprehensive charter school oversight. 4. Provide clear processes for renewal and closure decisions. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools15

Accountability Eight states took steps to strengthen charter school accountability in the 2013 sessions. Idaho created performance frameworks as part of charter contract and created charter renewal processes. Indiana enacted legislation that provides for stronger authorizer accountability, clarifies the rights that schools have in the renewal process, and provides for a third party review before a school facing nonrenewal can change authorizers. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools16

Funding and Facilities Funding equity for public charter school students is another one of the key components of public charter school laws. The three things that state laws must include to ensure public charter school student funding equity are: 1. Provide equitable operational funding. 2. Ensure equal access to all state and federal categorical funding. 3. Provide equitable access to capital funding and facilities. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools17

Funding and Facilities 12 states took steps to improve charter funding and facilities support in the 2013 sessions. Delaware created a Charter School Strategic Fund, which will be a competitive fund accessible to charter schools with proven track records of success. Florida increased their appropriation to support charter school facility costs from $56 million to $91 million. States that score high on facility funding: NM, DC, MN, CO © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools18

Authorizing A well-designed public charter school law must allow multiple authorizers to which any group of potential charter founders can apply, so that all charter applicants have the opportunity to seek approval from a conscientious and well-motivated authorizer. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools19

Authorizing The three things that state laws must include to allow multiple authorizers are: 1. Establish a state public charter school commission. 2. Provide an opportunity for local school boards to register as authorizers with the state. 3. Provide an opportunity for various entities to apply for authorizing ability to the state. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools20

Authorizing Several states have expanded the types of entities that can authorize charters over the past few years, including Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, and South Carolina. Two of the most recent charter states – Maine and Washington – have also provided for multiple authorizers. © 2013 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools21

For More Information Lisa S. Grover, Ph.D. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools22