Bold By Choice Summit 2026

The 2026 Bold By Choice Summit brings together educators, families, employers, and community leaders to reimagine what career pathways students need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Join us April 27-29, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E1: Schools That Reflect the World | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What if more schools were intentionally built to look like the world our students are growing into. What if diversity, belonging, and academic excellence served as the foundation of school design rather than separate goals that rarely meet. That vision is at the heart of the…

Thank You to Our Partners!

Excellence is never an accident. It’s the result of people choosing—day after day—to act boldly on behalf of kids. This year, I’ve seen that spirit everywhere: in authorizers raising the bar, boards leaning into their duties, and school leaders refusing to settle for “good enough.” You are the stewards of possibility and the guardians of…

Is Public Education Obsolete?

How Chartering Can Build a Better Future for Students, Educators, and Communities A Tribute to Ted Kolderie at 95 By Jim Goenner, Ph.D. Everything Becomes Obsolete Everything that stops growing and adapting eventually becomes obsolete. Not because it fails, but because the world keeps changing.  The horse did not fail; the car made it unnecessary. Candles did…

Kids Don’t Need a Sector. They Need a Movement.

Movements change what’s possible. Sectors protect what is. By Jim Goenner, Ph.D.Published in CharterFolk | November 2025 I’m grateful to be part of the charter schools movement. We are a group of spirited, strong-willed, opinionated mavericks. We don’t think alike, act alike, or look alike. But we are united by something deeper: a conviction that every child deserves a great education, and the “one best system” is standing in the way…

Kids Don’t Need a Sector. They Need a Movement.

Movements change what’s possible. Sectors protect what is. By Jim Goenner, Ph.D.Published in CharterFolk | November 2025 I’m grateful to be part of the charter schools movement. We are a group of spirited, strong-willed, opinionated mavericks. We don’t think alike, act alike, or look alike. But we are united by something deeper: a conviction that every child deserves a great education, and the “one best system” is standing in the way…

Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E5: Chartering the Frontier

About Season 2 Episode 5: Chartering the Frontier Every region has its trailblazers. In the early 1990s, California and Colorado became unlikely frontiers for the charter school movement. Their laws didn’t pass by chance. They were the product of bold leadership, creative coalition-building, and relentless persistence. California’s story is one of speed, innovation, and unlikely…

Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E4: Charters Go National

About Season 2 Episode 4: Charters Go National Great ideas rarely succeed on vision alone. They need champions. They need strategy. They need leaders willing to ask bold questions and act when the window opens. That’s exactly what happened when the chartering idea began to move from a spark in Minnesota to a national movement….

Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E3: The First Law

About Season 2 Episode 3: The First Law Behind every bold law is a bolder story. In this episode of Bold by Choice, we step into the moment that changed everything—the birth of the first charter school law. It wasn’t a straight path. It wasn’t inevitable. And it certainly wasn’t easy. But it’s in the…

Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E2: Ideas to Action

About Season 2, Episode 2: Ideas to Action “You can’t expect new results from old designs.” Those words capture the essence of Ted Kolderie’s legacy—and the heart of this episode of Bold by Choice Podcast. Kolderie isn’t just another policy thinker. He is a systems designer, a civic leader who challenged us to stop patching…

Supporting Charter School Boards

Improve board onboarding, clarify roles and responsibilities, and monitor board performance as part of your organizational framework. We can help you build systems that reinforce high-quality governance without overstepping your oversight role.

Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E1: The Idea

About Season 2, Episode 1: The Idea Every movement has a beginning. For chartering, it did not start with national policy, but with a bold idea scribbled on paper, shared in speeches, debated in think tanks, and carried into law by people who believed public education could be more than what it was.  In this first episode of…

Is Public Education Obsolete?

How Chartering Can Build a Better Future for Students, Educators, and Communities A Tribute to Ted Kolderie at 95 By Jim Goenner, Ph.D. Everything Becomes Obsolete Everything that stops growing and adapting eventually becomes obsolete. Not because it fails, but because the world keeps changing.  The horse did not fail; the car made it unnecessary. Candles did…

Strategy & Leadership Capacity Building

Whether you’re looking for an external evaluation of your current practices or are new to authorizing and are looking to set up the best systems for your, our team of experienced experts are ready to help. Receive honest, professional, and insightful guidance and resources from experienced authorizers.

Academic, Financial, and Organizational Oversight and Frameworks

We help authorizers develop and implement comprehensive oversight systems and performance frameworks that align with state law and your vision for quality. Ensuring every oversight decision is grounded in data and driven by purpose.

May 2025 A-GAME Gala: Award Winners and Gala Photo

The 2025 A-GAME Award Gala was an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and celebration. Held during the A-GAME Convening in Atlanta, the event brought together visionary authorizers and partner organizations who are leading the way in redefining charter school accountability. With a red carpet welcome, elegant atmosphere, and a powerful spirit of gratitude, the gala…

NCSC25 Photo-Booth & Sessions Gallery

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Booth #606, joined us in a session, or simply said hello in the hallway during NCSC25! Whether you joined us at the Board & Authorizer Homeroom, attended one of our panels, or just popped into the photo booth for a moment of fun—we loved connecting with you. We…

Bold by Choice: Takeaways from the 2025 National Charter Schools Conference (NCSC25)

Orlando, FL | June 29 – July 2 When we boarded our flights to Orlando for the National Charter Schools Conference (NCSC25), our team carried more than just luggage. We brought a mission to guide us: Bold by Choice. This mantra sets the tone for everything we do. It reflects how we show up for…

Board & Authorizer Homeroom at NCSC25

Thank you for starting your day with us at the Board and Authorizer Homeroom at NCSC25! It was a pleasure to connect and engage with leaders like you—people who know and care that chartering is more than policy. It’s a promise we are proving together. We hope you gained bold ideas, wise questions, and new…

New School & Start-Up Support for Boards

If you are seeking best practices or looking for the policies your school must legally adopt, we have what you need. Our policies and procedures are being used on a daily basis in scores of charter schools. Our material is legally grounded, practically tested and user friendly.

Board Retreats

If you are seeking best practices or looking for the policies your school must legally adopt, we have what you need. Our policies and procedures are being used on a daily basis in scores of charter schools. Our material is legally grounded, practically tested and user friendly.