How to Start and Successfully Operate a Charter School

How to Start and Successfully Operate a Charter School

Author: Dr. John von Rohr

Publisher: Trafford Publishing

Published: 2014-11-22

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 1490751254

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"Dr. von Rohr is a force in charter schools in the United States" Joan Lange, National Schools Director, The Challenge Foundation. "Dr. von Rohr's Spartanburg Preparatory School exemplifies the original ideals of the charter school movement. His dedication and leadership have led to the school ranking near the top in statewide academics while the funding is near the bottom." Dr. Wayne Brazell, Superintendent, South Carolina Public Charter School District


Book Synopsis How to Start and Successfully Operate a Charter School by : Dr. John von Rohr

Download or read book How to Start and Successfully Operate a Charter School written by Dr. John von Rohr and published by Trafford Publishing. This book was released on 2014-11-22 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Dr. von Rohr is a force in charter schools in the United States" Joan Lange, National Schools Director, The Challenge Foundation. "Dr. von Rohr's Spartanburg Preparatory School exemplifies the original ideals of the charter school movement. His dedication and leadership have led to the school ranking near the top in statewide academics while the funding is near the bottom." Dr. Wayne Brazell, Superintendent, South Carolina Public Charter School District


Charter School Leadership

Charter School Leadership

Author: Cameron Curry

Publisher: R&L Education

Published: 2013-04-16

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 1475803281

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Leadership is a critical piece of managing a high performing public charter school. Understanding the issues and the challenges faced daily by school leaders takes on a significant role when creating, managing, and sustaining high expectations and performance. With limited resources available on this industry specific topic, Cameron Curry has created a user-friendly guide to help emerging or seasoned school leaders focus on five key elements for school success. Based on his 14 years of managing three high impact public charter schools, the author has utilized these principles and witnessed firsthand the benefits they bring to students, parents, and his school colleagues. Understanding the importance of your school’s mission and creating a great school culture are just part of a leader’s responsibility. The elements of embracing parent involvement, becoming an effective communicator, and learning how to maximize the potential of all school employees, creates a further understanding of what it takes to be an effective charter school leader.


Book Synopsis Charter School Leadership by : Cameron Curry

Download or read book Charter School Leadership written by Cameron Curry and published by R&L Education. This book was released on 2013-04-16 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leadership is a critical piece of managing a high performing public charter school. Understanding the issues and the challenges faced daily by school leaders takes on a significant role when creating, managing, and sustaining high expectations and performance. With limited resources available on this industry specific topic, Cameron Curry has created a user-friendly guide to help emerging or seasoned school leaders focus on five key elements for school success. Based on his 14 years of managing three high impact public charter schools, the author has utilized these principles and witnessed firsthand the benefits they bring to students, parents, and his school colleagues. Understanding the importance of your school’s mission and creating a great school culture are just part of a leader’s responsibility. The elements of embracing parent involvement, becoming an effective communicator, and learning how to maximize the potential of all school employees, creates a further understanding of what it takes to be an effective charter school leader.


Charter School City

Charter School City

Author: Douglas N. Harris

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2020-07-15

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 022669478X

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In the wake of the tragedy and destruction that came with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, public schools in New Orleans became part of an almost unthinkable experiment—eliminating the traditional public education system and completely replacing it with charter schools and school choice. Fifteen years later, the results have been remarkable, and the complex lessons learned should alter the way we think about American education. New Orleans became the first US city ever to adopt a school system based on the principles of markets and economics. When the state took over all of the city’s public schools, it turned them over to non-profit charter school managers accountable under performance-based contracts. Students were no longer obligated to attend a specific school based upon their address, allowing families to act like consumers and choose schools in any neighborhood. The teacher union contract, tenure, and certification rules were eliminated, giving schools autonomy and control to hire and fire as they pleased. In Charter School City, Douglas N. Harris provides an inside look at how and why these reform decisions were made and offers many surprising findings from one of the most extensive and rigorous evaluations of a district school reform ever conducted. Through close examination of the results, Harris finds that this unprecedented experiment was a noteworthy success on almost every measurable student outcome. But, as Harris shows, New Orleans was uniquely situated for these reforms to work well and that this market-based reform still required some specific and active roles for government. Letting free markets rule on their own without government involvement will not generate the kinds of changes their advocates suggest. Combining the evidence from New Orleans with that from other cities, Harris draws out the broader lessons of this unprecedented reform effort. At a time when charter school debates are more based on ideology than data, this book is a powerful, evidence-based, and in-depth look at how we can rethink the roles for governments, markets, and nonprofit organizations in education to ensure that America’s schools fulfill their potential for all students.


Book Synopsis Charter School City by : Douglas N. Harris

Download or read book Charter School City written by Douglas N. Harris and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2020-07-15 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the wake of the tragedy and destruction that came with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, public schools in New Orleans became part of an almost unthinkable experiment—eliminating the traditional public education system and completely replacing it with charter schools and school choice. Fifteen years later, the results have been remarkable, and the complex lessons learned should alter the way we think about American education. New Orleans became the first US city ever to adopt a school system based on the principles of markets and economics. When the state took over all of the city’s public schools, it turned them over to non-profit charter school managers accountable under performance-based contracts. Students were no longer obligated to attend a specific school based upon their address, allowing families to act like consumers and choose schools in any neighborhood. The teacher union contract, tenure, and certification rules were eliminated, giving schools autonomy and control to hire and fire as they pleased. In Charter School City, Douglas N. Harris provides an inside look at how and why these reform decisions were made and offers many surprising findings from one of the most extensive and rigorous evaluations of a district school reform ever conducted. Through close examination of the results, Harris finds that this unprecedented experiment was a noteworthy success on almost every measurable student outcome. But, as Harris shows, New Orleans was uniquely situated for these reforms to work well and that this market-based reform still required some specific and active roles for government. Letting free markets rule on their own without government involvement will not generate the kinds of changes their advocates suggest. Combining the evidence from New Orleans with that from other cities, Harris draws out the broader lessons of this unprecedented reform effort. At a time when charter school debates are more based on ideology than data, this book is a powerful, evidence-based, and in-depth look at how we can rethink the roles for governments, markets, and nonprofit organizations in education to ensure that America’s schools fulfill their potential for all students.


Charter Schools

Charter Schools

Author: Deb Yoder

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Published: 2007-01-23

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 1452031835

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Charter schools are public schools that may be started by anyone willing to do the work and who can get approval from a chartering authority. Over the last ten years, charter schools have popped up all over the nation. These schools are officially public schools, but there are a few differences. Charters are the epitome of local control. They offer a much wider variety of choices to parents and students than do the traditional public schools. In their years of being directly involved in charter school teaching and administration, Deb and Judy have seen the excitement these schools have brought to education, but they have also found a few unsettling pitfalls that need to be avoided to insure charter school success. They have compiled their thoughts and experiences with the intention of publishing a book for charter school boards and principals. This book could also be of assistance to those groups that are interested in starting a charter school or joining the charter school community. Deb and Judy hope that sharing the lessons they have learned can help others to avoid some common mistakes that have been made early in the charter school movement.


Book Synopsis Charter Schools by : Deb Yoder

Download or read book Charter Schools written by Deb Yoder and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2007-01-23 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Charter schools are public schools that may be started by anyone willing to do the work and who can get approval from a chartering authority. Over the last ten years, charter schools have popped up all over the nation. These schools are officially public schools, but there are a few differences. Charters are the epitome of local control. They offer a much wider variety of choices to parents and students than do the traditional public schools. In their years of being directly involved in charter school teaching and administration, Deb and Judy have seen the excitement these schools have brought to education, but they have also found a few unsettling pitfalls that need to be avoided to insure charter school success. They have compiled their thoughts and experiences with the intention of publishing a book for charter school boards and principals. This book could also be of assistance to those groups that are interested in starting a charter school or joining the charter school community. Deb and Judy hope that sharing the lessons they have learned can help others to avoid some common mistakes that have been made early in the charter school movement.


Charter School Grants 2.0

Charter School Grants 2.0

Author: Peggy Downs

Publisher: Granting Your Vision

Published: 2024-03-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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Unlock Your School's Funding Potential with Charter School Grants 2.0 Are you ready to take your school's funding to new heights? "Charter School Grants 2.0: Maximizing Your School's Funding Potential" is your essential guide to securing grants for your charter school, packed with tips, strategies, and tools to help you succeed. What You'll Discover: Foundation Grants: Learn how to craft compelling proposals that resonate with foundation funders, along with practical tips for finding and applying for foundation grants. Federal Grants: Navigate the complex world of federal grants with ease, including step-by-step guidance on federal grant applications and insider strategies for success. Expert Insights: Benefit from the author's 20+ years of experience in charter school education, encompassing roles as a founder, teacher, director, and board member. With 5+ years of experience specifically dedicated to working with charter schools and nonprofits to develop successful grant proposals, Peggy Downs offers a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to help you achieve your funding goals. Real-Life Examples: Explore real grant proposals that have secured funding and learn how to apply these strategies to your own grant writing efforts. Practical Tools: Gain access to practical tools, templates, and resources to streamline your grant writing process and save you time. About the Author: Peggy Downs is a seasoned education consultant and author dedicated to helping schools secure the funding they need to thrive. With her expertise in grant writing and program development, Peggy has helped numerous schools and nonprofits achieve their funding goals. Bonus Resources: Order now and receive a bonus package of resources to support your grant writing efforts, including: Grant Readiness Checklist Grants Tracker 50 Grants For Schools and Nonprofits Sample Program Budget Sample Award Summary Take Your School to the Next Level: Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your school's funding potential. Order "Charter School Grants 2.0" today and start your journey to securing the funding your school deserves.


Book Synopsis Charter School Grants 2.0 by : Peggy Downs

Download or read book Charter School Grants 2.0 written by Peggy Downs and published by Granting Your Vision. This book was released on 2024-03-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unlock Your School's Funding Potential with Charter School Grants 2.0 Are you ready to take your school's funding to new heights? "Charter School Grants 2.0: Maximizing Your School's Funding Potential" is your essential guide to securing grants for your charter school, packed with tips, strategies, and tools to help you succeed. What You'll Discover: Foundation Grants: Learn how to craft compelling proposals that resonate with foundation funders, along with practical tips for finding and applying for foundation grants. Federal Grants: Navigate the complex world of federal grants with ease, including step-by-step guidance on federal grant applications and insider strategies for success. Expert Insights: Benefit from the author's 20+ years of experience in charter school education, encompassing roles as a founder, teacher, director, and board member. With 5+ years of experience specifically dedicated to working with charter schools and nonprofits to develop successful grant proposals, Peggy Downs offers a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to help you achieve your funding goals. Real-Life Examples: Explore real grant proposals that have secured funding and learn how to apply these strategies to your own grant writing efforts. Practical Tools: Gain access to practical tools, templates, and resources to streamline your grant writing process and save you time. About the Author: Peggy Downs is a seasoned education consultant and author dedicated to helping schools secure the funding they need to thrive. With her expertise in grant writing and program development, Peggy has helped numerous schools and nonprofits achieve their funding goals. Bonus Resources: Order now and receive a bonus package of resources to support your grant writing efforts, including: Grant Readiness Checklist Grants Tracker 50 Grants For Schools and Nonprofits Sample Program Budget Sample Award Summary Take Your School to the Next Level: Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your school's funding potential. Order "Charter School Grants 2.0" today and start your journey to securing the funding your school deserves.


On the Rocketship

On the Rocketship

Author: Richard Whitmire

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2014-05-15

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 1118611330

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The face of American education is evolving—and the roadmap is clear On the Rocketship: How Top Charter Schools are Pushing the Envelope examines the rise and expansion of leading charter school network Rocketship, revealing the "secret sauce" that makes a successful program. A strong narrative with a timely message, the book explores how Rocketship started and the difficulties encountered as it expands. Designing schools for children who have been failed by traditional schools is extremely challenging work. Setbacks are inevitable. Later in the book the narrative shifts to the national picture, exploring how high performing charter schools are changing the education landscape in cities such as Denver, Memphis, and Houston. The book emerges just as charter schools are running into stiff political opposition in New York City and elsewhere. Even in San Jose, Rocketship's home base, the pushback against charter schools is gaining speed. On the Rocketship becomes a valuable resource for explaining what's at stake in this battle. Lose these schools, in New York, San Jose and other cities, and low-income and minority students lose their best shot at a quality education. Written by a veteran journalist who followed Rocketship through a school year, the book explores some of the factors that make Rocketship and other charters successful, including the blended learning that was pioneered at charter schools, especially Rocketship. Many schools around the country are looking to Rocketship as a model for implementing blended learning. The interplay between charter schools and blended learning is setting a change in motion, and the American education system is ready to evolve. On the Rocketship details this phenomenon, providing insights for educators across the nation.


Book Synopsis On the Rocketship by : Richard Whitmire

Download or read book On the Rocketship written by Richard Whitmire and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-05-15 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The face of American education is evolving—and the roadmap is clear On the Rocketship: How Top Charter Schools are Pushing the Envelope examines the rise and expansion of leading charter school network Rocketship, revealing the "secret sauce" that makes a successful program. A strong narrative with a timely message, the book explores how Rocketship started and the difficulties encountered as it expands. Designing schools for children who have been failed by traditional schools is extremely challenging work. Setbacks are inevitable. Later in the book the narrative shifts to the national picture, exploring how high performing charter schools are changing the education landscape in cities such as Denver, Memphis, and Houston. The book emerges just as charter schools are running into stiff political opposition in New York City and elsewhere. Even in San Jose, Rocketship's home base, the pushback against charter schools is gaining speed. On the Rocketship becomes a valuable resource for explaining what's at stake in this battle. Lose these schools, in New York, San Jose and other cities, and low-income and minority students lose their best shot at a quality education. Written by a veteran journalist who followed Rocketship through a school year, the book explores some of the factors that make Rocketship and other charters successful, including the blended learning that was pioneered at charter schools, especially Rocketship. Many schools around the country are looking to Rocketship as a model for implementing blended learning. The interplay between charter schools and blended learning is setting a change in motion, and the American education system is ready to evolve. On the Rocketship details this phenomenon, providing insights for educators across the nation.


Adventures of Charter School Creators

Adventures of Charter School Creators

Author: Terrence E. Deal

Publisher: R&L Education

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 9781578861668

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Adventures of Charter School Creators takes the reader inside the world of individual educational entrepreneurs who have created charter schools from scratch and lived to tell about it. Drawn from examples across the country, individuals (and a few teams) tell their stories of the victories they enjoyed and the defeats they overcame to create their schools. They include an Episcopal priest working in the Pico-Union community of Los Angeles, a corporate attorney in Miami, a manpower training specialist in East Saint Louis, the chief financial officer of a major African American church in New York City, a retired military officer in North Carolina, as well as experienced school teachers and administrators. From these stories Deal and Hentschke extract and examine the issues of school leadership that are peculiar to those school leaders who have chosen to create schools from scratch. This book: Examines entrepreneurial leadership as a concrete manifestation of school leadership. Sheds light on the concrete differences between leadership in relatively autonomous start-up charters and the relatively dependent traditional schools. Anchors charter school leadership within the context of general (non-education) leadership and distinguishes it from what is typically associated with school leadership today. It describes: The general forces in society which are pushing public K-12 education into market-based initiatives. The general leadership issues of any break-away or start-up enterprise. Will be of interest to all educators.


Book Synopsis Adventures of Charter School Creators by : Terrence E. Deal

Download or read book Adventures of Charter School Creators written by Terrence E. Deal and published by R&L Education. This book was released on 2004 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adventures of Charter School Creators takes the reader inside the world of individual educational entrepreneurs who have created charter schools from scratch and lived to tell about it. Drawn from examples across the country, individuals (and a few teams) tell their stories of the victories they enjoyed and the defeats they overcame to create their schools. They include an Episcopal priest working in the Pico-Union community of Los Angeles, a corporate attorney in Miami, a manpower training specialist in East Saint Louis, the chief financial officer of a major African American church in New York City, a retired military officer in North Carolina, as well as experienced school teachers and administrators. From these stories Deal and Hentschke extract and examine the issues of school leadership that are peculiar to those school leaders who have chosen to create schools from scratch. This book: Examines entrepreneurial leadership as a concrete manifestation of school leadership. Sheds light on the concrete differences between leadership in relatively autonomous start-up charters and the relatively dependent traditional schools. Anchors charter school leadership within the context of general (non-education) leadership and distinguishes it from what is typically associated with school leadership today. It describes: The general forces in society which are pushing public K-12 education into market-based initiatives. The general leadership issues of any break-away or start-up enterprise. Will be of interest to all educators.


Upstart Startup

Upstart Startup

Author: James Nehring

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 9780807741627

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Direct from the heart of public school reform, James Nehring offers a complete tour of one charter school -- walking us through the school's vision of learning, the day-today challenges, the many achievements, and the lessons learned. From the unique perspective of school principal and then full-time teacher, Nehring takes us deep into the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School, providing rare insight into the strategic issues involved in launching a new school. This engaging narrative is certain to add credibility and inspiration to all those who are interested in learning how charter schools operate and how public education might be renewed in the process. The message of this book is at once simple and profound: charter schools work!


Book Synopsis Upstart Startup by : James Nehring

Download or read book Upstart Startup written by James Nehring and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Direct from the heart of public school reform, James Nehring offers a complete tour of one charter school -- walking us through the school's vision of learning, the day-today challenges, the many achievements, and the lessons learned. From the unique perspective of school principal and then full-time teacher, Nehring takes us deep into the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School, providing rare insight into the strategic issues involved in launching a new school. This engaging narrative is certain to add credibility and inspiration to all those who are interested in learning how charter schools operate and how public education might be renewed in the process. The message of this book is at once simple and profound: charter schools work!


Successful Charter Schools

Successful Charter Schools

Author: U. S. Department of Education

Publisher: International Law & Taxation Pub

Published: 2004-12-01

Total Pages: 72

ISBN-13: 9781410218599

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Twelve years after the first charter school was launched, the charter school movement is now entering its adolescence. Like many pre-teens, it's had its share of growing pains, but I am confident that it is about to hit a growth spurt. That is because charter schools are enormously popular with their primary clients --parents and students-- and because they are starting to show promising results in terms of student achievement. The basic tenets of charter schools-give them room to be innovative, hold them accountable for results, and let parents decide if they meet the needs of their children --are perfectly aligned with the historic No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which also focuses on accountability for results in return for more flexibility, and with providing more options for parents than ever before. One of the promises of charter schools is that they can serve as laboratories of innovation --they can be public education's "R&D" arm. Because they have greater autonomy than traditional public schools, and since they tend to attract pioneering educators, they can try out new approaches to education that, if proven effective, can be transplanted back into the larger public education system. It is in this spirit that we highlight eight of the most successful charter schools in the United States. These schools were chosen after an exhaustive national search. They were primarily selected because they have demonstrated success over time in boosting student achievement. Surely many more charter schools could have been identified, and these should not be considered "the best" charter schools in the nation. Nevertheless, they are among the best, and each has much to teach other charterschools --and traditional public schools-- about teaching and learning, management strategies, staff development, and many other topics.


Book Synopsis Successful Charter Schools by : U. S. Department of Education

Download or read book Successful Charter Schools written by U. S. Department of Education and published by International Law & Taxation Pub. This book was released on 2004-12-01 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twelve years after the first charter school was launched, the charter school movement is now entering its adolescence. Like many pre-teens, it's had its share of growing pains, but I am confident that it is about to hit a growth spurt. That is because charter schools are enormously popular with their primary clients --parents and students-- and because they are starting to show promising results in terms of student achievement. The basic tenets of charter schools-give them room to be innovative, hold them accountable for results, and let parents decide if they meet the needs of their children --are perfectly aligned with the historic No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which also focuses on accountability for results in return for more flexibility, and with providing more options for parents than ever before. One of the promises of charter schools is that they can serve as laboratories of innovation --they can be public education's "R&D" arm. Because they have greater autonomy than traditional public schools, and since they tend to attract pioneering educators, they can try out new approaches to education that, if proven effective, can be transplanted back into the larger public education system. It is in this spirit that we highlight eight of the most successful charter schools in the United States. These schools were chosen after an exhaustive national search. They were primarily selected because they have demonstrated success over time in boosting student achievement. Surely many more charter schools could have been identified, and these should not be considered "the best" charter schools in the nation. Nevertheless, they are among the best, and each has much to teach other charterschools --and traditional public schools-- about teaching and learning, management strategies, staff development, and many other topics.


From Promising to Proven: A Wise Giver's Guide to Expanding on the Success of Charter Schools

From Promising to Proven: A Wise Giver's Guide to Expanding on the Success of Charter Schools

Author: Karl Zinsmeister

Publisher: The Philanthropy Roundtable

Published: 2014-03-25

Total Pages: 219

ISBN-13: 0989220249

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Twenty-five years ago, charter schools hadn’t even been dreamed up. Today they are mushrooming across the country. There are 6,500 charter schools operating in 42 states, with more than 600 new ones opening every year. Within a blink there will be 3 million American children attending these freshly invented institutions (and 5 million students in them by the end of this decade). It is philanthropy that has made all of this possible. Without generous donors, charter schools could never have rooted and multiplied in this way. And philanthropists have driven relentless annual improvements—better trained school founders, more prepared teachers, sharper curricula, smarter technology—that have allowed charter schools to churn out impressive results. Studies show that student performance in charter schools is accelerating every year, as high-performing models replace weaker ones. Charter schools as a whole already exceed conventional schools in results. The top charters that are now growing so fast elevate student outcomes more than any other schools in the U.S.—especially among poor and minority children. Charter schooling may be the most important social innovation of our age, and it is just beginning to boom. Philanthropists anxious to improve America have more opportunities to make a difference through charter schools than in almost any other way. This book provides the facts, examples, cautionaries, inspiration, research, and practical experience that philanthropists will need as charter schooling shifts gears from promising experiment to mainstream movement bringing improved opportunity to millions of students.


Book Synopsis From Promising to Proven: A Wise Giver's Guide to Expanding on the Success of Charter Schools by : Karl Zinsmeister

Download or read book From Promising to Proven: A Wise Giver's Guide to Expanding on the Success of Charter Schools written by Karl Zinsmeister and published by The Philanthropy Roundtable. This book was released on 2014-03-25 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twenty-five years ago, charter schools hadn’t even been dreamed up. Today they are mushrooming across the country. There are 6,500 charter schools operating in 42 states, with more than 600 new ones opening every year. Within a blink there will be 3 million American children attending these freshly invented institutions (and 5 million students in them by the end of this decade). It is philanthropy that has made all of this possible. Without generous donors, charter schools could never have rooted and multiplied in this way. And philanthropists have driven relentless annual improvements—better trained school founders, more prepared teachers, sharper curricula, smarter technology—that have allowed charter schools to churn out impressive results. Studies show that student performance in charter schools is accelerating every year, as high-performing models replace weaker ones. Charter schools as a whole already exceed conventional schools in results. The top charters that are now growing so fast elevate student outcomes more than any other schools in the U.S.—especially among poor and minority children. Charter schooling may be the most important social innovation of our age, and it is just beginning to boom. Philanthropists anxious to improve America have more opportunities to make a difference through charter schools than in almost any other way. This book provides the facts, examples, cautionaries, inspiration, research, and practical experience that philanthropists will need as charter schooling shifts gears from promising experiment to mainstream movement bringing improved opportunity to millions of students.