What is Innovation? As Ted Kolderie puts it, innovation is letting people try new things, without having to prove it already works. In other words, without permission. 

Permissionless.

The parents frustrated by system dysfunction today know that they should not have to ask for permission when seeking a quality education for their children. Innovative leaders recognize that today, “school is coming to kids.” Personalized learning opportunities are not only desired, they’re demanded. 

In honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Charter School movement, join us with Ted and several charter innovators to discuss – Does chartering have a future? Who does it benefit? And how can parents, advocates, policymakers and school leaders use charter schools to personalize learning?  

WHO: 

DaVinci Schools, Los Angeles
Matt Wunder, CEO/Superintendent & Founder

Purdue Polytechnic High School, Indianapolis
Scott Bess, Head of School

Ivy Preparatory Academy, Atlanta
Nina Gilbert, Founder, and Head of Innovation at Morehouse College 

and FEATURING: 
The Godfather of Chartering, Ted Kolderie

With gratitude to the National Charter Schools Founders Library for sparking the idea of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of charter schooling in America.

Throughout the United States, 37 state constitutions had “Blaine Amendments” that unfairly denied thousands of lower-income families the ability to give their children the best education possible.  On June 30, 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court (finally) affirmed the right of parents to direct the education of their children.

The Blaine amendment’s mark a shameful assault on parental rights, equality of opportunity, freedom of choice, and, of course, the First Amendment itself.  Learn how to challenge your state’s Blaine Amendments from the nation’s leading jurists on the subject.

Featuring:
Pam Benigno, Director, Education Policy Center, Independence Institute
Paul Clement, Kirkland and Ellis, and former Solicitor General of the United States
David Hodges, Education Choice Attorney, Institute for Justice
Ross Izard, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at ACE Scholarships

National Charter Schools Week 2021: Virtual Education Saves the Day

Watch if you are interested in learning more about communities all over the nation that partook in extensive technological advancements last year. Hearing first hand, how teachers diversified their delivery of instruction, children learned different and unique skills through online platforms, and schools remained operational because virtual learning took place.

Featuring:
Mark Allen, Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School
Brazilia Bilal-Page, Georgia Connections Academy
Kevin Chavous, Stride, Inc.

National Charter Schools Week 2021: Against All Odds, Brick and Mortar Charter Schools Open for Learning

Success stories and best practices about returning students to an open schoolhouse during COVID-19 times. Communities all over the nation implemented new practices and strategies to return students to a safe and healthy in-person learning environment. You will better understand how teachers pivoted with consistent creativity and innovation, school leaders reimagined ways of running their schools, and community members devoted themselves to supporting America’s children.

Featuring:
Mashea Ashton, Digital Pioneers Academy
Shirlon Clay, GEO Prep Academy of Greater Baton Rouge
JoAnn Mitchell, Mission Achievement and Success Charter School

National Charter Schools Week 2021: Challenges and Obstacles in Dealing with Opponents

What it takes and how it looks to engage with those who are determined to bring you down. Learn directly from community leaders about how they fought to keep charter schools open, operational and successful will be inspiring. Charter school leaders, teachers and supporters remained committed to those who needed them most–the students and families. Despite opposition from many different angles, charter schools persevered and this panel will remind you how.

Featuring:
Shawn Hardnett, Statesmen College Preparatory Academy
Marie Turchiaro, Palm Beach Maritime Academy
John Treu, West Virginia Academy

ONE YEAR LATER… It’s clear that nothing short of policy change is needed to ensure that never again do we allow so much loss and neglect to occur simply because we are tied to one way of doing things. Where are the lessons? We look to Pennsylvania next week, where while state and district leaders allowed unions to control reopening and remote education was largely a failure for most, many heroic efforts to educate despite the odds stemmed learning loss for thousands

Featuring:
Keisha Jordan, Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia
Nate Benefield, Commonwealth Foundation
Kenny Holdsman, Philadelphia Youth Basketball
Lawrence Jones, African American Public Charter School Coalition

Microschools and EdTech are helping parents, teachers and tech leaders to reimagine education at all levels. Some say together they have the potential to transform learning in a post-COVID world. Will this new normal lead to greater opportunity for all families at every level? Ask those who’ve been in the thick of it.

Featuring:
Jeanne Allen, Founder & CEO, Center for Education Reform
Jamie Candee, CEO, Edmentum
Treece Bowman, Equitable Alliances Manager, Prenda
Siri Fiske, Founder & Head, MYSA School

With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, families were left holding the bag when schools shut down and education stopped. Policymakers and parents moved quickly to address the challenge and provide more opportunities for families to educate their children. Where do we stand? Who’s winning?

As we enter the back to school season, we are surrounded by change and uncertainty. While many students have returned to classrooms that are transformed by masks and social distancing, others are navigating the transition to virtual learning, separated from friends and teachers.

Join us for a conversation with psychoanalyst, parent coach and author, Erica Komisar, who will address parent questions and suggest strategies on how to create a healthy learning environment for our kids in the time of COVID-19.

Back to School season is usually filled with hope and promise and excitement over another milestone. But not this year. Covid has created disruptions in how we do school and many districts and schools still have not finalized their opening plans. For those that have, many parents are opting to do something different.

While stories abound about parents and their travails, few are asking the big question – What do parents want?

Explore that and other issues with people most qualified to respond:
Colleen Dippel, Founder and CEO of Families Empowered, Houston, Texas
Janelle Wood, Founder, Black Mothers Forum and Microschool Partnership, South Phoenix, Arizona
Keri Rodrigues, Co-Founder and Founding President of National Parents Union, Boston, Massachusetts

Espinoza: Implications & What’s Next w/Paul Clement and George Hicks, Partners at Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Driving Charter School Success
w/Tessa Kratz  (@KIPP), Sarah Wilson (@IDEAschools) and Lauren Katz (@collegiateacad)

Saving Catholic Schools: What’s Happened and Why It’s Important w/ Superintendents Thomas Carroll and Paul Escala

Phoenix Leads the Way
w/ Dr. Chad E. Gestson and Julia Meyerson

Lessons and tools for remote learning from leaders from a massively successful charter network, a city wide network of all schools, an innovative public school district and the leader of a company make it possible for schools and educators to provide access to education for students everywhere.

Some of the world’s leading Ed Tech developers and educators talked about the innovations available now as policymakers, educators and families nationwide race to catch up with a tidal wave of ideas, programs and services for digital learning.

Opening and Introductions by Jeanne Allen, Michael Musante and Michael Moe

Online Learning, Cradle to Career with Jeff Kwitowski and Anne Brown

Different Ways to Deliver Content with Janine Caffrey and Jamey Heit

Brain Science, Stress & Anxiety with Ulrik Christensen

Reskilling the Workforce for a New Age with Ash Kaluarachi, Sam Caucci and Lucilla Crosta.
Followed by Closing Remarks by Michael Moe and Jeanne Allen