Advocates Prepare to Celebrate Success of Public Charters During National Charter Schools Week, May 6-12, 2012

Washington, D.C - The number of students attending public charter schools across the country has grown by an estimated 76 percent in the last five school years, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).

As parents, teachers and students from across the country prepare to celebrate National Charter Schools Week next month (May 6-12, 2012), advocates are recognizing the tremendous advancements in public charter schooling that have laid a new, bipartisan foundation for education reform in America.

Student enrollment in public charter schools grew from 1,165,200 students in 2006-2007 to an estimated 2,035,261 in 2011-2012. Over the same period, the number of public charter schools grew by 41 percent - from 3,999 to 5,627 - with an expected 521 new public charter schools opening in the 2011-2012 school year alone.

"Support for public charter schools transcends party lines and ideological backgrounds, with more Americans now realizing the extraordinary opportunities that public charter schools provide to children, communities, and our country," said Ursula Wright, interim president and CEO of NAPCS. "Yet despite the significant growth experienced in recent years, demand for charter schools in our country far outpaces the number of seats available to students in these schools."

Next month, thousands of participants will celebrate National Charter Schools Week with special events and activities at schools across the country. The awareness generated by these events will compliment local advocacy efforts like seeking improvements to laws that would allow for the creation of new charter schools, equitable funding for charter schools when compared to traditional district schools and increased access to unused or under-utilized public school buildings.

In just 20 years, the public charter school movement has reached 41 states and the District of Columbia by enacting charter school laws. (The nine states that do not have charter school laws are Alabama, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.) Maine passed its first charter school law in the summer of 2011. There are now approximately 5,600 public charter schools enrolling what is estimated to be more than two million students nationwide. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are allowed to be more innovative while being held for accountable for improved student achievement. These figures were compiled based on data from state departments of education and state charter school support organizations and resource centers.

For more information about public charter schools, or about National Charter Schools Week, visit the website of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools at www.publiccharters.org.

###

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector. For more information, please visit our website at www.publiccharters.org.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Highlights the Portability of the Charter Model

Washington, D.C. - The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is today announcing the release of its most recent Issue Brief, "Beyond City Limits: Expanding Public Charter Schools in Rural America." As lawmakers in states with predominately rural areas grapple with the idea of enacting charter school laws, this brief is meant to be used as a guide for policymakers, charter support organizations, and communities that want to offer high-quality options that can meet the educational needs of rural students.

The Issue Brief dissects common challenges faced in rural public education, the current landscape of rural charter schools, and key hurdles that must be overcome in order to launch a successful public charter school in a rural community. Additionally, innovative approaches that charter schools have used to achieve success in rural areas are highlighted, which offer real-life examples and yield policy recommendations for achieving charter school success in rural communities.

"Rural students comprise a vital segment of the American public education system; however, their educational needs are not always being met," said Ursula Wright, interim president & CEO.  "One in four students, which equates to over 11 million children, attend rural public schools, and one in five of the nation's lowest performing schools are in rural areas.  Rural schools must meet the academic needs of their students, and charter schools can help by providing high-quality options."

In 2009-10, there were 785 rural charter schools in operation, comprising 16 percent of all charter schools nationwide, enrolling more than a quarter-million students. In addition to citing examples of successful charter schools located in rural areas, the report highlights the common challenges faced by all rural public schools - charter and traditional - including budget constraints, course offerings, recruitment, special education resources, and transportation.

An example of a successful charter school in a rural area can be found in Paradox Valley, Colorado.  The community saw its local district school close in 1999 as a result of declining population, forcing students to travel three hours to attend the nearest public school. In response, the local community founded the Paradox Valley Charter School to not only address logistical issues, but also take a stance toward preserving its distinctive rural culture. During the 2010-2011 school year, Paradox served 54 students ranging from pre-K to eighth grade.  The school consistently reaches its adequate yearly progress accountability benchmarks.

There are a number of ways that policymakers and charter support organizations can help expand high-quality charter schools in rural communities. For policymakers, laws allowing for public charter schools and equitable funding of those schools must be at the forefront. State charter support organizations are instrumental in making sure that rural communities are well-informed on the potential benefits of charter schools.

The Rural Issue Brief can be found online at http://www.publiccharters.org/publication/?id=693 and national and statewide public charter school data can be found on the Public Charter School Dashboard: http://www.publiccharters.org/dashboard.

About the National Alliance
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector.  For more information, please visit our website at www.publiccharters.org

###