Educators are ideal for creating innovative public schools to meet community needs, but, as we know, starting schools isn't easy. Luckily, federal legislation is on the table that can help.
We are thrilled to announce that Spencer Russell, founder of Toddlers CAN Read, will be a keynote speaker at the 2024 National Charter Schools Conference!
Read more below about this impressive addition to our keynote lineup.
RECAP: 2024 State Legislative Spring Update
With many state legislative sessions wrapped up for 2024, now is a good time to take stock of how charter school supporters fared in their advocacy efforts this year.
Here are just a few wins we’ve seen from states in early 2024:
Iowa recently enacted a law that included a per-pupil increase in charter school funding and improved access to facilities.
Georgia enacted legislation that provides additional funding for charter school principals and superintendents.
Idaho overhauled their charter school law and fixed a threat to facilities funding for the state’s charter schools.
New Mexico defeated a resolution that would have negatively impacted their state authorizing entity.
UNDERSTAND: Why Educators Need Pre-Planning Grants
Educators are best positioned to build innovative new schools to meet their communities’ needs, but currently, there is no consistent public funding source to support educators during the application phase of developing a new public charter school.
Here are three reasons why this needs to change:
Publicly funded pre-planning grants will help level the playing field for aspiring school leaders with less access to philanthropy, such as educators from low-income backgrounds, people of color, or those who live in rural areas.
Writing a successful application requires time, resources, and expert input. Available federal funding would give a fair shot to educators who may not have access to philanthropy or significant personal resources to support this process.
A charter application should be a roadmap for a strong school, and allowing funds already dedicated to supporting new charter schools to be used for pre-planning grants makes sense.
We are excited to announce that Spencer Russell, founder of Toddlers CAN Read, will be gracing the stage as a keynote speaker for the 2024 National Charter Schools Conference!
Spencer is a groundbreaking entrepreneur and educator helping thousands of parents teach their children to read at an early age.
A Harriett Ball Teacher Excellence award-winning former teacher, he has become a trailblazer in literacy innovation. He has gained widespread recognition for his unique approach and dedication to helping kids get the best start at their education.
He recently gave a keynote on "Why We Should Stop Talking About the Literacy Crisis" at SXSW EDU, and his work has earned him features on major platforms like the TikTok Good Sparks series, FOX, and Parents.com.
Spencer's keynote address is bound to inspire and captivate us all —
What: This month, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CT SDE) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for new public charter schools. The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation is offering grants of up to $150,000 to applicants – schools, operators, community groups, and others – who commit to responding to the new RFP.
Where: If you are interested in learning more or have any questions, email kimr@pclbfoundation.org.
What: Hear from panelists as they dig into lessons learned in the spread of tutoring as a policy solution and share best practices to expand tutoring in public education.
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