WHAT'S NEW: Updates from the National Alliance

• We were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA). Sen. Feinstein was a 2016 Champion for Charters and her legacy will live on in our hearts and memories.
• Alert! Applications are open for the Fiscal Year 2024 Charter Schools Program Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools competition.  
• Our latest report takes a deep dive into how charter schools spent their COVID relief funds, and finds charter schools reported spending most of their relief funds on academic recovery, technology, student mental health, and family support.
• The National Alliance is looking for partner organizations with ideas for dissemination and technical assistance support for our National Dissemination Grant.
  • See details and how to submit an RFP. 

APPLY: Charter Schools Program CMO Grants

• Who: The U.S. Department of Education
• What: Applications are now open for the Fiscal Year 2024 Charter Schools Program Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools competition. 
• When: Applications are due January 5, 2024. A pre-application webinar will be held October 10 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET

UNDERSTAND: How Charter Schools Spent ESSER Funding 

While we know, at a high level, how public schools in general spent Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, much less is known about how charter schools used their funding.

What is ESSER funding?

• Congress created the ESSER fund to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on students and schools. Schools could use funding in a variety of ways to meet student needs including purchases to address lost instructional time, mental health services, school facility repairs or improvements, educational technology, or facility sanitization. 

Top takeaways:

• Charter school leaders prioritized academics and staffing when spending their ESSER dollars.
• Charter school leaders continue to adapt to changing needs and increase their focus on academics, physical health, and mental health.
• Charter school leaders have identified staffing as key.
• As charter school leaders work to address the academic and mental health impacts, the focus may vary based on the grade levels the charter serves.
• Charter school leaders are most concerned about student mental health and student achievement, adequate staffing, and the fiscal cliff

Read our full report for a deeper dive into how charter schools spent their COVID relief funds. 

READ: The Charter Blog  

• Charter schools were established to serve as centers of innovation and are in a position to be at the forefront of AI-supported learning. Discover how five charter schools are pioneering the use of AI and using it to improve student outcomes.

• Read about the transformative power of charter schools. Summer policy intern, Kayla Burns, shares how Breakthrough Schools' unique approach to learning helped her achieve her dream of attending Columbia University and becoming a first generation college graduate. 

CELEBRATE 🎉: Local Charter School Successes

• New data from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium released by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in September 2023 reveals that Washington State charter schools are making significant strides in academic performance. Notably, they outpace their statewide peers, especially among Black, Latinx, and low-income students. 
• Last week, Washington, D.C. began the distribution of more than $64 million to nearly 140 public charter schools representing 70 local education agencies in the first installment of the charter teacher pay program. The charter teacher pay program builds on historic investments by the Bowser Administration in DC public and public charter school educators. We applaud our partners at the DC Charter Alliance on their advocacy work to help make this happen. 

ENGAGE: Webinars

Homelessness in Higher Ed: Creative Housing Solutions

• Who: SchoolHouse Connection
• What: Learn more about creative solutions, programs, and strategies to support students experiencing homelessness. 
• When: October 5 at 1 p.m. ET

Safe Schools, Thriving Students

• Who: Learning Policy Institute
• What: This webinar series discusses effective policy approaches that can help create schools that foster student well-being and academic and social emotional learning.  
• When: October 17 at 4 p.m. ET

ATTEND: Upcoming Events

Join these conferences and activities to connect with fellow charter school advocates!

• Sep. 15-Oct. 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
• Oct. 3-5: Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools Annual Conference -- Lancaster, PA
• Oct. 9: Colorado League of Charter Schools 2023 Leadership Summit -- Denver, CO

See more upcoming events. 

READ: What We're Reading

• KIPP Gets Children Into College | The Wall Street Journal
• Oklahoma charter school introduces new phonics-based teaching method, sees growth in reading skills | FOX25
• Charter schools provide school choice to families of all incomes | The Chicago Sun-times

Photo of National Alliance staff members at last week's staff retreat!

That's all for this week! 

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• Making a tax-deductible gift
• Getting involved

Thank you!