Good day, CharterFolk.
It’s good to be back in the saddle after spring break. A special thanks to several of you who have signed up for paid subscriptions since my last post. We’re also encouraged to see several additional organizations now considering CharterFolk organizational subscriptions.
At our board meeting last week, I reaffirmed to the CharterFolk Board that I’ll continue to keep the safeguarding of CharterFolk’s financial sustainability front and center. If you’re able to join others in supporting us – either through a personal or organizational subscription – we’d be deeply grateful. Folk interested in an organizational subscription may ping me directly at jed@charterfolk.org.
Today’s Whip Around: Under-Appreciated Good News
In today’s whip around, I want to spotlight some under-appreciated good news emerging from Charterland in recent weeks. I’ll follow up with another post later this week with even more good news before sharing a more sobering piece over the weekend about challenges related to the SCOTUS case.
But before we dive into the good news, a quick flag:
Important Watch: Tax-Exempt Bonds
As Eugene Clarke-Herrera noted back in February, there’s widespread concern that federal policy changes could impact tax-exempt bond financing – a move that could significantly affect charter school facilities and overall sector economics.
Over the weekend, longtime facilities and financing expert Tiny McLaughlin raised the alarm with his network, and the National Alliance is encouraging CharterFolk to keep a close eye on the House Ways and Means Committee, whose members would be central to any policy shifts.
We don’t yet have a formal call to action, but if one comes from the Alliance, we’ll be sure to amplify it. In the meantime, it’s worth staying informed on the issue and the policymakers with the most influence over it.
Turning the Corner on Gloom?
Yes, the broader landscape gives us plenty of reasons for worry. But if we shift our lens, there’s also compelling evidence that many things are breaking positively for the charter school movement right now.
Earlier this year I wrote about charter school legislation in North Dakota hitting a roadblock, but a new bill now seems on the cusp of passage.
It would leave us a number of states without charter school laws small enough to count on one hand.
Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans are pushing forward aggressive legislation which would accelerate growth.
In New Jersey, association CEO Harry Lee makes a compelling case that the academic performance of charter schools is far outpacing district schools.
In Kansas City, CharterFolk are celebrating the fact that their city has become one of the few in the country to formally include charter schools in a facilities bond.
In Los Angeles, CharterFolk are relieved that KIPP Sol’s renewal was approved on appeal at the county level.
In Massachusetts where a great KIPP school was recently denied expansion, the Globe, citing the work of the Massachusetts association, called out the state’s charter-hostile policies.
Down the road in Rhode Island, the bill to force charter schools to adopt “union neutrality” policies was held in committee unanimously.
In Texas, the proposal isn’t in the end zone yet, but the association and its allies are on the cusp of a facilities funding win that can be described as nothing short of historic.
Meanwhile, more data emerges on the landscape about the potentially transformative role AI is going to play in the future of education.
Let’s wrap it up with the most positive news of all.
Could it be that our young people are finally turning the corner on a period of unprecedented gloom?
Maybe so.