Families come in all shapes and sizes. That’s also true of public schools.
Charter schools are a valuable part of both the public school family and Colorado’s K-12 education ecosystem. That’s because all Colorado children—regardless of zip code, race, ethnicity, income, or ability—deserve access to high-quality public-school options that best meet their needs. Free and open to all students, public charter schools provide families with valuable public school choice.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the reality that a one-size-fits-all public-school system does not work for everyone. Colorado charter schools allow passionate educators to deliver the individualized education that every student deserves, preparing them for success in college, career, and life.
History
1993: Colorado enacts charter school law, the first two public charter schools open in Pueblo and Castle Rock 1994: The Colorado League of Charter Schools is founded to serve and strengthen the state’s growing charter movement Over time: The League helps establish one of the strongest charter school laws in the nation and serves as a leader in advocacy, growth, and support for charter schools statewide
Quality
The "charter" establishing each such school is a contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and success measurements. This contract is between the school and the entity granting the charter (the authorizer). In Colorado, the authorizer is generally the local school district, but in some cases it is the state via the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI).
Accountability
In Colorado, charters are granted for a period of time, generally five years. At the end of the term, the authorizer may renew the school's contract. Charter schools are accountable to both the authorizer and their board – as well as to the students and families they serve – to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. Charters must also follow all state and federal public school laws.
Choice
Charter schools exist to offer quality and choice in the public education system. As independent public schools with rigorous curriculum programs, each particular charter school is different. These differences in size, approach, tone, and focus offer parents a variety of choices, allowing them to select a school that best fits their child's unique learning style.
A cohort for charter school leaders and board members who wish to stay updated on happenings at the State Capitol as they relate to education and the charter school sector. Meets weekly during the legislative session.
A cohort for charter school leaders and board members who wish to stay updated on happenings at the State Capitol as they relate to education and the charter school sector. Meets weekly during the legislative session.
A cohort for charter school leaders and board members who wish to stay updated on happenings at the State Capitol as they relate to education and the charter school sector. Meets weekly during the legislative session.
Develop the skills to conduct prompt, impartial, and thorough Title IX investigations— from evidence collection to final reports—using the 2020 Regulations as your foundation.
Equip decision-makers with the legal standards, equity considerations, and documentation practices needed to make sound, defensible Title IX determinations under the 2020 Regulations.
The 74
Nearly six years after the start of the COVID pandemic, nearly one in four U.S. schoolchildren has received tutoring, according to a new, wide-ranging survey of more than 23,000 parents, 60% of whom say they strongly support offering the service for free to students who fall behind.
Sioux Falls
Lawmakers advanced a bill to allow charter schools in South Dakota on a 4-3 committee vote Tuesday, after debate over whether the proposal would expand opportunity or further strain public schools.
Hechinger Report
For two decades, New York City’s small high schools stood out as one of the nation’s most ambitious — and controversial — urban education reforms. Now, a long-term study provides a clearer picture of their successes and disappointments.
