Category: Charter School Information

Charter Schools are Driven by Quality Education

Your school is probably the creation of former teachers or academic leaders who want to pursue public education in a specific way. You may focus on STEM, the arts, multilingualism, or college prep. Charter schools are able to offer students innovative ways of learning. Check out the amazing programs at Catalyst Charter Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, Aurum Prep in West Oakland, CA and Dual Language Immersion North County in Vista, CA.

Charter Students Have Performed Better on Assessments

In addition to smaller class sizes, a study by the Manhattan Institute discovered that charter schools average an additional 59 learning days of math and 44 days of reading in comparison with traditional public schools. This means that students in charter schools are more likely to perform better on standardized tests. What is more, charter schools have higher graduation rates for Black and Latino students. Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis, SET High in San Diego, CA, and The Foundation for Hispanic Education in San Jose, CA are ensuring smaller classes, access to tutoring, and more in-class time for learning.

Higher Graduation Rates Can Lead to Being More Likely to Stay in College

With higher graduation rates, charter students also have high college persistence, meaning they return to college for multiple semesters. College persistence matters—as Academia Avance in Highland Park, CA,  Gateway College & Career Academy in Riverside, CA, and Hope for Hyndman Charter School (HHCS) in Hyndman, PA can attest.

Charter Schools Thrive in Communities

More community involvement can be correlated to steadier attendance and better outcomes both both kids and communities. Charter schools have the ability to be more available to—and flexible around—the challenges facing individual students, families, and communities. Edge High School in Tucson, AZ, Buckeye Community Schools serving multiple locations in Ohio, and Eastlake High School in Colorado Springs, CO know that high school diplomas change lives—and so does the flexibility to earn them. Year-round enrollment, morning or afternoon classes, and lots of 1:1 attention for all at these charter high schools serving grades 9-12.

Charter schools can design community-based leadership and curriculum, as seen at Almond Acres Charter Academy in Paso Robles, CA, Hasañ Preparatory & Leadership Academy in Tucson, AZ, and Green Inspiration Academy in Warrensville Heights, OH.

Charter school leaders are education’s great innovators. It’s a privilege to work alongside them to ensure that every student has access to a nourishing school environment where they can flourish.

Virtual Ed Commission Meeting Recap

Last Wednesday, the Texas Commission on Virtual Education (TCVE) held its second meeting. The focus was on innovative practitioners from within the state and included testimony from Guthrie CSD, Lewisville ISD, Great Hearts Online, Dallas ISD, Texas Tech University, Dr. Danny Lovett (ESC Region 5), and John Watson of the Digital Learning Collaborative. They discussed the unique characteristics of supplemental programs, hybrid schools, and full-time virtual schools, including what current laws provide funding for each.

Key Takeaways
  • Two of the groups invited to testify included students who spoke about why they like the flexibility provided by virtual options. Guthrie CSD senior Coulter Reel shared that she’ll graduate high school with enough credits for an associate’s degree thanks to online access to virtual courses.
  • Every group noted how much their teachers love teaching in virtual ed models and noted it could keep many who might otherwise leave, in the profession.
  • A few members of the Commission inquired about what kind of funding is best for these innovative models, and there seemed to be an openness to exploring unique funding methods.

For recordings of the meetings and to follow TCVE, go here.

TEA & State Updates
  • Governor Greg Abbott and TEA announced that school districts in Texas may be eligible for an adjustment in operational minutes requirements for certain attendance reporting periods during the 2021-2022 academic school year. This means funding will be made available to school systems in Texas that have experienced attendance rate declines because of the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, given an emphasis on in-person instruction. This adjustment would apply to the first four reporting periods of the current school year. Full press release here.
  • TEA is inviting comment on the proposed minimum standards for bullying prevention policies and procedures. The proposed minimum standards are available on the TEA Student Discipline webpage. Public comments will be accepted April 1 through April 30, 2022, and should be submitted to StudentDisciplineSupport@tea.texas.gov with the subject line, “Minimum Standards Public Comment.”
  • ESSER Annual Performance Reporting update: The online system for LEAs to complete this reporting requirement will now close on Monday, April 18, 2022. For help, Visit the TEA ESSER Program page and access recorded trainings and videos on the Grant Compliance and Administration Playlist on the TEA YouTube Channel.
  • Part 1 of the CCMR tracker was released last week. The CCMR Tracker is a tracking tool within the TEA Login (TEAL) Accountability application. This tool provides districts with an early preview of CCMR status for students who were in grades 9-12 during the 2021–22 school year. The CCMR Tracker does NOT contain results from the 2021–22 school year as those data have yet to be reported.
DOE & National Updates
  • The Biden Administration is proposing changes that would make it harder for charter schools to get start-up grants from the federal government. While many charter school supporters welcomed the tougher restrictions placed on for-profit charters, they remained concerned that some parts of the proposal would make it difficult for nonprofit charters to qualify for grant funding. More here.
  • The Biden Administration also unveiled their proposed 2023 Department of Education discretionary budget calling for an increase to $88.3bn, including a $1 billion investment to increase the number of counselors, nurses, school psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals in schools.
  • In a letter last week, Education Secretary Cardona urged schools to protect students with disabilities saying, “To meet the requirements of federal disability rights laws, for example, schools may require teachers and peers to mask around higher-risk students, even if there isn’t a school-wide requirement to do so. As we enter this next phase of pandemic response, we urge schools to lead with equity and inclusion to ensure all students have access to in-person learning alongside their peers.”

[CallOutBox bgcolor=”orange”]Texas Fact of the Week

In the 1950s, archaeologists found some of the oldest human remains and tools just 6 miles southwest of Midland, now called the Midland Site. They found a fossilized skull and point used for hunting believed to be in existence long before the Apache and Nde’isdzan, dated back to 11,000 years old or around the Ice Age. Marfa Public Radio has more on the Midland Site and the rest of the Llano Estacado here. [/CallOutBox]

Important Dates
  • April 5-8 – SBOE scheduled regular meeting
  • Wednesday, April 27 – Texas Commission on Virtual Ed meeting
  • Friday, April 29 – SBEC meeting
Articles of Interest

Check out more and Subscribe to Amanda List TX Legislative Updates here. 

There is no time like the present for charter school leaders to carve out space for self-care and professional, like-tasked inspiration. If it seems impossible to find this time, all the more reason to give it a dedicated go! We, your friends at Charter School Capital (CSC), make it easier to find just this charter school leader-based encouragement, by curating this hand-picked list of podcasts and other media. 

In order to help you get where you’re going, we aim to support charter revolutionaries, like you, with sourcing best practices, informative interviews, and even some laughs –  from like-minded and like-tested charter school-leading peers. Even if the podcasts are subject- or state-based, the content itself transcends those lines. Check out our list: 

Podcasts for Charter School Leaders:
Charter School Superstar

Ryan Kairalla hosts this series of interviews with teachers, administrators, policymakers, and other education revolutionaries. Topics include enrollment, school safety, mental health, community engagement, and so much more.

Charter Central Podcast

While based in Michigan, this podcast is valuable for charter school leaders because they discuss many relevant topics, regardless of location. Topics include LGTBQ+, special education, the impact of the pandemic on student growth, and social-emotional learning.

CharterNation Podcast

Produced by the California Charter School Association, this podcast focuses on all of their conversations around California charter schools. Host Ana Tintocalis covers numerous data, research, and other current events – to interviews with charter school administrators and educators.

SC Charter Chatter

This podcast focuses on best practices and hot topics in South Carolina. They go in-depth on Black History Month, marketing, audits, and finding funding. This is a great podcast for charter school leaders even if you don’t live in South Carolina. We here at CSC can help with avoiding fumbled audits and finding funding, too.

Providing Choice: A Florida Charter School Alliance Podcast

The Florida Charter School Alliance hosts this podcast and tackles dual enrollment, school safety, professional development, and digital tools. They talk with school leaders, teachers, students, and government officials about what is going on in charter schools and with state policies.

Podcasts for Everyday Inspiration:
The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

John Spencer tackles the everyday classroom. From PBL to learning loss to storytelling in education; this podcast is relatable for the teachers in your charter school.

The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast

With a focus on middle and high school classrooms, Betsy Potash focuses on teaching strategies and creative ideas for English teachers. She covers topics like building a classroom library, annotation, and novel activities. Betsy will give fresh inspiration to your English classrooms.

Black Educators Matter

With a goal of sharing 500 stories of Black Educators, each episode features different administrators, teachers, and other Black school leaders. They share stories of struggles and triumphs. This is an important and encouraging podcast.

Let’s K-12 Better!

Amber and her children sit around the kitchen table and discuss topics from a parental and student point of view. They discuss lots of things, from being a digital native to the importance of community to feelings about school librarians. This is a great podcast for teachers, administrators, and parents alike!

[CallOutBox bgcolor=”orange”]Speaking of self-care, did you know that Headspace offers free teacher subscriptions? This is a highly valuable way for both charter school administrators and teachers to get a mental health break. [/CallOutBox]

The Mindful Kind

While this podcast is not necessarily focused on education, Rachael Kable talks each week about how to deal with your emotions. This is a great way to add some self-care to your schedule.

CSC Clients who Pod

Some of our favorite charter school leaders are podcasters!

  • Robert Marshall, from Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis, joined an episode of The Tevin Studdard Show to talk about his middle school’s role in Indy’s public school ecosystem.
  • David Hardin from Aurum Prep joined the conversation at SoBEO Rants – a podcast for influential Black leaders in Oakland.
  • Bob Bourgault from Almond Acres chatted with Adam from Up & Adam in the Morning to talk about the Paso mask mandate changing, school board meetings, and their brand new K-8 charter school building.

As for us, your friends at Charter School Capital, we care deeply about the issues and challenges in and outside charter classrooms. We help with many challenges hitting your sphere today – avoiding fumbled audits, boosting and retaining enrollments, finding your school’s forever home, and the ongoing mental health challenges facing every charter school. With free on-demand webinars, e-books, printable resources, and an Enrollment Marketing team – we are here for YOU!

Do you have any podcasts you would add to this list? Leave us a comment or join the conversation on Twitter @GrowCharters. We’d love to hear from you!

Dr. Gregory Poland

Charter School Capital will be hosting a webinar on COVID-19 Vaccines (and their impact on charter schools) Tuesday, November 10 at 9am PST (Noon EST) with Dr. Gregory Poland, M.D. FIDSA, MACP, FRCP.

You can register here

Dr. Poland is a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a distinguished investigator of the Mayo Clinic, director of the Mayo vaccine research group and editor-in-chief of the professional journal VACCINE.

Earlier this spring, we were honored to host a webinar with Dr. Poland, providing an assessment of the pandemic at that time with figures on morbidity, speed, and contagion as compared to other infectious diseases. With the aim to prepare charter school leaders for what would come soon after, in regards to school re-openings, social-distancing learning environments , and in many cases, virtual learning environments.

Now, over seven months later, we’re seeing the challenges of this “new normal” and, to a large extent, we’re all holding our breath and waiting for what may come next.

Recently, Dr. Poland spoke of the dangers of the “twindemic” – the combination of dangers from COVID-19 and influenza as temperatures drop toward winter.

All these things considered, we’re bringing back Dr. Poland to speak about the current state of the pandemic, focusing especially on vaccines.

In this new webinar, Dr. Poland will be clearing confusions as to the current anticipated vaccine timeline.

Even as vaccines become available, the questions abound. Will the vaccines have lasting effects? Lifetime immunity? Will they be effective in most cases? How fast-acting could we expect them to be?

And in terms of schools and the 2020-2021 school year, what potential impact could we expect these vaccines to have?

This is highly dependent on distribution pipelines, points of access, propensity of populations to seek out vaccination and reluctance of certain demographics to get vaccinated.

This webinar is important not only in the context of schools and students; the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us, causing disruption to all of us, causing heavy health effects to many, and causing fatalities in many communities.

Register now, and tune in Tuesday,November 10 at 9am PST (Noon EST) as Dr. Poland delves into these topics and sheds light on this most-timely topic.

Register here

Preparing school for reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic

As schools reopen and students once again fill the nation’s classrooms (physically and remotely), charter schools in all states are facing the challenging task of keeping kids safe.

We’ve assembled a list of resources – from the NEA, the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools and from other authoritative sources – all designed to empower charter school leaders to make sound decisions and put effective measures in place to create safe environments.

As we pore through these materials, several key pieces of guidance emerge:

  • Prepare the school campus for physically-distanced learning
    • Smaller groups per classroom,
    • Barriers and distance markers in place,
    • Plenty of sanitizer and cleaning tools available,
    • Improvements to air circulation and indoor air quality
  • Set up protocols for contingencies
    • What to do if a teacher or staff shows symptoms,
    • What to do if a student shows symptoms or tests positive,
    • What to do if the school needs to close again.
  • Empower teachers and students with the right tools
    • Ensure there’s PPE, sanitizer, cleaning stations
  • Set up protocols and educate students to follow these
    • Teach students to avoid physical contact,
    • Teach students not to share phones, toys, books, etc.,
    • Teach students to properly keep physical distance

Additionally, guidance includes aspects of social equity and inclusiveness.

  • Ensure all remote students have access to the proper equipment and connectivity,
  • Ensure special-needs students have needed accommodations,
  • Ensure masks don’t impede hearing-impaired students from understanding teachers

This is not an inclusive list. Please refer to this previous post for links to comprehensive sources. What we aimed to accomplish in this post is to give you a contextual view of the areas to address, and key things to keep in mind.
Also, depending on how badly-affected the area and city around the school might be, measures would of course become more stringent. The goal is to facilitate learning while doing our utmost to protect the health of our students.

We hope this has been helpful. Make sure to click here for more.

Most charter schools need an upgrade to their HVAC to avoid COVID-19 airborn particles to cause spread of infection

Schools all over the United States are abuzz with discussions about reopening. How to reopen safely, how to implement physical barriers, how to allocate space for proper social distancing, how to stagger classes, how to accommodate for virtual learning.

In this commotion a key component for student health and safety is the issue of air ventilation.

America’s school buildings are old (on average 42 years old). And while an aging school building can cause hazards in several areas, nothing compares to the threat posed by Coronavirus in buildings with poor air ventilation.

A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office states that a full 41 percent of school districts need to update or replace their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) in at least half of their schools.

We urge school leaders to be proactive in addressing the quality of air ventilation in their school building/s.

A great place to start is a consultation with an HVAC expect.

Charter School Capital has teamed up with BioStar Renewables to help school leaders improve the air quality in their schools.

Learn more at our upcoming Webinar on August 26!

As charter schools across the country confront the challenges related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Education pulled together a list of COVID-19 resources that can guide your school’s response. We’ve provided the list of resources below. You’ll also find resources for parents seeking educational activities for their children too.

CDC Guidelines for Schools
Additional Resources for Elementary and Secondary Schools
Additional Resources
At-Home Activities

Please note that the materials presented below concerning resources available on a number of Federal agencies’ websites are being provided for your convenience as a potential resource for parents, students, schools, teachers, and other educators to use during this challenging time. They were not developed by the U.S. Department of Education, and we do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information. Furthermore, the inclusion of any hyperlinks and the content presented is not intended to convey their relative importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered. The Department does not control, direct, or encourage any particular curriculum or the information related to the curriculum. The use of materials or information by a school or educator is strictly a State and local matter.

Department of Defense: Learn about careers in STEM fields

Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics: Kids’ Zone

Department of Energy: Games and Activities; Virtual Field Trips to National Energy Labs

Environmental Protection Agency: Games, Quizzes, and Videos about the Environment

The Library of Congress: Presentations and Activities to Help Students Learn about History

NASA: Interactive Lessons about Space, Earth, Solar System and Universe;  Lessons from Astronauts about Living in Space;  STEM Activities for Students of All Ages

The Kennedy Center:  Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems; Tour the Kennedy Center with The Pigeon

The Smithsonian: Free Smithsonian STEM Games and Simulations; Meet the Animals of the National Zoo; 3D Exhibits and Virtual Tours; Smithsonian Magazine Ten Museums You Can Virtually Visit; The Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour; Digital Smithsonian American Art Museum; Distance Learning Resources

NOAA: Use Real-Time Ocean Data to Explore the Environment

USGS: Learn from Home About Physical science, Geography and Maps

Schools should continue promoting everyday disease prevention strategies:
  • If you are sick, stay home from school.
  • Avoid close contact with those who are already sick.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or the crook of your arm.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Consult this web page for further guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

Schools can share relevant CDC fact sheets to help students, families, and staff understand COVID-19 along with steps they can take to protect themselves:

The Department of Education regularly updates its list of resources and information. They’ve also encouraged school leaders to send questions on which the Department can be helpful to the following email address: COVID-19@ed.gov.

For charter school leaders, the news isn’t heartwarming: States are now collectively projecting spending cuts over the next few years in the neighborhood of $500 billion. 

As Daerel Bernette II from EdWeek put it, “Almost half of the nation’s 13,000 school districts may be forced to make the deepest cuts to education spending in a generation—slashing programs and laying off hundreds of thousands of administrators, teachers and other staff—to fend off financial collapse brought on by the coronavirus.”

Reduced tax revenues across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic will potentially result in deferrals, delays, and reductions in state payments for charter schools. And states more reliant on tax revenues not connected to property taxes may face even starker choices as taxes from other sources—sales tax as people spend less, tourism taxes as people travel less—dry up.

As charter leaders navigate the next few months, one recent guide post came from Nathan Barrett, the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation at National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. In his brief entitled COVID And Education Finance: Acting During the Impending Fiscal Downturn, he noted…

“The uncertainty and impending fiscal challenges will require careful planning and execution. They will also require the ability to make thoughtful but quick course corrections should fiscal realities fail to meet projections. While all schools will be affected, charter schools are of interest because of their unique position in public education, the policies under which they operate, and the fact that they disproportionally serve students who are potentially at greater risk of disruptions because of the pandemic.”

As we’ve done throughout this crisis, Charter School Capital wants to ensure charter school leaders have the best advice possible. And tomorrow, we will continue that work by welcoming Mr. Barrett from National Alliance for an hour-long webinar to help leaders prepare a charter school safety net.

Joining him will be Ricardo Mireles, Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based charter school Academia Avance, who navigated his charter school through the Great Recession. Our VP of Business Services, Tricia Blum, will host Mr. Mireles and Mr. Barrett. 

Watch this recorded webinar now!

WATCH NOW

COVID-19 relief funding image for blog post

The innovation, resilience, and passion we’ve seen from charter school leaders facing the COVID-19 crisis is setting the bar for what it means to serve students today.

You’ve inspired us and we want to help.

The most valuable things we have to offer are immediate access to funds, a financial safety net, and our passionate support. The best way we can think of doing that is to give charter schools the use of our money and resources for free for the rest of 2020.

Free financing for the rest of 2020. No costs, no fees, no interest. You pay zero.

We will provide one month of your school’s revenue in your account now, to access as you need, at no cost through the remainder of the calendar year.
For those facing immediate cash needs, we’re committed to delivering the funding quickly – in as few as five days from application completion.
You can take advantage of our expertise, network, information, and advice that our clients get for free, with rapid access to additional funds as we move through this disruption and into the coming school year. We are here to support you as you lead your students, teachers, teams, and communities into 2021.

Call or click today to access the Free Financing program. Call us at 503-227-2910, email us directly at growcharters@charterschoolcapital.com, or go to charterschoolp.wpengine.com/COVID to get started.

In this together,
Stuart Ellis

charter school policy

Charter School Policy: A 50-State Comparison

Editor’s Note: This is a great resource on charter school policy that was published on January 20, 2020. It is from the Education Commission of the States and compares charter school policies and how they align or differ across the 50 states. Education Commission of the States is the trusted source for comprehensive knowledge and unbiased resources on education policy issues ranging from early learning through postsecondary education.

We think it’s vital to keep tabs on the pulse of all things related to charter schools, including informational resources, and how to support school choice, charter school growth, and the advancement of the charter school movement as a whole. We hope you find this—and any other article we curate—both interesting and valuable.

50-State Comparison: Charter School Policies

Charter schools are semi-autonomous public schools that receive public funds. They operate under a written contract with a state, district or other entity (referred to as an authorizer or sponsor). This contract — or charter — details how the school will be organized and managed, what students will be expected to achieve, and how success will be measured. Many charter schools are exempt from a variety of laws and regulations affecting other public schools if they continue to meet the terms of their charters.

Charter school laws vary from state to state and often differ on several important factors, such as who may authorize charter schools, how authorizers and charter schools are held accountable for student outcomes, and whether charter school teachers must be certified.

Currently, 45 states and the District of Columbia have charter school laws. West Virginia’s charter school laws, created in 2019, are the newest.

Education Commission of the States has researched charter school policies in all 50 states to provide this comprehensive resource, updated January 2020. Click on the questions below for 50-State Comparisons, showing how all states approach specific charter school policies. Or view a specific state’s approach by going to the individual state profiles page.

50-State Comparisons

Charter School Basics

 Charter School Applications

 Charter School Authorizing

Charter School Autonomy and Accountability

Charter School Funding

 Charter School Teachers

 Virtual Charter Schools

Related Resources

Charter School Capital logoSince the company’s inception in 2007, Charter School Capital has been committed to the success of charter schools. We help schools access, leverage, and sustain the resources charter schools need to thrive, allowing them to focus on what matters most – educating students. Our depth of experience working with charter school leaders and our knowledge of how to address charter school financial and operational needs have allowed us to provide over $2 billion in support of 600 charter schools that have educated over 1,027,000 students across the country. For more information on how we can support your charter school, contact us. We’d love to work with you!

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