Community Conversations with NACSA

2024 marks a year of growth, innovation, and dedication, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to NACSA’s Change Makers — a group of charter leaders who are making an extraordinary impact in their communities. From reimagining the future of charter schools to championing equity and access for every student, these changemakers are combining innovation with actionable accountability and inspiring others to do the same. Join us as we dive into their stories, explore their visions for the future, and hear how they’re paving the way for a brighter educational landscape. Want to learn more about NACSA's Change Makers? Read our latest blog. qualitycharters.org

86 authorizers, across 30 states and the District of Columbia participated in our 2024 State of Authorizing survey. These authorizers oversee nearly two-thirds of the charter schools in the country and their answers help paint a comprehensive picture of overall trends in the field. In today’s episode, we’ll hear directly from NACSA leaders and authorizers as they grapple with the question—what is the current state of authorizing and where is it headed?Have suggestions for next year's State of Authorizing Survey? Let us know!qualitycharters.org

One of the most important goals of quality authorizing is to create more transparency and access for families to truly understand and engage in the education their children receive. Parents are an integral part of improving our nation’s education system. They play a vital role in their child’s education—and their voices should be heard by those making decisions that have direct implications on their communities and children.Live at NACSACon 2024, Courtney Hughley, Vice President of Communications at NACSA, sits down with Guerschmide Saint-Ange, NACSA’s Chief Operating Officer, and Tricia Noyola, Chief Executive Officer at Rocky Mountain Prep, to discuss how authorizers and parents work together to ensure students are receiving a high-quality education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life. qualitycharters.org

Eric Mahmoud, CEO of Harvest Best Academy in Minneapolis, sits down with his former authorizer and NACSA’s Vice President of Authorizer Learning and Development, David Greenberg, to talk about critical capacities of a charter school founding team. Through concrete examples and anecdotes, this conversation brings to life the importance of several capacities identified by NACSA: reflective learning, creating problem solving, and a healthy relationship with success and failure.Resources:New Charter School ApplicationCapacities of New School Founding Teamsqualitycharters.org

One of the most consequential decisions any authorizer makes for students and communities is whether to approve a new school to open. NACSA’s Vice President of Authorizer Learning and Development, David Greenberg, sits down with Jay Whalen, Director of Authorizer and School Quality to discuss the importance of centering accountability during the new school application process. Special guests:PJ Foehr, Deputy Director at Hawaii State Public Charter School CommissionMia Howard, Managing Partner, Innovative Schools at New Schools Venture FundMabel Lajes-Guiteras, Vice President, Seed at Charter School Growth FundResources: NACSA's New School Application RecommendationsLearn more about accountability and the new school application at NACSACon 2024. Learn more and register today: www.nacsacon.comqualitycharters.org

In this episode of Community Conversations with NACSA, NACSA's President and CEO, Dr. M. Karega Rausch, Vice President of Authorizer and Learning Development, David Greenberg, and Vice President of Policy and Institutional Change, Veronica Brooks-Uy, come together to share why the time to center accountability is now.  Resources mentioned: Principles & StandardsPerformance FrameworksNew School Application Resource and GuidanceBarriers to Innovation: Addressing Policy ChallengesJoin us in Houston, Texas October 21-24 for NACSACon! Learn more and register today. qualitycharters.org

For Mental Health Awareness Month, NACSA examines the role of authorizing and school accountability in ensuring student wellness. To kick-off Season 2 of our podcast, Community Conversations with NACSA, we spoke with Andrea Browning (WestEd), Tricia Noyola (Rocky Mountain Prep), and Dr. John Gasko (Uplift Education), to learn how authorizers and schools can work with communities to ensure access to learning environments that foster social, emotional, and academic success.qualitycharters.org

Tressa Pankovits, Co-Director of Reinventing America’s Schools Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, Priscila Dilley, Senior Officer at the Leadership Academy Network, and Dr. David Saenz, Chief of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at Fort Worth ISD come  together to tell a unique and powerful story.  The partnership between Leadership Academy Network, Fort Worth Independent School District, and Texas Wesleyan University epitomizes using the principles and practices of charter school authorizing to rethink improving public education more broadly. Resources:Leadership Academy Network Texas SB 1882 Partnerships ProgramPPI Report – Putting Students First: Texas’ 1882 Statute Sustains Partnership Schools in Fort Worthqualitycharters.org

NACSA passes the mic to EnTere Ed Collective. EnTere Ed, a space where Black, Brown, and Indigenous authorizers and authorizing-adjacent professionals thrive, aims revolutionize the K-12 charter school education sector by elevating equity, authenticity, and innovation, inspired by historical figures, ancient traditions, and cultural values. Hear directly from the founders of EnTere Ed John Carwell Jr. with the Delaware State Department of Education, and Vashaunta Harris, Executive Coach and founder of V. Harris Enterprises.   They’re joined by special guest Derrick White, Director of School Development & Sustainability at the NACSA Inspired Schools Network.  The group will discuss the importance and inner workings of intersectionality, allyship, and solidarity among all black, brown, and Indigenous communities. Let’s listen.  qualitycharters.org

Veronica Brooks-Uy, NACSA's Vice President of Policy and Institutional Change sits down with Dr. Kelli Peterson, founder of The Ed.ucateD Approach, to discuss the ongoing need for and importance of closing the DEI gap and challenges on the journey.qualitycharters.org

NACSA Vice President of Authorizer and Learning Development, David Greenberg, sits down with Laurie Schroeder (Innovative Quality Schools) and Jason Moore (Buckeye Community Hope Foundation) to discuss the importance of shifting the rigor of the new school application process from paper to people and what they are doing in their offices to accomplish this.Explore NACSA's latest resource, The Capacities of Charter School Founding Teams: How to Identify and Assess for School Success. qualitycharters.org

NACSA’s Vice President of Communications, Courtney Hughley, sits down with Ebony Lee, partner at the Charter School Growth Fund and NACSA board member, and Steven Cruz, communications director at City Fund. Live from NACSACon 2023, Courtney, Ebony and Steven discuss the importance of authorizers using their platforms to tell the story and the work of the free, public and open to all charter schools. qualitycharters.org

NACSA's Director of Strategic Partnerships, Jason Zwara, sits down with Joseph Escobedo, Director of Charter Schools, Albuquerque Public Schools, and David Frank, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Education Policy at the New York State Education Department, to discuss the importance of applying authorizing principles across education.  qualitycharters.org

NACSA’s Director of Authorizer & School Quality, Jay Whalen, sits down with Rafael Simmons, Chief Portfolio Innovation and Accountability Officer at New Orleans Public Schools, and Jeff Wasbes, Executive Deputy Director for Accountabilityat SUNY Charter Schools Institute, to discuss the evolution and future of school accountability. qualitycharters.org

NACSA’s Vice President of Authorizer Learning and Development, DavidGreenberg, sits down with  founder of Venn Education, Dave Hartman, to discuss the importance of making community voices, needs, aspirations, and involvement central to all authorizing decisions.Learn more about NACSA and our mission by visiting https://qualitycharters.org/ and explore the idea of centering communities. qualitycharters.org

NACSA's Vice President of Policy and Institutional Change, Veronica Brooks-Uy,  sits down with NACSA's Chief Operating and Talent Officer, Guerschmide Saint-Ange, to discuss DEI in authorizing and the broader education sector. Access NACSA's toolkit - Closing the DEI Gap in AuthorizingLearn more about charter school authorizing and why it mattersqualitycharters.org

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers' (NACSA) Vice President of Communications, Courtney Hughley, sits down with NACSA President & CEO, M. Karega Rausch, Ph.D., to dispel myths about charter school oversight and accountability. Learn more about NACSA: https://qualitycharters.org/Podcast WebsiteFollow us on socialsTwitter: @QualityChartersLinkedIn: @NationalAssociationofCharterSchoolAuthorizersInstagram: @_nacsaqualitycharters.org