Through the Council, Michigan authorizers are able to come together to review and share strategies for supporting successful schools. The Cou
ncil meets at least once every month to learn about emerging trends and issues and share effective methods for addressing issues.
The existence of the Council has allowed school authorizers to anticipate, coordinate and respond effectively to issues and recommendations from policymakers and the public. For example, the Council has adopted a clear set of charter school oversight and accountability standards, provided resources and assistance to policymakers at the state and national level, and supported lasting change through strong charter school programs and services.
- Meeting Schedule
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The Council meets on the first Thursday of each month to share information and discuss issues of common concern. The anticipated meeting schedule for 2012 is as follows:
January 5, 2012
February 2, 2012
March 14-15, 2012
April 5, 2012
May 3, 2012
June 7, 2012
July 5, 2012
August 1-2, 2012
September 6, 2012
October 4, 2012
November 1, 2012
December 6, 2012
Other special Council meetings will be posted as they are announced.
- School Quality Initiative
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The Council is committed to ensuring the quality of charter public schools across Michigan. In October 2006, The Council's executive director published a monograph
on school quality that sets forth the organization's policy recommendations for supporting and sustaining charter excellence in the future.These recommendations include:
- Alternative pathways to certification for Michigan teachers and administrators
- Insistence upon data-driven decision making
- Utilization of value-added assessment models
- Consequences for poorly-performing schools, up to and including closure
- Performance incentives for schools and authorizers alike
The Council is also working to help authorizers and schools connect with technical assistance when necessary to address quality issues.
The 232-Point Inspection: Examining Charter School Quality in Michigan
- Legislative Outreach
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The Council is developing key legislative relationships and building its future advocacy efforts. Council members hope to work with lawmakers to:
- Seek opportunities for the development of quality schools
- Seek opportunities to promote freedom from bureaucracy
- Address facilities, borrowing concerns
- Work to encourage greater equity among charter schools and their conventional district peers
Council members also hope to work with state agency officials to help ensure a favorable regulatory environment. Check back later for more detailed information about current legislative efforts by The Council.
- Key Resources & Support
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Council members are working together to accomplish several important strategic objectives, including:
- Streamlining key authorizer functions, including the development of a common master calendar of reporting requirements, a consolidated phase one charter
application, and other shared resources - Developing mechanism(s) for discussing matters of joint concern among authorizers and ESPs.
- Enhancing the existing network of authorizer resources and improving access to promising practices
Updates relative to these and other special authorizer initiatives will be provided as they are available.
For additional authorizer tools and information, please visit the National Association of Charter School Authorizers at www.qualitycharters.org.
- Streamlining key authorizer functions, including the development of a common master calendar of reporting requirements, a consolidated phase one charter