Recorded April 25, 2024 | Governing for Greatness Series

Discover why strategic planning is more than just a document — it’s about actionable strategies that drive lasting change. Learn the importance of diverse voices in the process and how both governing boards and school leaders, both with a wide range of responsibilities, play crucial roles in bringing a vision to life. Don’t miss out on unlocking the true potential of strategic planning!

The National Charter Schools Institute is thrilled to join Dr. Bernadine Futrell, Assistant Secretary for Equity and Discretionary Grants and Support Services, and Dr. Anna Hinton, Director Parental Options and Improvement, both from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education. This exciting webinar, in which the Institute, along with its partners…

Do you ever dream of being part of a diverse and dynamic team that is all-in on making education work better for our kids and our country? If so, we need to connect. We are the National Charter Schools Institute. A non-profit working to change the arc of education. KIDS! are the WHY behind all…

March 28, 2024 | Governing for Greatness Series Safe schools start with a focus on creating an authentic school climate that puts students first. Join Wendy Larvick, Institute Director of Policy & Partnerships, as she talks with Raihan Akther, Ed.S., Principal, Bridge Academy West, and Chris White, Ed.D., Director of Assessment and Evaluation, Central Michigan…

Recorded February 22, 2024 | Governing for Greatness Series Successful schools have strong boards and great leaders. We believe it is critically important to establish roles and responsibilities between the chief executive and the board. Boards that govern for greatness understand that management’s role in the budget development process is mission critical. Join us for…

See how Grand Valley State University and ​Flint Cultural Center Academy work together to advance education. Download Resource Watch the Featurette of the Flint Cultural Center Academy

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Virtual Convening: April 3, 2024 Back to 2024 A-GAME Convenings This A-GAME Convening aims to explore the transformative power of Indicators of Distress (IoD) in shaping sustainable educational practices. Too often, we wait for schools to fail to identify them for improvement strategies. What would happen if schools could identify and address potential concerns before…

Virtual Convening: February 14, 2024 Back to 2024 A-GAME Convenings Presentation Deck from February 14, 2024 Download PDF Watch the inaugural session of A-GAME’s season of convening, where we delve into the fascinating origin story of “Indicators of Distress” (IoD). Under the overarching theme, “Refining Quality, Empowering Change for All Students: Transforming Educational Measures, Frameworks,…

Recorded January 25, 2024 | Governing for Greatness Series One could argue that the most important aspect of board governance is ensuring that the students in your school are learning. Everyone wants to ensure that students are actually learning in their school. Join the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer, Mary Bradley, as she talks with Kelli Booth, Executive…

A-GAME 2024 Winter & Spring A-GAME Convenings Redefining Quality, Empowering Change: Transforming Education through Disruption, Equity, and Innovation. This year, the A-GAME is focusing on disrupting traditional notions of quality in education to be student-centered, challenging existing frameworks, and advocating for transformation and innovation that benefit all students. We invite you to join us as…

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Play Video The A-GAME has partnered with WestEd to provide authorizers with Indicators of Distress (IoD), an early warning system that can aid authorizers in recognizing the signs of distress in schools before it is too late. Here is a sneak peek from WestEd’s Dr. Aimee Evan as she shares how the Early Indicators of…

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Watch the full oral history of Harold J. Brubaker:

More from Ember Reichgott Junge: https://charterlibrary.org/library/ember-reichgott-junge-bio/

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Effective charter school board members know they represent both the public and the school they serve. This involves strong communication skills and the ability to tell their school’s special story. Hear about best practices and learn how you might best promote your school as an advocate and ambassador by joining Institute Director of Policy &…

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Effective boards prepare a financial plan to ensure a school’s mission will be met and take the time to regularly evaluate their school’s financial performance. Join Institute President & CEO, Dr. Jim Goenner, and Charter School Business Management Inc., Founder & CEO, Raj Thakkar, as they discuss how boards can provide sound fiscal oversight and keep…

Now is the time to ensure board members are focused on ensuring next school year’s budget supports the strategic direction of the school. Join us for this session of the Board Network Governing for Greatness series where we’ll dive deeper into questions from last month. Join Fulton Breen, Senior Director, Afton Parners, and Mary Bradley,…

Understanding how a charter school’s goals and mission align for the best outcomes for kids is a key responsibility for a charter school board. Strategic planning provides an overall framework to help a board ensure the mission is accomplished. Listen to some practical ways board members do this work by joining Mary Bradley, the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer, as she talks with…

Adjust practices for changing times. While school buildings are closed, teaching, learning and leading continued. How should boards or management companies adjust their practices to reflect an environment where most of what the school leader does is accomplished remotely? Learn some tips and tricks from Stephanie Hargens and Mark Weinberg to ensure your evaluation process…

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2024 In-Person A-GAME Convening May 2-3 | Chicago, IL Day Hour Minute Second REGISTRATION FEE $299, includes hotel room at Arlo Chicago, two meals, and a reception DATE & TIME Thursday, May 2, 12:00 pm – Friday May 3, 3:00 pm CDT LOCATION Summit Executive Center 205 N. Michigan Ave. on the 10th floor, Chicago,…

2024 In-Person A-GAME Convening May 2-3 | Chicago, IL Day Hour Minute Second REGISTRATION FEE $299, includes hotel room at Arlo Chicago, two meals, and a reception DATE & TIME Thursday, May 2, 12:00 pm – Friday May 3, 3:00 pm CDT LOCATION Summit Executive Center 205 N. Michigan Ave. on the 10th floor, Chicago,…

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In today’s world, safety and security in schools is paramount, but the key for school leaders is to think differently about what strategies best serve their environment versus continuously adopting the latest trends. Watch Institute President & CEO Jim Goenner as he talks to Mark Paliszewski, Managing Director at Recon Management Group LLC, about how school leadership can be strategically…

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The National Charter Schools Institute is seeking an experienced, high functioning, results-oriented Partner Support Specialist to join our team. This person will help us develop and grow a dynamic array of tools and services strategically designed to strengthen performance and productivity in the education sector and across the organization. The ideal candidate will have a…

Back to A-GAME Videos The A-GAME Convened at NACSA in October 2022 to discuss the role of academic oversight to incentivize schools to create not only good mathematicians and readers but also financially literate, socially mobile, and thoughtful citizens. Listen to the ideas shared by some of the most thoughtful leaders in education today. More…

Back to A-GAME Videos The A-GAME Convened at NACSA in October 2022 to discuss the role of academic oversight to incentivize schools to create not only good mathematicians and readers but also financially literate, socially mobile, and thoughtful citizens. Listen to the ideas shared by some of the most thoughtful leaders in education today. More…

Back to A-GAME Videos The A-GAME Convened at NACSA in October 2022 to discuss the role of academic oversight to incentivize schools to create not only good mathematicians and readers but also financially literate, socially mobile, and thoughtful citizens. Listen to the ideas shared by some of the most thoughtful leaders in education today. More…

Back to A-GAME Videos The A-GAME Convened at NACSA in October 2022 to discuss the role of academic oversight to incentivize schools to create not only good mathematicians and readers but also financially literate, socially mobile, and thoughtful citizens. Listen to the ideas shared by some of the most thoughtful leaders in education today. More…

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Join our Community and change your practice by working with other authorizing professionals who are committed to creating better schools for ALL students by designing authorizing practices that are transparent, community-driven, rigorous, and inclusive for all. Whether you are fully immersed in Design Thinking and have attended our previous Authorizing for All sessions, or are…

See what NACSA has to say about A-GAME, in their article “Supplementing, Not Replacing: How Multiple Measures Work” Read Article!

The A-GAME Community is now welcoming new members! It took a country overcome by a pandemic, divided by politics, and distracted by social media for many of us to realize that schools are responsible for much more than teaching reading, writing and math. Charter school authorizers have the opportunity to influence how schools support their…

Back to A-GAME Documents Assessing an AEC for Renewal This rubric provides an example of how authorizers can assess an application to renew an alternative charter, and is consistent with the guidance and recommendations put forth in the A-GAME’s Measuring Quality: A Resource Guide for Authorizers and Alternative Schools. Download PDF Join an Engaging Community!…

Back to A-GAME Documents Evaluating a New AEC Applicant This rubric provides examples of how authorizers can rate applications to open an alternative charter school and is consistent with the guidance and recommendations put forth in the A-GAME’s Measuring Quality: A Resource Guide for Authorizers and Alternative Schools. Download PDF Join an Engaging Community! More…

Back to A-GAME Documents Measuring Quality: A Resource Guide for Authorizers and Alternative Schools For charter school authorizers, alternative education campuses can be a challenge, as students tend to be highly mobile, are chronically absent, and are often years behind in academic learning. Therefore, data is scarce and not reflective of all students enrolled by…

Back to A-GAME Videos With traditional assessments unavailable, authorizers and schools are looking for new ways to measure quality. Join a session to learn about the Advancing Great Authorizing and Modeling Excellence (A-GAME) initiative on creating responsive goals based on student population. Focusing on alternative education campuses, 50 authorizers collaborated over the past year to…

Back to A-GAME Documents Minding the Gap: How State Policies Can Create Conditions for Innovation in Alternative Education Accountability Minding the Gap is a resource to help state education agencies, charter school authorizers, leaders of alternative education campuses, policy-makers, and researchers understand how states are balancing the demand for rigorous public accountability with the diversity…

Back to A-GAME Documents Better Goals. More Learning. Using Student (re)Engagement Levels to Create Meaningful Goals and Measures A-GAME originally set out focusing exclusively on measuring the quality of alternative education campuses (or AECs). Members joined as they were frustrated by accountability systems that rely on traditional measures, because they don’t tell the whole story. Schools…

Back to A-GAME Documents Workforce Readiness Evaluation Rubric This tool was developed by New Legacy Charter School in collaboration with the Colorado Charter Schools Institute and A-GAME and can be used as a student self-evaluation, advisor observation, and a worksite evaluation tool. As a workforce readiness evaluation tool, the rubric can evaluate how students feel…

Back to A-GAME Documents College and Career Readiness Flow Chart The Los Angeles County Offce of Education (LACOE), in collaboration with two of the county’s authorized alternative charter schools, DaVinci RISE and the North Valley Military Institute, used the A-GAME process to add more college and career-ready opportunities than are currently recognized by the state in its…

Back to A-GAME Documents Responsive Goals Directory Are you searching for responsive goals for student populations, national situtations, or changes in data availability? A-GAME will help you get back on your “A-GAME”. Over the 2020-2021 school year A-GAME worked with 10 charter school authorizers and their alternative education campuses (AECs) to create over 100 unique…

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Back to A-GAME Videos In How A-GAME can Work with All Schools, school leaders of alternative education campuses respond to the question on how all schools should be measured. They discuss that each school has a different mission, course offering, and approach and that this should be considered when evaluating the school’s impact. More A-GAME…

Back to A-GAME Videos Hear from school leaders about the impact A-GAME has had on their relationship with their authorizer, their ability to align their accountability goals with staff goals and to finally have charter goals that measure what matters. More A-GAME Videos

Back to A-GAME Videos Hear from charter authorizers about how they incorporate social emotional development in their oversight frameworks and school goals. They respond to school involvement in choosing the assessment, the rollout process, and how the data can inform schools in turn around or recovering from a low academic year. They speak to the…

Back to A-GAME Videos In the Higher Standards video, school leaders react to the question about whether Responsive Goals, which do not rely on state assessment proficiency rates and other federally recognized accountability measures, as lowering standards. The leaders respond how they feel that responsive goals, that measure ALL students, actually raise the standards. More…

Back to A-GAME Videos In the Innovative Measures video, hear from school leaders about the types of measures and methods of differentiation they, with their authorizer, developed using the A-GAME process to capture student academic growth and social-emotional learning. These measures go beyond what is currently used by states and authorizers to determine school quality….

Back to A-GAME Videos In the Innovative Measures video, hear from school leaders about the types of measures and methods of differentiation they, with their authorizer, developed using the A-GAME process to capture student academic growth and social-emotional learning. These measures go beyond what is currently used by states and authorizers to determine school quality….

Back to A-GAME Videos In the Accountability Disconnect and Defining Quality video, school leaders discuss the disconnect when assessing school quality using the current state and authorizer accountability systems. They discuss the common measures used for capturing student growth and achievement such as proficiency rates on state assessments, four-year cohort graduation rates, truancy or attendance,…

Back to A-GAME Videos Piloting with the hardest schools to measure using traditional measures, the A-GAME came up with a process for school accountability that moves well beyond standardized test results. Meet the trailblazers in this video. More A-GAME Videos

ARE YOU READY TO IMPROVE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS? APPLY TODAY Today more than ever, Michigan’s charter schools need LEADERS. Do you know someone who has what it takes? Are they ready to begin a program that will help build their skills? The National Charter Schools Institute provides a unique program to support and prepare new…

New Resources! Principal Pipeline Study Through a self-study by five charter management organizations across the country, the Institute and The Wallace Foundation collaborated to bring you the research behind the importance of developing and supporting school principals. This work has the potential to impact more than 250,000 students in 22 states. Play Video Uplift Education September 2021 Session:…

Join us for a conversation on developing stronger relationships with your boards and learn more about the Board Network. Recorded June 6, 2022.

Join us for a conversation on the importance of strong governance and strategic leadership and learn more about the Board Network. Recorded May 31, 2022.

Join Your Community of Changemakers During the Alliance Conference! Join the A-GAME Community of Changemakers in D.C.! During this in-person session, we will share ideas on how to create the environment for change with your schools, boards and districts. June 22, 2022 | 9 – 11 am Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Room 204A Washington,…

TAKE THE STEP TO GIVE MORE BACK APPLY TODAY Today more than ever, Michigan’s charter schools need LEADERS. Do you know someone who has what it takes? Are they ready to begin a program that will help build their skills? The National Charter Schools Institute provides a unique program to support and prepare new school…

Training. Resources. Community. APPLY TODAY Today more than ever, Michigan’s charter schools need LEADERS. Do you know someone who has what it takes? Are they ready to begin a program that will help build their skills? The National Charter Schools Institute provides a unique program to support and prepare new school leaders. With a strong…

Join the A-GAME Community! Network with fellow authorizers and learn how you can access resources that will help you develop goals that measure what matters. Annual membership per organization is $495. There is no limit to the number of participants within your organization. Join the A-GAME community by February 17 to participate in the 2022 Spring…

Join the A-GAME Community! Network with fellow authorizers and learn how you can access resources that will help you develop goals that measure what matters. Annual membership per organization is $495. There is no limit to the number of participants within your organization. Join the A-GAME community by February 17 to participate in the 2022 Spring…

Play Video Join the A-GAME Community! Network with fellow authorizers and learn how you can access resources that will help you develop goals that measure what matters. Annual membership per organization is $495. There is no limit to the number of participants within your organization. Join the A-GAME community by February 17 to participate in the…

Join the A-GAME Community! Network with fellow authorizers and learn how you can access resources that will help you develop goals that measure what matters. Annual membership per organization is $495. There is no limit to the number of participants within your organization. Join the A-GAME community by February 17 to participate in the 2022 Spring…

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Position: CEO/Superintendent At Jackson Preparatory & Early College in Jackson, MI The National Charter Schools Institute is leading the search for Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC) which is seeking a new CEO /Superintendent who has the passion, knowledge and skills to grow and advance its mission. JPEC is an established and successful public school…

Using survey data, this report examines participants’ perceptions of the pilot project process and is intended to provide the A-GAME team with meaningful insights that could guide future resource development and inform sustainability planning beyond the terms of the current grant.  

Safely Maintaining School Operations During COVID-19 Our team wants to help everyone we know adjust easily to the repercussions of COVID-19 and the ever-changing information. We have updated our “Safe School 6: Preparing for Reopening Schools After COVID-19” documents to now fit the schools who need to safely maintain operations. The “Safe School 6: Safely…

Join us virtually for this diversity training! Tensions exist naturally in all social systems. We have been taught to avoid divisive issues and difficult conversations. However, in order to create resourceful communities, we must enhance our ability to explore these tensions. This 3-day webinar (2 hours & 15 minutes per day) will begin with unpacking…

Presented by Darlene Chambers, Ember Reichgott Junge, Wendy Larvick at the 2020 Independent Charter Schools Virtual Conference. Telling stories – not just personal stories, but all forms of narrative – is one of the most common ways we can “awaken emotions” and gain support from our legislators, our parents, our communities and the public at…

The best way to support student learning is when alternative education campuses and authorizers create measurable goals that are responsive to the school’s population and mission. Through the A-GAME process, authorizers and schools are able to identify their school’s unique attributes and determine rigorous standards of achievement for all students, especially the most vulnerable. Join…

There is no more to charter school authorizing than holding a quality standard and ensuring schools are compliant, right? Think again. Learn from the combined 30 years of experience of district, state, and independent authorizers, as they reflect on lessons learned and share what they wish they would have known from the start. They will…

Introducing the A-GAME With traditional assessments unavailable, authorizers and schools are looking for new ways to measure quality. Join a session to learn about the Advancing Great Authorizing and Modeling Excellence (A-GAME) initiative on creating responsive goals based on student population. Focusing on alternative education campuses, 50 authorizers collaborated over the past year to develop…

Mary Bradley and Cindy Schumacher Fiscal insolvency is one of the most common reasons charters close, but does it have to be? With COVID, will we see more schools in financial trouble? How will an authorizer know when a school is headed for challenging times? What role should an authorizer play? Dialogue with the presenters…

Tune in! We’ve got some great sessions at NACSA 2020 This week kicks off the 2020 NACSA Virtual Leadership Conference. Although we would love to see all of you in person, that just isn’t the case this year. Fortunately, as a community, we have the opportunity to advance excellence in education virtually. There are so…

We are here for you! Are you feeling overwhelmed by creating accountability systems for the school year (SY) 2020-21? With schools determining whether they can be on-site or 100% remote, or a combination of both, you, as the authorizer, are trying to determine that students and staff will be safe and that learning will occur. …

Visualize the Difference With the A-GAME Data Tool Dear Friends and Colleagues, The National Charter School Institute and Momentum Strategy & Research are excited to officially announce the A-GAME Data Tool. This interactive data tool is the first of its kind and allows stakeholders to view the typical performance of alternative education campuses (AECs) alone–not…

Dear Friends and Colleagues, The National Charter School Institute and Momentum Strategy & Research are pleased to announce the release of Minding the Gap:How State Policies Can Create Conditions for Innovation in Alternative Education Accountability. Developed by the A-GAME (Advancing Great Authorizing and Modeling Excellence) under a federal Charter Schools Program dissemination grant, Minding the…

Critical Components of Remote Education Plans Authorizing in School Year 2020-21: Ready for Anything! Given that charter schools are generally smaller, and less bureaucratic, they are positioned to respond to and navigate through these unprecedented times nimbly and quickly. Charter school authorizers must also act nimbly and quickly to create the conditions for schools’ governance…

“As the sponsor of the nation’s first charter public school law, I am proud to see the Founders Library gaining momentum. Like chartering, it began with a vision and will grow into a lasting legacy.” EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE | Author, Advocate and former Minnesota State Senator

Preparing School Buildings for Reopening After COVID-19 In challenging times, please know that our team is here to help. We know you are adjusting to the repercussions of COVID-19 and ever-changing information. That’s why our team has created a checklist for preparing school buildings for reopening and is making it publicly available to all. If…

Written by Don Cooper and Ember Reichgott Junge   Public education has been forced by the COVID-19 pandemic to rapidly transform. Simply put, formal rules and professional norms around teaching and learning no longer apply. How educators respond to this challenge impacts all of us. Public education is one of the few unifying institutions that…

Renaissance Public School Academy is making strides to help kids learn how they learn best! We’ve absolutely fallen in love with the heart of this school! #schoolbrag

Written by Ember Reichgott Junge   All eyes are on New Hampshire for the Democratic presidential race. As the candidates barnstorm the state, I wonder how they would answer this question: Would you agree with New Hampshire Democratic lawmakers who recently voted to reject $46 million in federal funding over five years to the New…

The students at Light of the World Academy are dreaming big and making a difference! The caring leadership and teaching team are helping kids discover their gifts, explore new ideas and experience the joy of learning! #schoolbrag

Written by Ember Reichgott Junge   With critical issues like Iran and the U.S. presidential impeachment flooding the national headlines, it is easy to forget the key bread-and-butter, domestic issues important to most families. When was the last time you heard anything about K-12 education on the presidential campaign trail? Back in 1992 when Governor…

TOGETHER we can… “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller Alone we can only do so much. But together we can speak louder, run faster, plan bigger, and accomplish more than we ever thought possible. Together, with a team, we can accomplish anything! What is your dream? What would you want to see accomplished if you had a…

See Your Gift Doubled on Giving Tuesday! Each state has its own unique story about how chartering came to be. Honor the founding pioneers who made chartering possible and blazed paths for others to follow. By supporting the National Charter Schools Founders Library, you can help us capture and celebrate the history of our movement and share…

Epicenter is both a tool for Authorizers and schools–connecting the whole team and providing you with all the tools you need to get the job done! End the paper chase by increasing effectiveness & efficiency in scheduling, assigning, completing, and notifying. Have access to support & resources. Get organized. Know you’re protected with secure search…

Presented at NACSA 2019, Susie Miller Carello and Jim Goenner break down the responsibilities and challenges of the a charter schools authorizer.

The National Charter School Institute and Momentum Strategy & Research have joined forces to create the “A-GAME”: Advancing Great Authorizing & Modeling Excellence to support charter school authorizers measure the quality and effectiveness of alternative education campuses. By sharing best-practices, research, outcome-based targets, and promoting out-side-the-box thinking, the A-GAME is changing the way charter school…

Personal Responsibility | Ray O’Laughlin | TEDxBowlingGreenDo you prefer to manage yourself or do you like to be managed by others? Bring your “who” to your “what” and experience the fulfillment and peace you’ve been longing for. A journey that begins with the person in the mirror and will take you to places you never…

Changing the Game: Education | Jim Goenner | TEDxBowlingGreen Charter school pioneer and Hall of Famer Dr. Jim Goenner challenges the strategies being used to transform education. Through his deeply personal story, he shares how he discovered what’s truly important, and why the path to excellence begins with the heart. A devoted husband and father…

Each Michigan public charter school is governed by an independent team of local leaders who are appointed by the school’s authorizer. When you become a public charter school board member, you take a statewide Constitutional oath of office and become part of a local effort to make a lasting difference in the life of students….

“You’re my hero, because…” “A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” – Hercules During this years art contest we’ve recieved over 1,000 pieces of artwork from K-5 charter schools students in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. We have been inspired by so many amazing…

Written by Ember Reichgott Junge   When my charter school bill finally passed the Minnesota legislature in May 1991, I was devastated. The bill was so compromised I thought a charter school would never happen. The final bill didn’t create alternate sponsors—it required both the local school district and the state board of education to…

Howard Fuller Recites Frederick Douglass after an “Advocates & Implementers” discussion, July 2019.

In a series called “Advocates & Implementers,” we join Ken Campbell and Deborah M. McGriff, Ph.D. as they discuss their experiences with the national charter schools movement. (July 2019)

Jim Goenner talks about “Rethinking Regulation: Modeling Accountability” at the 2019 National Charter Schools Conference

July 1, 2019 | National Charter Schools Conference | James N. Goenner, Ph.D. Promising freedom from stifling bureaucracy and regulation, chartering attracted people eager to blaze trails and challenge the status quo. Now boards and school leaders are becoming frustrated with a multi-layered regulatory system that never seems to be satisfied. Authorizers are being pressured…

It’s time for our Board Policies Services Spring 2019 Update. You can count on our dedicated team to keep your policies up-to-date!

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘what are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King, Jr. We all play an important role in our communities. By getting involved and helping others around us, we not only help make our community stronger but we also better ourselves. We learn to work as a team,…

The Institute is excited to be working with Wisconsin!

History matters. Ideas matter. We’re On the Move and Capturing History at the California State Capitol! The National Charter Schools Founders Library team is collaborating with the Charter Schools Development Center in Sacramento to capture the stories from California’s Pioneers through oral histories and original documents. These will be preserved and made digitally available to…

$2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Education will help improve charter authorizing best practices around the country   MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. – The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement awarded the National Charter Schools Institute (NCSI) a $2.2 million grant over three years to elevate the quality of charter school authorizing…

History Matters. It enables us to learn from the past and better shape our future. We are proud to have launched this project to properly archive and share the history of the charter schools movement; an invaluable asset to present and future leaders working to ensure all kids have access to a quality education. Learn…

A conversation with Caprice Young and Kevin Chavous hosted by the National Charter Schools Institute in Austin, Texas (June 19, 2018). Caprice Young, Chief Executive Officer at Magnolia Public Schools, and Kevin Chavous, President of Academics, Policy, and Schools at K12 Inc., share their life lessons and experiences. Both Caprice and Kevin travel the country…

Since launching the essay contest during National School Choice Week in January, more than 300 Michigan charter school students have shared their stories with us about who their heroes are. We were deeply moved by the essays received. Through these stories, we learned of many, many students who are embracing challenges and beating the odds…

The National Charter Schools Institute is seeking an experienced, high functioning, results-oriented Client Support Specialist to join our team. This person will help us develop and grow a dynamic array of tools and services strategically designed to strengthen performance and productivity in the education sector and across the organization. The ideal candidate will have a…

All students have heroes. In this year’s Michigan Charter Schools Essay Contest, we’re asking middle school and high school students to tell us who their heroes are and why. Is it an inspirational teacher? A courageous parent? Or maybe a faithful friend? Whoever they are, their inspiring stories need to be shared! We want to…

Thank you to all of the charter school students who participated in the 2017 Midwest Charter Schools Art Contest! Over 1,000 students from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin shared drawings of where they would go and how they would get there if they could go “Up, Up, and Away!” Our panel of judges were…

Finding the Right Match: Excelling in Facility and Finance Navigation from National Charter Schools Institute

A superhero. An astronaut. A pilot. UP, up, and away! If you could go “Up, Up, and Away!” where would you go and what would you do? Who would you visit? What would you do once you got there? How would you get there—plane, balloon, spaceship, jet-pack, special wings, or some other way? We want…

The National Charter Schools Institute strives to help school boards and authorizers throughout the country excel. We provide experts with diverse experience in the field of education who have improved charters throughout the nation and who can help your school succeed. Earlier this year we added Bill Pistulka to our team. Pistulka spent his entire…

Spotlight highlights a National Charter Schools Institute team member. This month we highlight Dr. Angie Melhado. Dr. Angelete (Angie) Melhado was the President and CEO of Melhado Consulting Services, LLC. She started her independent educational consulting company in 1999—offering services and assistance to school boards, educational service providers (ESPs), and both traditional and charter schools…

For more videos like this, watch “Ted Talk: A Conversation with Ted Kolderie”

The National Charter Schools Institute strives to help school boards and authorizers throughout the country excel in education. The Institute recently added two professionals to our Board and Authorizer Services team who offer a tremendous and varied skillset and are passionate about working with charter schools. Dustin Sommer recently joined the Institute after five years…

Spotlight highlights a National Charter Schools Institute team member. This month we highlight Fritz Esch, Ph.D. Fritz Esch is an Associate with the National Charter Schools Institute. He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan and raised in Charlotte, Michigan. After high school, he graduated from Hillsdale College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion….

Spotlight highlights a National Charter Schools Institute team member. This month we highlight Peggy Yates. Peggy Yates is an Associate with the National Charter Schools Institute. She grew up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University, a Master of Arts degree from Oakland University, and an honorary…

Ray Bradbury aptly stated that “Without libraries what do we have? We have no past and no future.” At the National Charter Schools Institute, we believe that for charter schools to continue to grow and succeed we need to know and remember our past. That is why the Institute is spearheading The Ember Reichgott Junge…

Great authorizers ensure that the schools they charter deliver results. We have a passion in supporting authorizers because they can be the catalyst for change and excellence in education. We strive to give authorizers the tools so the schools they charter can be innovative and help kids achieve their dreams. Our team, which includes Dr….

Since launching the essay contest during National Schools Choice Week in January, more than 300 Michigan charter school students have shared their stories with us on how their charter schools have helped to prepare them to succeed. Here are the winning stories: High School Winners Middle School Winners High School Winners Middle School Winners

At the National Charter Schools Institute, we know that people choose to serve on charter school boards for many reasons. But one reason that unites everyone is to make a positive difference for kids. It’s why board members give up their time to ensure that budgets are balanced, ask the tough questions about school performance,…

Spotlight will highlight a National Charter Schools Institute team member. This month we highlight Dr. Richard Halik. Dr. Richard J. Halik is an Associate with the National Charter Schools Institute. He was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, and attended the Lansing School District, graduating from Lansing Eastern High School. He attended Lansing Community College…

All students have big dreams. And it’s the work of great schools to make sure they’re prepared academically and with the strength of character to succeed in life. To celebrate National School Choice Week–and how Michigan’s charter schools are getting kids ready for the future–the National Charter Schools Institute and the Michigan Association of Public…

1st Place Winner from Milwaukee WI; Winning Classroom from Romulus MI December 15, 2016 For Immediate Release Contact: Don Cooper (989) 317-3510 The National Charter Schools Institute is proud of the thousands of students who annually attend charter schools throughout the nation, and also of the thousands of parents, teachers, school leaders, and charter school…

A scientist. A musician. An athlete. A doctor. The President of the United States. What do you want to be when you grow up? Since launching the 2016 Midwest Charter Schools Art Contest in September, approximately 2,000 charter school students have shared their self-portraits of their big dreams for their futures. Our panel of judges was inspired by…

November 23, 2016 Contact: Don Cooper For Immediate Release (989) 317-3510 Mt. Pleasant, MI—James N. Goenner, Ph.D., President and CEO of the National Charter Schools Institute, released the following statement today: “Betsy DeVos is an inspiring champion for children and a bold choice for Secretary of Education. “The American entrepreneurial spirit is what has, and…

Governing for Greatness Series – Nov 10, 2016 – INCS Conference from National Charter Schools Institute

A scientist. A musician. An athlete. A doctor. The President of the United States. What do you want to be when you grow up? Dream big! You can be anything that you want when you grow up. With hard work and help from your parents, teachers, and your school, you can get there. Create a picture…

On June 29, 2016, the Institute hosted a group of thought leaders and doers for an insightful conversation with Ted Kolderie, Co-Founder of Education Evolving and an inaugural member of the Charter Schools Hall of Fame. One of the originators of the charter schools idea, Ted is known to “challenge the givens.” He is a…

2016 Charter Schools Essay Contest Winners Announced 1st Place Winners from Oakland County and Kent County May 5, 2016 Contact: Don Cooper For Immediate Release (989) 317-3510 The National Charter School Institute is proud of the thousands of students who annually attend charter schools throughout Michigan, and of the thousands of parents, teachers, school leaders,…

The Center for Education Reform (CER) Innovation Advisory Council at the 2016 ASU-GSV Summit in San Diego, California; April 18-20. Putting The ‘I’ In Ed Reform – A Reset Toward Innovation As we look back on the past 25 years of education reform, how far have we strayed from our goals? Have we kept our focus?…

Abby Marshall 12th grade, Grand River Preparatory High SchoolAuthorized By: Grand Valley State University Read Essay Brogen Harger 11th grade, Charlton Heston AcademyAuthorized By: Lake Superior State University Read Essay Jasmine Teutsch 10th grade, Insight School of MichiganAuthorized By: Central Michigan University Read Essay Honorable mentions Ethen Winright 12th grade, Jackson Prep. & Early CollegeAuthorized By: Jackson…

Aligning for Greatness (at the California Charter Schools Conference) from National Charter Schools Institute

Achievement. Innovation. Top performing. Community. Responsive. College-bound. These are some of the many words that parents, teachers, and students use to describe Michigan’s charter schools and the transformative impact they are having on the lives of students. To celebrate National School Choice Week–and how Michigan’s charters keep winning for kids–the National Charter Schools Institute is…

Governing for Greatness at OCSC from National Charter Schools Institute

25 Years of Chartering: Looking Back to Lead Forward from National Charter Schools Institute

Leading your team to greatness (Ohio july 14, 2015) from National Charter Schools Institute

Constitutional Issues in Public Education: A Legal and Practical Primer from National Charter Schools Institute

Dear Friends and Colleagues, I hope your New Year is off to a great start! One of my resolutions is to update you more regularly on the work we are doing at the Institute to inspire hearts and minds and help organizations win for kids. This month, we will release Epicenter’s new academic and financial dash-boarding…

Leading Your Team to Greatness — Jason Sarsfield — National Charter Schools Institute (Learning Forward 2014 Annual Conference, 12/8/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

  Please accept this invitation to attend our annual breakfast event at NACSA’s 2014 Leadership Conference! Enjoy good food, great friends, an intellectual discussion, a dash of inspiration and a firsthand look at what is happening at the Institute! Wednesday, October 22, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 AM Brickell Room InterContinental Miami 100 Chopin Plaza Miami,…

Powering Performance & Productivity – Dr. James A. Goenner & Jason L. Sarsfield, National Charter Schools Institute (Northern Michigan University, 9/18/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Governing for Greatness – Jason L. Sarsfield & Joseph B. Urban, National Charter Schools Institute (Northern Michigan University, 9/18/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Governing for Greatness – Dr. James Goenner & Jason Sarsfield, National Charter Schools Institute (North Carolina Charter Schools Conference, 7/31/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Leading your Team to Greatness – Dr. James Goenner, National Chater Schools Institute (North Carolina Charter Schools Conference) 7/31/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Purposeful Planning – Board Training (Lake Superior State University) from National Charter Schools Institute

Board Training — Academic Overview (Lake Superior State University) from National Charter Schools Institute

Governing for Greatness – Board Training (Lake Superior State University) from National Charter Schools Institute

Recipe for Replication – Dr. James Goenner & Sheree T. Speakman (National Charter School Conference, 6/30/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Fulfilling the Promise — Dr. James N. Goenner, National Charter Schools Institute (Ferris State University Charter Schools, 5/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute This presentation was delivered by Dr. James N. Goenner at the Ferris State University Charter Schools Twelfth Annual Spring Briefing on May 1, 2014. Dr. Goenner reviewed the achievements of charter schools…

Governing for Greatness – Dr. James Goenner, National Charter Schools Institute (New Jersey Charter School Conference, 4/7/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Leading your Team to Greatness – Dr. James Goenner, National Chater Schools Institute (New Jersey Charter School Confrence 4/7/2014) from National Charter Schools Institute

Governing for Greatness- Dr. James Goenner, National Charter Schools Institute (Texas Charter School Conference 12/2013) from National Charter Schools Institute

Leading Your Team to Greatness- Dr. James Goenner, National Charter Schools Institute (Illinois Network of Charter Schools Presentation 12/2013) f from National Charter Schools Institute

Leading Your Team to Greatness- Dr. James Goenner, National Charter Schools Institute ( Indiana Charter Schools Conference Presentation 11/2013) from National Charter Schools Institute

The National Charter Schools Institute's Breakfast Presentation on Epicenter During NACSA's 2013 Leadership Conference from National Charter Schools Institute

Turning Dreams into Greatness- National Charter Schools Institute & Handley Harper Group (MAPSA 11/2012) from National Charter Schools Institute

Building Great Teams- Dr. James Goenner, National Charter Schools Institute ( NACSA Presentation 8/2012) from National Charter Schools Institute

We’re at the National Charter School Conference in Minneapolis! Wed, June 20th 10:15- 6:45p Visit our booth! It’s 1534. 2:00-3:15p Breakthrough Boards: Governing for Results (James Goenner, Ph.D, Rm 103 DE) If you find yourself agreeing with governance guru John Carver‘s view that, “Boards tend to be incompetent groups of competent individuals,“ then this session…