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title: Charter School Weekly Brief
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Our Charter School Weekly Brief has updates on the National Alliance and the charter school movement!

| View in browser WHAT'S NEW: Updates from the National Alliance Hispanic Heritage Month may be done, but the celebration is far from over. Charter schools offer creative and culturally responsive educational opportunities for Hispanic students year-round. Learn why Hispanic student enrollment has surged by over 200,000 students in the last five years and how charter schools support these students' heritage!  The Fordham Institute released a study evaluating the impact of Ohio's Quality Community School Support Fund (QCSSF), which provides supplemental funding to high-quality charter schools serving economically disadvantaged students, and highlights improvements in spending, staffing, and student outcomes.  Learn more about the promising outcomes of Ohio's QCSSF below. ICYMI: The National Alliance's latest report on public charter and district school enrollment trends, Do You Know Where the Children Are? A Five-Year Analysis of Public School Enrollment, is out now! The numbers show that charter schools are growing, adding nearly 400,000 new students in the last five years.  Read the full report.  LEARN MORE: Hispanic Student Enrollment in Charter Schools   Hispanic student enrollment in charter schools has grown significantly, proportionally surpassing enrollment in district public schools and reshaping the public education landscape. From 2019-20 to 2023-24, charter schools saw a remarkable 3.96% increase in Hispanic student enrollment. In contrast, district schools experienced only a 0.47% increase over the same period. This shift highlights a growing preference among Hispanic families for educational environments that offer greater flexibility and innovation.  Hispanic enrollment in charter schools has surged by over 200,000 students in the last five years, now making up one-third of charter school students in the U.S. Texas, Florida, and California lead the nation in Hispanic charter school enrollment, driving much of this growth. Studies show Hispanic students in charter schools gain additional days of learning in reading and math compared to district schools, reflecting the appeal of charter schools' flexibility and innovation. Read the full report, Do You Know Where the Children Are? A Five-Year Analysis of Public School Enrollment and check out Hispanic Student Enrollment in Charter Schools: A Growing Educational Trend on The Charter Blog.  INSPIRE: 2024-25 Rising Leader Reflects on What Hispanic Heritage Month Means to Her  Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. For 2024-25 Rising Leader Nancy Magaly Carrillo Diaz, it’s about embracing her roots, celebrating the diversity within her heritage, and recognizing the resilience and strength of her community throughout history. Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant music, dance, food, and profound legacy of Hispanic traditions, and it is a reminder of the resilience and strength of Hispanic communities, from past struggles for civil rights to the ongoing pursuit of representation and equity. Nancy's charter school, with a 90% Hispanic student body, creates a supportive environment by integrating Hispanic literature, and cultural events, and fostering a shared sense of belonging.  Read more about Nancy Magaly Carrillo Diaz and the ways in which she celebrates her Hispanic heritage every day in her piece: Tradition, Resilience, and Pride: What Hispanic Heritage Month Means to Me. NEW RESEARCH: Fordham Study Shows Ohio's Quality Community School Support Fund Improved Student Outcomes The Fordham Institute released a study that evaluates the impact of the Quality Community School Support Fund (QCSSF) in Ohio, which provides supplemental funding to high-quality charter schools serving economically disadvantaged students, and highlights improvements on spending, staffing, and student outcomes.  QCSSF funds were used primarily for classroom activities, leading to higher teacher salaries, lower turnover, and smaller student-to-teacher ratios. Schools that received this funding showed improved student learning in English language arts and math, with an additional two to three weeks of learning and reduced chronic absenteeism. The study suggests that QCSSF funding helped mitigate pandemic-related declines in student achievement and attendance, although results are based on limited data. Read the full report by our friends at Fordham: The Impact of Increasing Funding for High-Performing Ohio Charter Schools: The Quality Community School Support Fund, 2019-23.  ENGAGE: Resources and Opportunities Spark Civic Engagement: Join the 2025 National Civics Bee! Who: The Civic Trust What: Get Ready to ignite civic engagement in your classroom! The application period for the 2025 National Civics Bee is now open for 6th to 8th-grade students. This annual competition encourages young people to flex their civics knowledge and get involved in their communities by identifying real issues and offering solutions. Top students will get to compete for grand prizes, including a $100,000 529 plan for the national champion. When: Applications are due February 4, 2025.  Where: Learn more today.  Applications Available: Personal Development to Improve Services and Results for Students with Disabilities  Who: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the U.S. Department of Education What: This program addresses state-identified needs for personnel preparation in early intervention, special education, related services, and regular education to work with children with disabilities and ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge to serve those children successfully. When: Applications due December 3, 2024 Where: Apply. For more information, watch a recording of a pre-application webinar.  ATTEND: Upcoming Events Join these conferences and activities to connect with fellow charter school advocates! Oct. 23-24: New York Charter Schools Conference -- New York City, NY  Oct. 24-25: FRED 2024: Charter Schools Facility Conference -- New York City, NY  Nov. 14: Arizona Charter Conference -- Phoenix, AZ  Nov. 14-15: Oregon Charter Schools Conference -- Eugene, OR  See more upcoming events.  READ: What We're Reading Following Helene, Some Charter Schools in Western North Carolina Face a Long and Uncertain Recovery \| EdNC  Renaissance Arts Academy in L.A., Where Latino, Black, and Asian Students Thrive \| Los Angeles Daily News  A Massachusetts Charter School Prepares Students for College Success \| K-12 Dive  New Charter School to Open in SW Atlanta Aiming to Close Achievement and Wealth Gap \| The Atlanta Voice  Want to stay updated on all things charter schools? Subscribe to the Charter School Daily News! We ❤️ your partnership. Please support our work by: Making a tax-deductible gift Getting involved Thank you! National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, 800 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006, United States, 202-521-2849 Manage preferences |
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