What's New
The Charter Coalition Celebrates National Charter Schools Week
As parents, students, and public charter school leaders celebrate National Charter Schools Week (May 3 - May 9, 2009) across the country, The Charter Coalition (TCC) applauds the more than 4600 public charter schools operating in 40 states and the District of Columbia educating over 1.3 million children in public charter schools.
TCC is comprised of community development practitioners that share a common mission to improve the viability of low-income and economically distressed communities. Coalition members provide financial and development services to charter schools in these communities. Nationally, public charter schools serve a high number of low-income and minority children.
TCC's main goal is to facilitate the public charter school's access to the capital and technical assistance critical to the development of successful, well managed schools housed in appropriate facilities. Through the Department of Education's Credit Enhancement Program for Charter School Facilities, TCC member grantees have leveraged 8 dollars in private capital for every 1 federal dollar appropriated (more than $1.1 billion) to help charter schools in low-income communities around the nation.
In addition, TCC applauds the Federal Government and the United States Congress in its continued support of these innovative public schools. With broad bipartisan support, public charter schools are making a difference and giving children and families an opportunity for a high quality education.
Happy National Charter Schools Week!
Mark your calendar for the 9th Annual National Charter Schools Conference June 20 - 23, 2009 in Washington D.C.
The only national conference devoted exclusively to public charter schools is sure to attract a tremendous line-up of outstanding school leaders and our country's top public officials. It will be an exciting time in Washington as a new administration and a new Congress get down to the nation’s business next year. Our 2008 conference hosted a record 3,200 participants and featured three exceptional general sessions, a vast exhibition, and more than 100 break-out meetings in multiple issue areas ranging from design, instruction and leadership to performance and accountability. But get ready for Washington: our 2009 program will seek to provide an even greater variety of educational, informational and networking events. The four-day conference will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington. For details, visit http://www.publiccharters.org/node/436
The Future of Charter School Facilities Finance?
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Hosts Conference to Advance Financing for Charter School Facilities
Experts from the Federal Reserve Bank and the charter school financing industry came together in September 2008 to discuss and plan how to expand access to capital for charter schools’ facilities. Several industry veterans authored and presented working papers for discussion among the group, and as a basis for next steps. Speakers included David Umansky from Civic Builders, Jeremy Nowak from The Reinvestment Fund, R. Brooks Garber from National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and Annie Donovan, Chief Operating Officer of NCB Capital Impact, who authored Charter School Facilities Finance: How CDFIs Created the Market and How to Stimulate Future Growth. The standing room only conference tackled past success, market size and growth, emerging trends and strategies for success. You can download the working papers and proceedings at http://www.frbsf.org/cdinvestments/conferences/0809/index.html
The November 2008 issue of The Charter Coalition eNewsletter is now available! Register today to get the latest charter school news e-mailed to you directly.
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