Best Practices

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E7: Hear from Mike Chalupa & LaShawn Bowser

School as Community A reflection from Mike Chalupa and LaShawn Bowser, City Neighbors Foundation, INC. City Neighbors started with families in a living room asking a question that still guides us: if we could build the best public school experience we can imagine, what would it be. Those families weren’t looking for something exclusive. They…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E7: School as Community | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What happens when a school is built around a simple, demanding belief: students learn best when they are deeply known, fully included, and trusted with real agency. In Season 3, Episode 7 of Bold By Choice Podcast, we travel to Baltimore to visit City Neighbors, a…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E6: Hear from Dr. Matthew Tyson

Neurodiversity in Action A reflection from Dr. Matthew Tyson I grew up moving every few years, living in different states and experiencing very different school systems. What stayed with me was not just the change, but the realization that a child’s educational experience can vary dramatically depending on where they live. Expectations change. Support changes….

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E6: Neurodiversity in Action | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What does it look like when inclusion is not a strategy, a program, or a compliance requirement, but the foundation of a school’s identity. In Season 3, Episode 6 of the Bold By Choice Podcast, we visit Tapestry Public Charter School, a middle and high school…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E5: Hear from Halis Kablan

Think Big. Build Big. A reflection from Halis Kablan When I first joined Beehive Science and Technology Academy nearly twenty years ago, we were a small school serving about 150 students in the basement of an office building. Resources were limited, but our mission was clear. Science and technology education should be for everyone. That…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E5: Think Big. Build Big. | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What does it look like when excellence in STEM education is paired with deep belonging and cultural inclusion. In Season 3, Episode 5 of the Bold By Choice Podcast, we travel to Utah to visit Beehive Science and Technology Academy, a K–12 public charter school proving…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E4: Hear from Steven Palmer

Human First, Excellent Always A reflection from Steven Palmer When I think about the work we do at Valor Collegiate Academies, I always come back to a simple belief. Students are human first, and they deserve schools that honor their full humanity while holding them to the highest expectations. Joining the Bold By Choice Podcast…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E4: Human First Excellent Always | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What becomes possible when a school begins with a simple conviction. Students are human first, and excellence should always be within reach. Season 3, Episode 4 of the Bold By Choice Podcast takes us to Valor Collegiate Academies in Nashville, Tennessee, a network known for its…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E3: Hear from Dr. Sundai Riggins

Designed with Students A reflection from Dr. Sundai Riggins When people ask what makes Inspired Teaching Demonstration School unique, I often return to a simple truth. Our school is not designed for students. It is designed with them. Every part of our model reflects a belief that children are capable, creative, and ready to lead…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E3: Designed with Students | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What happens when a school is not simply built for students, but designed with them. In Season 3, Episode 3 of the Bold By Choice Podcast, we head to Washington, DC to visit Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, a PK–8 public charter school where student voice, joyful…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E2: Beyond College Prep | Overview

In partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition Overview What becomes possible when schools are intentionally designed to bring communities together rather than keep them apart? In Season 3, Episode 2 of the Bold By Choice Podcast, we travel to Rhode Island to explore that question with Sarah Anderson, CEO and Superintendent of Blackstone Valley…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E2: Hear from Sarah Anderson

Beyond College Prep A reflection from Sarah Anderson For most of my career, I have been driven by one question. Who gets access to great schools, and who gets left out? That question is what brought me to Blackstone Valley Prep, and it is what continues to guide our work every day. Serving students from…

Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E1: Hear from Sonia Park & Ashley Heard

Better Together: Inside the Movement for Intentionally Diverse Schools By Sonia Park & Ashley Heard, Diverse Charter Schools Coalition We were grateful for the opportunity to join Season 3 of the Bold by Choice podcast to discuss a belief that guides our work every day. Schools should reflect the world students live in, and intentionally…

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…

Charter Schools Program Grant Support

Whether you’re looking for assistance with strategy, an external review of your policies and practices, or hands-on support with applications, renewals, interventions, or closures, our team is ready to help get the work done.

Revving Up for Renewal

Recorded August 31, 2023 | Governing for Greatness Series

Proactively Planning a Productive Meeting:
Building strong habits helps board chairs ensure highly effective board practice. Join Institute Partner Mark Weinberg as he shares the first of seven habits that boards can strive to implement to ensure productive meetings.

Charter Network Platform

The Charter Network is a professional community for charter school authorizers, boards, schools, and support organizations. Engage with experts, network with peers, access specialized trainings, tools, resources and more.

National Charter Schools Founders Library

The Founders Library’s mission is to capture the history of the charter schools movement for future generations to enjoy and learn from. From the original founders to the present day leaders, history matters!

Strategic Planning in Action

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!

Board Network: Board Training & Community

Whether you’re a board member or someone who works with a board, this national community is for you. By joining, you’ll have access to specialized tools, resources and trainings, along with opportunities to engage and exchange ideas with experts and peers from around the country.

12 Board Responsibilities

Boards that govern for greatness understand management’s role is to execute, and the board’s role is to ensure. Be proactive, ask wise questions and focus on what truly matters. Ensuring your board fulfills these 12 responsibilities will help advance your school towards greatness.