INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY: The Contribution of Charter Schools to Public Education
Press Advisory
May 2, 2016
WASHINGTON DC- In 1991, at a time when many yearned for transformation in education, states responded with an innovation of the traditional public school model – charter schools. The idea was that teachers would coalesce to create diverse schooling options for parents to ensure that their children would be able to attend the school that best fit their needs. Twenty-five years later, such choices are continuing to fuel widespread discoveries in teaching and learning and creating greater educational opportunities for all students.
Charters were intended – explains their intellectual Godfather Ted Kolderie – to “differ in fundamental ways from the district sector” with four important elements: Innovation from the standard model, Accountability, operating as outcome based not process driven; Autonomy to avoid bureaucracy, and Choice, “on the theory that we do not assign people to innovations.”
While millions are participating in this critical and transformative reform effort, many millions more remain unaware of what is working in chartering and how best to ensure that great public policies governing charter schools are accessible to more families in every state. This National Charter Schools Week (May 1-7), the Center for Education Reform is dedicated to growing public awareness of the original vision of charter schools and those that still embody that vision, making education better for the hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers, students, community leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs that work in and around those schools daily.
Please join us in elevating the importance of charter schools this week by logging on daily to www.staging.edreform.com and showcasing promising practices and discussions, while addressing the very real challenges that prevent more students from having the education they need and deserve.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK
MON, MAY 2 – Check out @EDREFORM’s NCSW16 HUB daily for notices of events, stories of success, challenges and opportunities. Then download your charter school logo, messages and get the facts on charter schools from our colleagues at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
TUES, MAY 3 – Teacher Appreciation Day. Join the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in a salute to teachers.
WED, MAY 4 – Boston, MA: Best Practices from Urban Charter Public Schools
8:00 – 10:00 AM The Pioneer Institute continues its work on improving urban schools through chartering with this forum, which includes CER Founder Jeanne Allen, Deborah McGriff, Managing Partner of New Schools Venture Fund, and more.
THURS, MAY 5 – UNC, Chapel Hill: Kemp Forum on Expanding Opportunity
3:00–6:00 PM Streamed Live. The Center for Education Reform, in partnership with The Jack Kemp Foundation and Opportunity Lives will welcome Congressman Luke Messer, state and national policymakers for a critical look at upward mobility through parent power.
FRIDAY, MAY 6 – Pittsburgh, PA: The New Parent Power Agenda
12:00 –1:00 PM American Legislative Exchange Council. This CER-sponsored lunch features David Hardy, CER Board Member and Founder of the Philadelphia-based Boys Latin Charter School and Max Eden of the Manhattan Institute to discuss how increasing regulatory fervor is closing the door on opportunities for students.
For more information about events and programs, contact Michelle Tigani, Communications Director, 301-802-6119 or michelle@staging.edreform.com.
