Even amid the third school year in a row affected by a worldwide pandemic, public charter schools and our community have proven resilient. On The Charter Blog, we’ve provided updates on how important legislation could affect charter schools, showcased outstanding schools and individuals in our movement, and presented the facts about charter schools.
Here are the top 10 most-read blog posts for 2021:
1. What Will the American Rescue Plan Act Mean for Your School?
The American Rescue Plan Act passed earlier this year provides nearly $122 billion in COVID-19 relief funding for K-12 education. That’s a lot of money considering that the FY2021 regular appropriation for K-12 programs is $42.6 billion. Kim McCabe, senior director of communications at the National Alliance, outlines what this funding could mean for charter schools.
2. Charter Schools Top Ranked Among 2021 Best High Schools
Charter schools outperformed once again among all public high schools in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best High School rankings. Melinda Tolliver, senior manager of digital strategy at the National Alliance, breaks down the data and highlights the 24 charter schools in the top 100.
3. Powerful Quotes from 4 Black Educators for Black History Month
For Black History Month, the National Alliance featured four Black educators in the charter school movement who are making history in the moment. Meet the four Black educators and read the powerful quotes they shared on education and Black excellence.
4. Education Priorities in Biden’s First Proposed Budget
This summer, President Biden unveiled his first presential budget revealing a commitment to educational equity with a historic 41% increase in education funding. But there was one thing missing—additional support for the federal Charter Schools Program. We share why this is a major oversight for families and students seeking a high-quality public education.
5. New Education Funding Bill Threatens Charter Schools
The U.S. House of Representatives released an appropriations bill over the summer that was incredibly concerning for charter schools. The bill, as written, would have not only cut federal funding for charter schools, but it also slipped in some harmful language that threatened all charter schools. The National Alliance quickly pulled together a call to action for the charter school community and was able to stop the language in its tracks.
6. Three Wins for Families in the 2021 Elections
Over the course of the pandemic, families voted with their feet and made more decisions about where and how their kids are educated than ever before—and record numbers of families chose charter schools. So, it’s no surprise that when families took those votes to the polls in November, they voted charter-friendly candidates into office, across the country and across party lines. Here are three of the most education-focused races that went the way of families.
7. Getting the Facts: 4 Myths About Charter Schools
After the disruption of the past two school years, many schools across the country are reopening their doors for in-person learning and excitement levels are high. In celebration of Back to School Month, we shared the myth-busting facts and figures on innovative public schools—also known as charter schools—changing the game for public education.
8. Positive and Negative Charter School Legislation in the States in 2021
We continue to see solid progress in enacting positive charter school legislation across the country. However, a few troublesome bills remain alive as well. Todd Ziebarth, senior vice president of state support and advocacy, showcased the biggest highlights from the from the 2021 state legislative sessions—and where the fight continues.
9. 3 Things to Know About Charter School Enrollment During the Pandemic
America’s public charter school sector is expanding and meeting the needs of families and students. Data obtained by the National Alliance indicates charter school enrollment grew 7% in the 2020-21 school year, while district public school enrollment decreased in every state. Brittnee Exum, manager of communications and marketing at the National Alliance, has the top takeaways.
10. Charter Schools Supporting LGBTQ Students and Communities
It is essential that educators, school leaders, parents, and students alike create an environment of acceptance and understanding for students who identify as LGBTQ. We highlight programs at six charter schools and some resources on how to make your school more LGBTQ friendly during Pride month and every month after.
Melinda Tolliver is the senior manager of digital strategy at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Read more from the National Alliances series of year-end blog posts for 2021:
