National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Issues a Statement on the Charter School Quality Act 2011

Senate Introduces Legislation to Improve Charter School Oversight Practices

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following Sen. Mary Landrieu's (D-LA) introduction of the Charter School Quality Act of 2011, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released the following statement from its president and CEO, Peter C. Groff:

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The introduction of Charter School Quality Act of 2011 marks an important step towards improved charter school oversight and a stronger charter school sector.  We are pleased to see that this legislation focuses on effectively evaluating and supporting the agencies in charge of overseeing and approving public charter schools.

Charter school authorizers are agencies that approve charter school applications, grant charters to school operators and ensure public charter schools uphold the public trust by meeting the terms described in their charter contract. This legislation supports authorizers that adopt research-based best practices, focus on improving student achievement and evaluate their own effectiveness when overseeing public charter schools. If passed, this act will make sure states with these strong authorizing practices are prioritized when applying for grants available through the Charter Schools Program. Additionally, the Charter School Quality Act proposes a new competitive grant program to help other states learn and adopt these best-practices.

We applaud Senator Landrieu (D - La.) and her co-sponsors, Sen. Michael Bennet (D - Colo.), Sen. Tom Carper (D - Del.), Sen. Chris Coons (D - Del.), Sen. Richard  Durbin (D - Ill.),  Sen. Kay Hagan (D - N.C.), and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D - Conn.) for their continued commitment to high-quality public charter schools and high-quality charter school oversight practices. We look forward to working with Congress and the charter school movement to share the innovations and best practices developed in the charter school sector, including authorizer policies, with all who seek to improve public education in America.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://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 underserved 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. More than 1.6 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

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Peter C. Groff

http://www.profnetconnect.com/PeterC_Groff

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

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