Next Generation Authorizing

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Since the adoption of Michigan’s charter schools statute 16 years ago, authorizers have served as catalysts for transforming public education by chartering new schools that today serve over 105,000 students, of whom at least 50,000 are from Detroit.  By necessity, authorizers have focused on the fundamentals of learning how to effectively review charter applications, support school start-ups, and oversee that schools comply with their charter contract and applicable law.  This has led to some excellent schools, to some mediocre schools, and to some schools that should be closed. 

This is not good enough. To prepare students for college and careers – and create the types of excellent schools that Detroit, our state, and country need - our view of authorizing urgently needs to be re-imagined.  Authorizing can and must move beyond the hit-and-miss establishment of new schools, and the regulatory driven, compliance-based accountability that is the hallmark of public education.  Instead, authorizing needs to become a proactive, performance-based profession that passionately pursues excellence for all children – especially those in greatest need.  For example:

• Imagine an authorizer that uses its experience and expertise to help potential applicants understand what it takes to move from dreaming about creating an excellent school, to mastering the myriad details necessary, to successfully apply for and operate a school that serves students well beginning the first day it opens. 
• Imagine an authorizer that incorporates bold educational goals, like a 90% college enrollment rate, into a school’s charter contract and ensures the school’s mission, curriculum, and assessments align with that goal. 
• Imagine an authorizer that develops a computer-based testing system that measures the academic growth of individual students, and shows from elementary through high school if they are being academically prepared for college, work, and life. 
• Further, imagine this system instantaneously provides feedback to teachers, principals, and parents so they can improve teaching and learning, evaluate performance, and continuously improve.  

This radically different vision for authorizing is not only necessary, it has already begun.  Innovative, results-oriented practices, tools, and systems have been and continue to be developed.  In fact, Central Michigan University is working to develop a regional and national learning-and-doing network—called “Authorizer U.”  Its goal is to establish a model for cultivating the talent and know-how necessary for rapidly scaling-up the number and quality of charter schools through the development of a pipeline of promising potential that will systematically incubate excellent schools for Detroit and beyond.

Resources that demonstrate the need for, and the ability to create, "next generation" authorizers include: 

The Need for "Next Generation" Authorizers

• Taking Ownership: Our Pledge to Educate All of Detroit's Students. Released in March, 2010, this citywide education plan prepared by Excellent Schools Detroit sets forth a strategy for creating a diverse and dynamic educational marketplace to serve children in Michigan's largest city.
• The State of Charter School Authorizing 2008: A Report on NACSA’s Authorizing Survey. Published by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers in July, 2009, this survey provides a profile and key information of the nation's authorizers neccessary to understand the need for transformation in this arena.

Foundations of Quality Authorizing

• Overview of CMU's Authorizing Practices. This document provides an overview of CMU's role as an authorizer, and how the Center carries forward its responsibilities of supporting and overseeing schools chartered by CMU.
• U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee Hearing: Building on What Works in Charter Schools. Prepared Testimony of James N. Goenner, Executive Director, The Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University.
• Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers Public School Academy Oversight and Accountability Standards. Developed in large part through the Center's leadership, these standards have established a common framework for quality authorizing practices for Michigan authorizers.
• National Association of Charter School Authorizers Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing. A national counterpart to Michigan's standards and based in part on the Center's experience, this document establishes national standards to advance quality authorizing practices.  

Setting and Achieving High Educational Goals

• Looking Forward: The Next 15 Years. Presented at one of the Center's Board Development Series events in January 2010, this booklet presents the vision for the next 15 years of Michigan's charter school movement, and describes new opportunities available under Michigan law to grow more quality charters.

Strengthening School Governance

• Board Gear. Lauched in 2010, this comprehensive, interactive Web site empowers charter school board members with key resources that charter school governing boards need to accomplish their missions. Included in it are an informative monthly video messages designed to educate and inspire; a field guide for board members that includes tools, resources and other “essentials” for navigating the charter terrain; an interactive calendar to help board members stay on course and anticipate challenges ahead; and a preview of upcoming orientation and training sessions, along with links to materials and information from past events.

Partnering With Others

• National Charter Schools Institute. Originally launched in 1996 with a mission of providing help to charter school pioneers who needed assistance to start a charter school, and headquartered on CMU's campus, the Institute works with authorizers, board members, school leaders, and teachers to help charter schools provide the world's best educational opportunities.