Get Schooled on Public Education

By: The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
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  • Summary

  • Did you know charter schools are always public schools? And that there is a national organization of public education experts dedicated to advocating for students to have access to high-quality public education nationwide? The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools invites you to Get Schooled on Public Education. I’ll be your host; my name is Brittnee Baker. I am the manager of Marketing and Communications at the National Alliance. We will cover topics such as funding, curriculum, teacher development, student learning needs, parental demand, and more and give you deep dives and diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities our nation faces as we seek to deliver on the promise of a free, high-quality public education for all. Subscribe today.
    Copyright Heartcast Media
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Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Charter Schools: What You Need to Know

    Charter Schools: What You Need to Know
    Dec 19 2024
    Our Dear New Leaders Series continues with a conversation featuring our President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Starlee Coleman. In this episode, Starlee shares the pivotal moments that inspired her 25-year advocacy journey and why public education is essential for a thriving democracy. Hear her personal story as a parent, her vision for educational equity, and what’s ahead for charter schools in 2025 and the opportunities under a new administration.

    Featured Guest
    • Starlee Coleman, President and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
    Key Takeaways
    • Charter schools are free, public, and open to all.
    • Public education is foundational to a strong economy.
    • Access to a high-quality public education should not depend on a student’s zip code or their family’s financial status.
    • Charter schools help equalize opportunities by providing high-quality, public, and tuition-free education to all students.
    • Policymakers can help increase the impact of the Charter Schools Program for students and families by increasing the flexibility of the program to ensure funding can be fully utilized.
    Quotes
    • Starlee Coleman, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
      • "Every child deserves an environment where they can thrive, not just survive."
      • "The strength of our economy is built on the foundation of a well-educated workforce."
    Chapters

    00:00 - Introduction
    01:53 - The Role of Education in Democracy, Economy, Health, and Equity
    05:20 - How Charter Schools Meet the Needs of Diverse Students
    08:45 - Enhancing Charter Schools with a Supportive Administration
    09:44 - Challenges of Grant Programs and the Need for Flexibility
    10:15 - Outro
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    10 mins
  • Charter Schools: Strengthening Accountability in Public Education

    Charter Schools: Strengthening Accountability in Public Education
    Dec 5 2024
    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.

    Featured Guest
    • Kirsten J. Floyd, Director of Data and Accountability, DC Public Charter School Board
    • Melodi Sampson, Chief School Performance Officer, DC Public Charter School Board
    • Katie Burke, Senior Director, Policy, National Alliance’s for Public Charter Schools
    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.
    Quotes
    • Kirsten J. Floyd, Director of Data and Accountability, DC Public Charter School Board
      • “In a school's charter agreement, there are specific charter goals and academic achievement expectations that are outlined that tell how they will show their impact on student academic outcomes.”
    • Melodi Sampson, Chief School Performance Officer, DC Public Charter School Board
      • “Charter school authorizers are really critical in terms of holding schools accountable, and we do this by doing public reporting on school performance on an annual basis, even throughout a school year.”
    • Katie Burke, Senior Director of Policy, National Alliance’s for Public Charter Schools
      • "Charter schools are public schools that are independently operated, which means they have the autonomy to meet the needs of their students.”
    Chapters

    00:00 - Introduction
    01:04 - Charter Schools: Autonomy in Public Education
    03:27 - Tools for Oversight: Compliance, Audits, and Financial Accountability
    07:34 - Tailoring Education Policies through Local Decision-Making
    08:17 - Outro
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    9 mins
  • Charter Schools Program: Empowering Schools and Students

    Charter Schools Program: Empowering Schools and Students
    Nov 27 2024
    The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the only source of federal funding that supports the growth of charter schools to meet the needs of students and families. In our Dear New Leader Series geared toward educating elected officials on important charter school topics, we break down the CSP and discuss its impact on schools and students. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ Director of Policy, Fiona Sheridan-McIver and the President & CEO of Helix Community Schools in Louisiana, Preston Castille, share more about this vital program on the Get Schooled on Public Education podcast.


    Featured Guest:
    • Fiona Sheridan-McIver, Director of Policy, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
    • Preston Castille, President & CEO of Helix Community Schools in Louisiana

    Key Takeaways:
    • Charter schools are free, public, and open to all.
    • The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the nation's only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools.
    • Charter schools face significant hurdles when it comes to securing facilities.
      • A proposed federal bill, The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, would expand facilities support programs for charter schools.
      • A proposed federal bill, The Empowering Charter School Educators to Lead Act would provide more equitable access to pre-planning resources needed to open a charter school.
    • Helix Aviation Academy is a K-12 public charter school located in Louisiana and features a curriculum focused on careers in aviation, space exploration, and cyber technology.
      • Helix Aviation Academy is a 2023 CSP grant recipient and has been able to provide more resources for students with the funds.
    • Policymakers can help increase the impact of the CSP for students and families by increasing funds and the flexibility of the program.

    Quotes:
    • Fiona Sheridan-McIver, Director of Policy, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
      • “The Charter Schools Program exists to help expand opportunities for students…by providing critical funding to address the challenges of opening and operating new charter schools around the country”
    • Preston Castille, President & CEO of Helix Community Schools in Louisiana
      • “We teach the core courses, but we add something extra, we create an opportunity for children to be exposed to and learn about the aviation profession.”
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    10 mins

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