Grow Schools, formerly Charter School Capital, Author at Grow Schools

Editors Note: This post was originally published here on 12/13/2017 by National Alliance for Charter Schools, and authored by Stephanie Vittitow. We think it’s vital to keep tabs on the pulse of all things related to charter school facilities and growth and therefore, hope you find this—and any other article we curate—both interesting and valuable.

Phi Delta Kappan (PDK) recently fou nd that 17 percent of parents would choose a public charter school for their child if location and capacity were not an issue. And just last month, EdChoice foun d that 16 percent of parents would like to send their child to a public charter school—which is up nine percentage points since 2013. Together, these two surveys indicate that the potential number of charter school students in the U.S. is between 8 and 8.5 million. In 2016-17, there were just over 3 million charter school students. This means that the potential size of the charter school sector—based on current parent demand—is almost three times larger than what it is today. In order to satisfy this demand, the sector would need to open, and find suitable homes for, thousands of charter schools over the next 5 to 10 years.

However, charter schools already struggle to access adequate and affordable school buildings and charter schools generally lack access to the same funding and financing mechanisms as most school districts. To make matters worse, the House version of the tax bill would eliminate three financial instruments that charter schools use for the construction, renovation, and expansion of school buildings. Should the House prevail in the conference committee, it would be a giant step backward for charter schools. Should the Senate prevail, we would maintain the status quo, which is necessary—but far from sufficient—to meet the large and growing demand for high-quality charter schools.
The Charter School Facilities Initiative (CSFI), a national research project and partnership, has studied charter school facilities and facilities costs in 19 states. Over the past three years, the CSFI team has conducted five charter school landscape surveys: Ohio in 2014-15, Albuquerque and Delaware in 2015-16, and Colorado and New Hampshire in 2016-17. These recent surveys are indicative of broader national trends and these five locations represent more than 650 charter schools – or nearly 10 percent of all charter schools nationwide. Across these five locations, charter schools face clear challenges in acquiring and paying for suitable facilities:

The majority of charter schools (53 percent) were renting or leasing space from a non-profit organization or a commercial entity. In fact, only 27 percent of charter schools had constructed their own building. The remaining 20 percent were located in a district or government building (16 percent) or had a mixed ownership structure (4 percent). Not surprisingly, nearly half of charter schools (49 percent) were located in buildings that were not originally intended to be a school.
Nearly half of charter schools (49 percent) were in school buildings that did not have space for their anticipated enrollment in five years. Parent demand for charter schools is increasing, but facilities constraints are restricting supply. For charter schools that were planning to grow but were limited by their current school building, only 51 percent had developed a specific, feasible plan to construct or acquire additional space.
Nearly one in five charter schools (17 percent) had to delay their opening date by a year or more due to facilities related issues. The inability of new charter schools to find an adequate and affordable school building is a major barrier to the continued growth and health of the sector. Facilities related issues have discouraged countless other developing groups from submitting or completing their application.
Charter schools spent an average of $748 per pupil on rental and/or financing payments after accounting for any state facilities assistance. This spending on facilities diverts critical funds away from the classroom and limits programming options for charter school students. In addition, 40 percent of charter schools completed a major capital project in the past five years in order to renovate, upgrade, or otherwise maintain their facilities—and the median capital project cost nearly $500,000.
Forty percent of charter schools did not have the ideal amenities, nor desired specialized classrooms, to best implement their educational model. Most instruction during the school day takes place in general classrooms; however, specialized instructional spaces, such as science labs, libraries, and computer labs, are an important part of a comprehensive educational program—and charter schools often go without these types of spaces.

The lack of affordable and adequate school buildings limits the growth of high-performing operators, limits the ability of new and independent charter schools to open, diverts critical funds away from the classroom, and limits programming options for charter school students. Congress should work to expand access to programs that help charters schools obtain school buildings—not take them away. In addition, states and districts should also provide charter schools with equitable access to public space. Without equitable access and resources, millions of students and families will continue to wait for a seat at one of these innovative public schools.

Do you need to expand, renovate, or move your charter school? We’d love to support you. It’s our mission to help you educate more students, so we focus on providing products and services that enable you to meet – and exceed – both your growth and facility goals. When you succeed, we succeed—it’s that simple.
We’ve reached out to our network of charter school experts for best practices and strategies for success at every stage of maturity. So, whether you’re just beginning the process of starting up a charter school, looking to expand or trying to prioritize your next steps, download our Charter School Growth Manual to get expert tips and pitfalls to avoid as you grow.

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Charter school growth requires solid student enrollment and retention programs that position the school for future replication or program growth. Having at least some digital marketing prowess can help you reach and exceed your school’s growth and/or expansion goals. Want to up the digital marketing game for your charter school? Register for our Digital Marketing for Charter Schools webinar on January 30, 2018 (9 am PST| 12 pm EST) to fill your toolbox with some actionable tips as we dive into digital marketing strategies specifically tailored for charter schools.
In this webinar, we’ll cover:

Why Digital marketing matters
What is Digital Marketing
Tactics: The best tools for Charter Schools
Resources: Where can you learn more?

You’ll learn: How digital marketing efforts can help your charter schools build a solid digital footprint, different approaches to help develop and maintain your charter school’s reputation, as well as how to leverage marketing to grow student enrollment.
We’ll also provide an overview of the digital landscape, discuss what digital tools are relevant, how best to implement programs, and we’ll cover the various platforms and how to effectively use them to maintain your charter’s reputation and increase awareness.
Join our CMO, Janet Johnson and Sr. Marketing Manager, Stephanie Ristow us as they discuss digital marketing tips for charter schools.
Janet has deep experience in strategic planning, brand management, positioning and go-to-market strategies. She’s run global marketing teams for education technology, cloud automation, and technology (SaaS, enterprise software) companies.
Stephanie manages demand generation programs for Charter School Capital and has spent the duration of her career with big brands like Microsoft, Nike, and WebMD.
You can expect to walk away with digital marketing best practices and new ways to leverage digital platforms for success. We’d love to have you join us!

EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published here on January 3, 2018, and was authored by the President of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Michael J. Petrilli. We think it’s vital to keep tabs on the pulse of educational reform and hope you find this—and any other article we curate—both interesting and valuable.

The 5 Big Educational Reform Stories of 2018

Advertisements for investment funds always say that past performance is no guarantee of future results; in the case of my forecasting skills, that’s probably a good thing. After all, in 2016 I claimed that Donald Trump would never become president, and a year ago I thought that 2017 might be the year of coming back together again. So in the spirit of third time’s a charm, not three strikes and you’re out, here’s what I see coming down the pike in 2018.

NAEP. The release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress results is always big news, but I have a hunch that this one will be bigger than usual. That’s because it’s been a long time since we’ve seen significant progress on the Nation’s Report Card and analysts will consider this round a legitimate indicator of the success or failure of Obama-era reforms. I’ll admit to being worried that gains will be minimal. The headwinds of the 2008 recession and the changing demographic mix of the student population are significant. Still, if states’ higher standards and tougher tests are leading to real changes in the classroom—especially as schools adopt high quality curriculum like Eureka Math—we ought to start seeing a bump soon, at least at the fourth grade level. If not, color me worried. Meanwhile, state-by-state results will give us lots to chew on as well. Will Arizona continue to defy the doubters? Will Tennessee and D.C. continue their climb out of the cellar? And will curriculum-based reform prove its mettle in Louisiana? Stay tuned.
The Janus Supreme Court case. I thought the Friedrichs decision was going to be the big ed reform news a few years ago—until Justice Scalia went and passed away. But its sequel is back, and barring another unforeseen event the forthcoming decision will likely place a significant curb on the fundraising abilities of the teachers unions. A majority of the justices are likely to rule that unions can’t charge “agency fees” to non-members—making it financially advantageous for more teachers to drop out of their union, and allowing non-members to cease paying into it. That’s especially likely for politically conservative teachers, who may be tired of supporting causes with which they disagree. Given that three in ten teachers nationwide voted for President Trump, it’s not hard to imagine the NEA especially losing a significant amount of revenue and clout. That in turn could weaken the relationship between the teachers unions and the Democratic Party, with big pro-reform implications, especially in blue states.
Gubernatorial elections. I’ve given up on the notion that America’s political polarization will come to an end anytime soon. Both parties have too many incentives to play to their bases as the mid-term elections approach. But while the makeup of Congress will only have a marginal impact on education reform going forward, given ESSA’s devolution of power to the states, who wins the races for the governors’ mansions in the thirty-six states with elections this November could have major implications for the years ahead. California is the big prize; can reformers keep the union-endorsed Gavin Newsom from winning? In Colorado, can at least one of the reform candidates—Mike Johnston or Jared Polis—make it through the Democratic primary? Will a Democratic wave election spell doom even for popular, reform-seeking Republicans in deep blue states, namely Charlie Baker (Massachusetts), Larry Hogan (Maryland), and Bruce Rauner (Illinois)? And will reform ideas like accountability and school choice be more or less popular once all the electioneering is done?
School discipline. 2017 ended with a flurry of activity and opining on the issue of school discipline, especially as it relates to Washington’s role in the matter. But while the Trump Administration has started to hear from both sides, it has yet to tip its hand about its intentions. As someone who wants the Obama-era policy on school discipline revised or rescinded, I very much hope we’ll see action on this front in 2018. Not that it’s easy, given the real conundrum involved in addressing racial discrimination without making our schools less safe or jumping to dubious conclusions from raw data on student suspensions. The fact that our president has a proclivity toward making racially divisive statements doesn’t help either.
The first release of school ratings under ESSA. After years of debate and design, this summer will bring the debut of school report cards that reflect the new requirements and flexibility of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The greater focus on student growth versus mere proficiency in most states should make it somewhat likelier for high-poverty schools to get decent grades, but it could also result in many schools in affluent suburbs getting mediocre marks. It’s conceivable that this could spark an ed reform movement among soccer moms. Regrettably, yet another testing backlash is likelier.

So there you have it. Yes, it’s a mixed bag, with only glimmers of good news to look forward to. Then again, the dumpster fire that was 2017 turned out to be surprisingly kind to education reform; here’s hoping that 2018 will do the same.

National School Choice Week (NSCW) is coming January 21-27th, and we want to make sure you’re up-to-date on all the cool happenings so you don’t miss a thing!
Not familiar with NSCW? This inspiring week recognizes all K-12 options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. It’s the world’s largest annual celebration of opportunities in education that includes over 10,000 independent events. It’s a nonpartisan, non-political, independent public awareness effort that’s not associated with any legislative lobbying or advocacy efforts.
Every child deserves a bright future. Having school choice simply means that parents are empowered to select the best possible educational experience and learning environment for their unique child’s individual needs—helping them thrive!
Make sure to join the conversation all next week with Charter School Capital, as we share stories and quotes about school choice on Facebook, Twitter, and on LinkedIn. Follow all the school choice week festivities, events, and conversation using the #schoolchoice and #SCW hashtags.
There are so many events going on across the country next week, that we can’t list them all here; but if you’re interested in finding an NSCW activity in your area check out this interactive map of everything going on! We’d also love to hear what you’re doing to celebrate the week. Leave us a comment below.
Have a great #schoolchoice week!

Happy New Year!
At Charter School Capital, we provide charter schools growth capital and facilities financing nationwide, and we’re always keeping an eye out to add great talent to our team. We look for prospective team members with qualities that fit our core values – empowerment, teamwork, innovation, accountability, and best-in-class. With 2018 now upon us—and continued growth across the organization after another successful year—we’re excited to announce that we’re hiring!
The Finance and Risk team has an immediate opening for a Real Estate Analyst to join our group. This position will play an instrumental role in helping CSC analyze and value real estate opportunities and charter schools with a finance perspective, as well as work cross-functionally within the greater organization. Please head to the job posting on our careers page for a more detailed understanding of the role and responsibilities of this position.
And, as we continue to grow and expand into more states, we’re also looking for some exceptional talent to be a part of our Client Services team! Our newest openings for Client Services Representative (CSR) will be primarily responsible for expanding Charter School Capital (CSC) Services within the Northeast and the Southeast regions of the United States. The CSR will understand the strategic growth initiatives of Charter Schools and position CSC as a key partner to achieve these goals, negotiating and closing new business agreements of CSC services. Additionally, the CSR will increase brand awareness of CSC throughout the assigned territory.
If you’re interested in these roles or if you know a candidate who you think would be a good fit for our team, please contact us at careers@charterschoolcapital.com please visit our Careers page!
Come grow with us!

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news with you about the inspiring facility growth of one of our charter school customers, Genesee STEM Academy. Genesee STEM Academy is located in Flint, Michigan and is a top-tier K-9 Charter School authorized by Saginaw Valley State University. Last year, we worked closely with Genesee STEM Academy to complete their Phase I charter school expansion and now we’ve just helped them complete Phase II of their facility growth, adding an additional 14,300 square feet! This newest phase increases their available space with 13 classrooms, four administrative offices, student and faculty bathrooms, and upgrades to their auditorium.
We’re always thrilled to be a part of the growth and success of charter schools and help them better serve students – and their communities. We also know that they’re ecstatic about taking control of their own destiny.
This successful charter school expansion would not have been possible without the strong partnership between Charter School Capital and the dedicated team at Genesee STEM: including—but certainly not limited to—Laura Legardye, Rita Cheek, and Pasquale Battaglia.
At Charter School Capital, we understand that access to adequate charter school facilities continues to be one of the top challenges facing charter leaders today. There are currently more than 1 million students on charter school waitlists around the country and a relative lack of accessible financing options for charter facilities needs. In order to reach and teach more students and reduce these waitlists, charter schools require state of the art facilities that allow them to continue to build quality educational programs for student success.
It’s our mission to help charter schools with growth capital and facilities financing. Because we partner exclusively with charter schools, we understand the operational challenges their leaders face and can deliver financial resources charter schools need to maintain stability and grow. By leveraging the support of our team, charter leaders can stay focused on the school’s most important mission – educating students.
All of us at Charter School Capital are sending Genesee STEM Academy our heartfelt congratulations on their inspirational growth and success!

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California Prop 39 Deadline for Charter Schools
California’s Prop 39 zero-cost energy upgrades can yield charter schools up to 40% reduction in ongoing utility costs. The State of California has generously allocated $55k-$500k+ to every California charter school for energy upgrades.
So far, only 40% of schools have taken advantage of the program. We think the reason for low participation is either:

Schools think this is the previous Prop 39 – which had nothing to do with energy upgrades, or
Schools believed that if they didn’t own the building, they could not participate in the program

Not only can any charter school participate; but – in some cases – you can bill the program for upgrades that have been implemented in the past.
We believe in the program so much that our affiliated real estate arm is supporting upgrades on 100% of our properties in California.
The program is simple and we can help
All that is required is to 1) invite a qualified energy consultant (we can help you get in touch) into your school for an energy audit; and 2) provide them with your last 12 months of utility bills, and that’s it.
The audit you’ll get back will include:

Projected costs (which you can pay for with your allocation)
Projected savings on your utility bill every month
A non-intrusive implementation plan so your students and teachers are not interrupted

This is a great program, but your allocation will evaporate on February 26^th 2018 if you have not filed the paperwork (the energy consultant will do this for you). You would have 2+ years to actually conduct the upgrade.
We can help you look up your allocation, provide you with energy auditor contacts, answer your questions and provide contacts at the California Dept. of Ed and Energy Commission.
Thanks. Let’s talk. And soon.

“Laissez les bons temps rouler” means “let the good times roll” in Cajun French, and it is quite appropriate this month in particular.
Why you may ask?
First, it is the 10-year anniversary of the Louisiana Charter School Conference! I am looking forward to attending several sessions this year on charter school financial practices, becoming a better partner with your school district, and a session on the roles Louisiana charter schools are playing in the national debate over school choice. It looks as if there are going to be a couple of great keynote speeches, too!
Second, Charter School Capital is one of just over two dozen exhibitors this year, meaning that you will likely have time to stop by our booth to say hello and grab a goodie item or two.
Third, it also happens to be Charter School Capital’s 10^th anniversary financing and funding charter schools across the nation; and if you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist your charter school in Louisiana, we will have a team ready to talk to you. In fact, you can book some time on my calendar while we’re there, by emailing me at kburgess@charterschoolcapital.com.
With all of the great sessions and networking events going on, the real challenge of this year’s conference will be fitting in a few minutes to grab a beignet!

The Arizona Charter School Business Summit has come to a close for 2017, but it’s easy to see how the impact of the event will ripple throughout the year.
The event hosted a number of incredible workshops diving into challenges and solutions specific to Arizona charter schools, but the main conference day was kicked off with a passionate opening keynote by Colin Seale. Learning about his background and how he overcame childhood obstacles to become a math teacher, get his law degree, and work with youth in the juvenile was absolutely remarkable. However his message on critical thinking was even more impactful. Because charter schools are all so unique, he challenged all charter leaders to think differently when it comes to education. As technology changes, so will the type of careers our kids will have to choose from, and as such, critical thinking skills will be even more important moving forward for your youth’s success.
One of my personal highlights was having the opportunity to represent Charter School Capital in a presentation on “Best Practices for Charter School Expansion” with Megan Olson, the co-founder of Odyssey Preparatory Academy Family of Schools. The presentation went through the different stages of growth and Megan was able to dive deeper into common misconceptions, challenges, and best practices using her broad set of experiences as the framework. You can access the slides from that presentation here.
I had the pleasure of meeting with a variety of charter leaders to discuss facility needs, working capital issues, and even the Title 1 issues that continue to linger for our schools. It was also great to see familiar vendors and even many new ones that are in support of the charter movement here in Arizona.
All in all, this year’s Arizona Charter School Business Summit was great. I’m looking forward to working with you all throughout the year and can’t wait for next year’s incredible conference.

The 2017 Florida Charter School Conference is a wrap, and having had some time to reflect on this year’s flurry of activities, I can safely say this one was perhaps the best yet!
A clear topic trend at the conference seemed to be centered on facilities needs for charter schools. By my count, there were at least four different breakout sessions discussing different challenges and best practices around facilities.
One of those sessions was even hosted by Charter School Capital, titled “I Need a New Facility for My School, Now What.” Aptly named, panelists Thom Jackson, President and CEO of EdisonLearning Inc., Mike Morley, President and CEO of American Charter Development, and Stuart Ellis, President and CEO of Charter School Capital, walked through funding options, challenges and best practices for schools finding themselves in need of a new or updated facility. If you missed the session, you can find the slides and recording here.
I had the pleasure of meeting onsite with leaders from charter management organizations, education management organizations, independent charter schools, and others. While the funding needs and visions for these organizations differ, they are all rooted in and motivating passion for the charter school movement, and were inspiring to speak with.
I even found some time to attend sessions outside the Charter School Capital content, and particularly enjoyed the “Legal Update for Florida Charter Schools” presentation provided by Daniel Woodring, of Woodring Law Firm. His session covered lawsuits over Florida House Bill 7069, information on what happens to persistently failing schools, legal issues for charter schools in Florida with respect to public records, among others.
All in all, this year’s conference was a hit. I am sincerely looking forward to the return of the Florida Charter School Conference next year in Orlando, Florida at the Caribe Royale Resort and Convention Center. Mark your calendars now for October 16 – 18, 2018 and I hope to see you there!