Advocacy
Influencing Public Policy & Building Community Strength
The Colorado League of Charter Schools actively promotes high-quality public charter schools, fair funding, and better facility access by influencing public policy and opinions on the local, state, and federal levels. We also know the strength of the collective charter school community across the state of Colorado and support our member schools in building strong local advocacy networks and community engagement strategies to show that we are stronger together.
State-Level Policy
In addition to our VP of Policy (our in-house lobbyist), we also partner with external lobbyists and actively engage with the Colorado General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, the State Board of Education and state governmental agencies to implement the League's policy agenda. While our policy agenda evolves each legislative session, our core objectives remain consistent:
- Enhance funding equity for charter schools at the federal, state, and local levels
- Guarantee equal access to the same programs and educational opportunities as traditional public school students (i.e., special education services/resources)
- Improve charter school facilities' access and equity
- Strengthen and preserve charter school autonomy
- Uphold charter schools' accountability for student performance, financial responsibility, effective governance, and more
- Enhance charter school authorizing practices and accountability measures
- Ensure that Colorado's charter school law continues to evolve and maintain its strength.
Attending a charter school gives me a valuable view on education, as well as the structure to become a person of character… it allows me to build a strong community that motivates me to succeed in academics, arts, or sports. I value the structured environment offered at charter schools because it encourages me to be a well rounded person of character.
Community & Grassroots Advocacy
The League also recognizes the importance of having favorable charter environments at the local level that are built on strong, grassroots advocacy networks. We support local charter communities to build favorable public opinions of charters through education, meet with local elected officials, and engage in local policy advocacy to support their schools.
If you have a local issue that could benefit from League support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Also be sure to join our Act for Charters Today (ACT) Advocacy Network, a group of charter school families, staff and community supporters who want to build their knowledge, skills, power and influence to strengthen and support their own charter schools as well as all other charters across Colorado.
