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STRONG LAWS MATTER. This June 2021 is 30 years since the first charter school law was enacted, in Minnesota. It’s a great time to be reminded (or educated) that great schools require strong laws, that not only foster a friendly environment for applications and schools but ensure they get what they need. But it’s still the case that most charter laws are only fair to middling. That needs to change. Head to CER’s National Charter School Rankings to understand what it takes to ensure your state has the environment for really great charter schools (Hint — it starts with independent, multiple authorizers and equity as necessary preconditions). Every advocate needs to be an expert!

FLORIDA SHINES. Speaking of strong charter states — and we just were — a big hat tip to Florida for adding colleges and universities to the list of charter school authorizers which expands charter opportunities throughout the state, particularly when some jurisdictions and school boards still think they should be the only ones in control.

JERSEY FIGHTS. Charters in the Garden State demanding that Congress fully fund the federal charter program. “Now, at a time when we should all be coming together to support all of our children, Congress is considering cuts to the Charter Schools Program that funds new, high-quality public charter schools who so often support those most in-need.” But there’s more. The state’s charter association is also supporting charters in a lawsuit that mischaracterizes charters as contributing to segregation, it’s completely the opposite. “New Jersey public charter schools are part of the solution, not the problem. They are actually providing a remedy to school segregation.” Exactly.

JOIN US FOR PROFILES IN COURAGE.  Charter schools in many states were serving children well when traditional public school systems were closed, or just doing a poor job at remote education. In honor of National Charter Schools Week (May 9-15), CER will profile some of the stand-out examples of education that came from among the nation’s innovative charter school world, as well as some of the craziness they had to contend with. Join us Wednesday, May 12th, at noon EDT featuring leaders of online, on-ground and diverse schools! Information here.

BY THE NUMBERS: Charters drive up student achievement, particularly in low-income communities — check out Arizona’s rise over the past 10 plus years — among both charter and district schools. The reason? Competition.

WHY CAP OPPORTUNITY? The results in Arizona have been replicated many times around the country. The unions however are still in denial, seeking to cap opportunity where kids need it most — in this case in Queens, N.Y. — where a proposed charter school aimed at struggling high school students can’t open — because the state Legislature won’t raise the charter school cap. States with charter caps — which are always negotiated into law as a devil’s bargain — punish the kids that need help the most.  Shame on them.