High Expectations, Strong Partnerships: The Buckeye Hope Approach to Authorizing

Lessons from the work of Buckeye Community Hope Foundation By Mary Bradley, Chief Operating Officer, National Charter Schools Institute Authorizers make decisions every day that shape the future of a school. Behind those decisions are performance measures, financial reviews, compliance requirements, policies, and reports, but behind all of those are people: leaders working to build strong…

The Future of Learning and Work Is Being Built Now

The Bold By Choice Summit is bringing together the people shaping what comes next for students, schools, communities, and the workforce.  For every student, there is a moment when school begins to feel connected to something bigger. A future they can picture. Work that feels meaningful. A path that suddenly feels possible. Our responsibility is…

High Expectations, Strong Partnerships: The Buckeye Hope Approach to Authorizing

Lessons from the work of Buckeye Community Hope Foundation By Mary Bradley, Chief Operating Officer, National Charter Schools Institute Authorizers make decisions every day that shape the future of a school. Behind those decisions are performance measures, financial reviews, compliance requirements, policies, and reports, but behind all of those are people: leaders working to build strong…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Finish Strong

Strong boards don’t simply end the year—they reflect, reset, and prepare for what’s next. In this Bold by Choice Boardroom experience, participants will explore how to close the year with…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Built For What’s Next

Preparing students for what comes next requires more than adding a new program or pathway. In this Bold by Choice experience, participants will explore practical lessons emerging from the Future…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Built Before Day 1

Opening a school takes more than completing a checklist. In this Bold by Choice experience, participants will explore what must truly be in place during Year 0 so a school…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Lead Together

Strong boards and strong school leaders do their best work when they lead with clarity, trust, and shared responsibility. In this Bold by Choice Boardroom experience, participants will explore what…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Built to Lead

Great school leadership requires more than managing the day-to-day. In this Bold by Choice experience, participants will explore the leadership capacities that help school leaders navigate people, performance, systems, relationships,…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Go See What the Data Can’t

Data can tell a board a great deal—but it cannot show everything. In this Bold by Choice Boardroom experience, participants will explore how purposeful school visits can deepen a board’s…

Bold By Choice Speaker Series: Give More Than Time

Board service extends far beyond showing up for meetings. In this Bold by Choice Boardroom experience, participants will explore how board members can use their voice, relationships, influence, and generosity…

Bold by Choice: Proving the Promise—Together

The charter schools movement began with a bold idea: What if public education could create more opportunities for students? More than three decades later, that idea has grown into a movement driven by innovation, accountability, courageous leadership, and a commitment to doing what is best for students. Bold by Choice: Proving the Promise—Together explores the…

2026 CS Partners Annual Charter School Conference

The 2026 CS Partners Annual Conference is on the horizon, and we are excited to invite sponsors to be part of this premier event for Michigan’s charter school community. This…

FCSC+SCS 2026

If you are interested in the success of charter schools, private schools, and the choice they give students in Florida, you should attend. Presentations are for authorizers, board members, administrators,…

2026 CSDC Conference

The annual event not-to-be missed by California charter school leaders. The CSDC Conference is your one-stop shop for in-depth content—including the Leadership Update Presentation—relationship building, and connection to the resources…

2026 Arizona Charter Conference

We offer a central professional learning and networking destination for Arizona’s public charter school professionals. Our signature events bring together the school leaders, teachers, policy makers, and partners that play…

Momentum 2026: Annual Oklahoma Charter Schools Conference

Momentum: Advancing Excellence, Choice & Opportunity is the theme of the 2026 Oklahoma Charter Schools Conference, presented by the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board. If one word defines the current…

Don Cooper

Loves education, the sciences, and organizing projects and events.

NACSACON 2026

Join the National Charter Schools Institute and Epicenter teams for meaningful conversations, fresh ideas, and opportunities to connect. Network at our receptions, stop by our sessions or visit us at…

Larry Ricca

Loves education, the sciences, and organizing projects and events.

What if Accountability and Innovation Aren’t Opposites?

Lessons from our work alongside the Colorado Charter School InstituteBy Mary Bradley, Chief Operating Officer, National Charter Schools Institute The Colorado Charter School Institute’s 2026–2029 strategic plan offers a thoughtful model for balancing accountability, school autonomy, and innovation across a diverse portfolio of charter schools. Developed with support from the National Charter Schools Institute, the…