Alliance Issues Principles and Standards for Quality Charter Support Organizations
Posted on: Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 12:00 CDT
To: NATIONAL EDITORS
Contact: Bill Schulz of National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, +1-202-521-2828 (w), +1-240-678-9398 (c), wschulz@publiccharters.org; or Jessica Schwartz Hahn, +1-703-478- 0658 (w), +1-571-239-3260 (c), jessica@peithocom.com, for National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
New Publication Provides a Framework for Achieving Quality at Scale
WASHINGTON, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Continuing its national effort to support and promote high-quality public charter schools, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has released a new publication: Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Support Organizations, it was announced today.
Charter School Support Organizations (CSOs) are vital service providers that assist charter schools in a multitude of ways. By advocating for charter schools, defining and promoting quality in these schools, providing back-office support, and sharing information about charter schools to the public, CSOs work to assist charter schools in their effort to give K-12 students a high- quality education.
Principles and Standards for Quality Charter Support Organizationscreates a portrait of effective CSO practices and highlights the importance of CSOs in their ability to promote overall quality in charter schools, said Alliance President Nelson Smith. Were proud to be able to make this important document available to everyone in the public charter school movement.
Developed through a collaboration of CSO leaders across the nation, the principles and standards are grounded in the same kind of field experience and peer evaluation that informed early standards setting in medicine, law, accounting, and other fields.
Six fundamental principles for effective CSOs are defined and examined: quality, sustainability, advocacy, technical assistance and services, community, and growth. Standards that describe the essential responsibilities and practices that align with the overarching principles are provided throughout the document.
The aim of this publication is to create and uphold high expectations for CSOs as they strive to set similarly high expectations for the schools they support. The Alliance recognizes that these organizations vary greatly in their capacity and has written Principles and Standards for Quality Charter Support Organizationsallowing for broad or selective adoption as appropriate for the roles and responsibilities each CSO assumes. The Daniels Fund made this publication possible. The report may be accessed at the Alliance web site at: http://www.publiccharters.org/content/ publication/detail/4040/.
Nationwide, over 1.2 million students in grades K-12 are enrolled in 4,300 public charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The first public charter school opened in Minnesota in 1992. Charter schools are public schools with unique traits that increase the likelihood of a successful education for a child.
-- Charter schools have increased flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of individual children, make timely decisions
about developing curriculum, structure the school day, and hire
teachers who meet the needs of their students.
-- Charters operate within a multi-tiered accountability system -
to parents, authorizers, the state, and lenders - that leads to
quality schools and high achievement.
-- Parents elect to send their children to charters, and teachers
choose to work in them.
About the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools:
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (www.publiccharters.org) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement.
SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
(c) 2008 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: U.S. Newswire
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