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National Charter Schools Week, 2019

 

Features:

Opportunities + Innovation = Results This is a country built on innovation, but when it comes to education we are far too cautious. We do not need a thousand flowers to bloom, as the saying goes. What we need is to have a thousand (or tens of thousands) of seeds planted. Those that are watered by parents and students…

A Movement of Diversity & Equity The charter school movement, and many of its greatest initial and on-going successes, is rooted in its commitment to serving students who for whatever the reason have not been well-served by traditional public education. It’s greatest strength, in fact, is being able to serve students from fragile communities, in the words of former Thurgood Marshall College Fund CEO Johnny Taylor. Schools founded…

“But You’ve Got to Have FRIENDS” Some of the earliest founded charter school advocacy groups had friends in their name, and for good reason. They wanted to be what most of us aspire to be in all walks of like – great friends to the new kid on the block.

The UNIONS, and their impact on Teachers The National Education Association and the exceptionally hostile American Federation of Teachers (AFT) continue to stand in the way of progress.

Keys to Success for Charter Schools Include Strong Legislators & Strong Laws Each year National Charter Schools Week gives charter advocates an opportunity not only to bring further attention to chartering and the myriad benefits it offers our children but to the elements critical for success. Let’s start the week with one major one – legislators.

Opportunities Under Siege – National Charter Schools Week 2019: An Open Letter from Jeanne Allen
 In the 28+ years since the founding of the charter school movement, tremendous progress has been made in the number of schools established, and in the wealth of innovative opportunities they offer to children, families, teachers and communities. In the 26+ years CER has been leading the fight for innovation and opportunity…

Nation Celebrates Charter Schools Week While Opportunities Remain Under Siege

CER highlights charter school successes and examines real threats 

As charter schools and choice advocates, parents, students and teachers around the nation salute the academic successes and milestones of growth in innovation and opportunity that America’s 7,100 charter schools deliver for more than 5 million students, the Center for Education Reform (CER) urges that now is not the time for complacency.

More than 25 years after the birth of the charter school movement, waiting lists for charter schools are longer than ever. Political roadblocks at the state and local level – on both sides of the aisle resulting in weak charter laws with mountains of restrictions and union campaigns of misinformation are hampering school growth, educational innovation and limiting American parents’ ability to leave failing schools.

This week, CER as the leader in education innovation and opportunity takes stock of the accomplishments of the pioneers of the charter school movement such as Dr. Howard Fuller and recognizes the impact of charter school founders including Eva Moskowitz and innovators in the field of education training like Sarah Tantillo. The week CER will also provide day-by-day in-depth analysis of looming threats and deep divisions that pose real existential threats to the future of charter schools including unions, legislators, civil and education opponents.

Through our relentless voice on the issues, we engage with millions of people to counteract the false narrative.  We do so not just about charters, but about changing the whole paradigm in public education. Here are just a few examples:

In addition to the choice and policy efforts, we stay grounded by always having a school-based initiative. CER has turned Washington, DC into a living classroom for civics education for DC charter school and DC Opportunity Scholarship students through our Why America? program.  Please read our newsletter to see where we’ve been and where we are going around our Nation’s Capital!

Check out these videos from charters who venture beyond the norm to innovate in their schools; hand-picked from the video submissions to CER’s “Hey John Oliver, Back Off My Charter School!” Video Contest held in the Fall of 2016.

           

National Charter Schools Week has been lauded by past and the current President of the United States through proclamations. President Trump released this proclamation on May 4, 2018. Other Presidential proclamations in past years include:

Each day during National Charter School Week 2019, CER will release an array of resources, content and research which will inform the general public – setting the record straight, arm advocates with support for their work and provide the kind of data and guidance that will clarify the issues for nationwide legislators.

Here are some of the informational pieces CER has released in the past:

Follow us on Facebook @theCenterforEducationReform and @edreform on Twitter throughout the week for updates and engaging conversations.