As a leading charter school authorizer, recognized by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), the DC Public Charter School Board has greatly improved student performance, school quality, and access to quality public charter school seats. These best practice resources will help authorizers and school districts improve the practice of authorizing.
Charter school authorizers are entities with three main tasks:
Approve schools who are appropriately authorized
Oversee schools while in operation
Revoke school charters if they fail to meet standards
Because public charter schools have flexibility, authorizers, if using best practice, do not dictate how they operate. Instead, they hold schools responsible for meeting the goals articulated within their charter agreements.
Resources
An Honest Approach to Discipline White Paper
This white paper examines our approach to supporting decreased out-of-school suspension rates and highlights strategies put in place by three DC public charter school networks - Center City PCS, Chavez PCS, and Friendship PCS.
Quality Authorizing Leads to Positive Outcomes For DC Charter School Students
The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB), in partnership with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the research group FSG, released “Transforming Public Education in the Nation’s Capital,” a case study highlighting DC’s strong, effective charter school authorizer practices. “When it comes to school quality and better outcomes for kids, authorizing matters—a lot,” the report states.
We believe the charter promise rests not on two, but on three pillars, including this one that’s often overlooked: access. Access to a good education is why families value charter schools, so it deserves more of our attention. That’s why we’ve been talking with charter school authorizers to understand how expanding and ensuring access is critical to their mission.
Washington Post: "DC graduation fraud? Not in the charter schools"
There is a story of real academic progress in the nation’s capital. It’s the story of the other public schools, the ones educating nearly 50 percent of public school students. It’s the story of DC’s public charter schools.
We believe the charter promise rests not on two, but on three pillars, including this one that’s often overlooked: access. Access to a good education is why families value charter schools, so it deserves more of our attention. That’s why we’ve been talking with charter school authorizers to understand how expanding and ensuring access is critical to their mission.
Overview of Public Education in the Nation's Capital
Sample Performance Management Framework Report
Sample Equity Report
Sample Financial Audit Review Report
Sample Qualitative Site Review Report
Sample Five-Year Charter Review Report
Sample Invitation Letter for Board-to-Board Meeting
Sample Script from Mystery Caller Program