In our Dear New Leaders Series, we’re educating elected officials, policymakers, and the general public on critical topics in public education. In this episode of Get Schooled on Public Education, we discuss accountability in charter schools and the vital role of authorizers. The District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) is the sole authorizer of all public charter schools in Washington D.C. Hear directly from the DC PCSBs’ Director of Data and Accountability, Kirsten J. Floyd and Chief School Performance Officer, Melodi Sampson, as well as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ Senior Director of Policy, Katie Burke.
Key Takeaways:
- Charter schools are public schools with increased autonomy to innovate and meet students’ needs. In exchange, they are held accountable for meeting performance expectations set by their authorizers.
- Authorizers oversee academic, financial, and operational performance through charter agreements, which outline specific goals and accountability measures.
- Charter schools are required to make key information, such as budgets, tax forms, and annual reports publicly available. This transparency enables families and the public to understand school performance and operations.
- Effective legislation should empower local decision-makers to adapt to unique contexts to support tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of students and communities.
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