As we celebrate the Colorado Charter School Institute’s (CSI) 20th anniversary, it is an incredible moment to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve been on. What started two decades ago as a small but ambitious effort to expand educational options for Colorado families has grown into a thriving portfolio of 40+ charter public schools, serving over 20,000 students across 24 towns and cities. This milestone isn’t just about numbers; it is about the impact we’ve made on the lives of students, families, and communities statewide.
Since our founding, CSI’s mission has been to foster high-quality charter public school choices that serve all students. Over the years, we have embraced that mission, providing diverse educational models ranging from Montessori and Early College to Personalized Learning and Classical. Each school brings its unique approach to education, yet they are united by a shared commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation. This commitment has shaped CSI into the model authorizer it is today.
As the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) commemorates its 20th anniversary, it’s important to reflect on our history, achievements, and the impact we’ve had on closing the opportunity gap across the state. Since our inception in 2004, CSI’s mission, as established in statute, has prioritized expanding access to quality educational options for underserved students. This foundational commitment has driven our work and the growth of our portfolio of 43 charter schools, serving over 20,000 students today.
A Vision for Serving All Students
From the start, CSI was designed with a clear purpose: to serve students who had historically been underserved by traditional public schools. This focus was not just a goal, but a legislative mandate. The 2004 bill that established CSI emphasized the importance of recruiting and retaining underserved students, and required charter applicants to develop specific plans for community outreach aimed at these populations. As former Representative Terrance Carroll recalled, “We changed the political landscape and how we talked about [a statewide charter authorizer]. We focused more on what this doing for students of color. How do we benefit our most at-risk students? How do we put them on par and give them an opportunity to be successful?”
This commitment to serving all students has shaped every aspect of CSI’s work. Today, our schools are diverse in their educational models, but united in their goal of providing all students, particularly those from vulnerable populations, with the tools they need to thrive.
A Commitment to Equity in Funding
A key focus of CSI’s work has always been ensuring that students in CSI-authorized schools receive equitable funding compared to their peers in district schools. The early legislation that established CSI included provisions for the state to withhold per-pupil revenue from districts for students attending CSI-authorized schools. However, it wasn’t until 2024-25 that full Mill Levy Equalization was achieved, securing long-overdue financial parity for CSI schools. This victory is a testament to years of persistent advocacy and collaboration between CSI, CSI schools, legislators, and education partners.
Navigating Early Challenges
CSI’s journey was not without its challenges. As a newly established statewide authorizer, CSI faced questions about its role in relation to local school districts and how to balance school autonomy with accountability. In addition to these philosophical debates, CSI encountered both operational and structural hurdles typical of any new organization. However, through collaboration with education partners and a commitment to its mission, CSI overcame these initial barriers and successfully laid the groundwork for future growth and success.
(Photo: Dan Schaller, Daniel Furman, Brenda Dickhoner, Terry Croy Lewis, Angelina Sierra-Sandoval, and other partners attending the bill signing).
Evolving as a Model Authorizer
As CSI matured, so too did our approach to authorizing. From the beginning, we recognized the importance of balancing autonomy with accountability. CSI’s schools have the freedom to select the educational models and practices that best meet the needs of their communities, but they are also held to high standards of academic, financial, and operational performance. CSI conducts annual reviews to ensure schools are meeting these expectations and provides targeted support to help them improve where needed.
CSI has also developed innovative initiatives, such as our partnership authorization model, which allows us to collaborate with school districts to improve charter school outcomes. This initiative, launched in 2013, has expanded our ability to share best practices and support high-quality authorizing across the state.
(Photo: CSI hosted its first English Language Development (ELD) Learning Lab in February 2024 at The Academy of Charter Schools).
Advancing Innovation in Education
Throughout its 20-year history, CSI has continually expanded the frontiers of public education. We have embraced diverse educational models, from Montessori and Early College to Classical and Personalized Learning. Our schools serve students in urban, suburban, and rural communities, ensuring that educational innovation reaches every corner of the state.
CSI has also been at the forefront of reimagining how to support schools in an ever-changing educational landscape. From addressing mental health and school safety needs to supporting multilingual learners and developing teacher mentoring and school food programs, CSI’s holistic approach ensures that our schools are equipped to meet the diverse needs of their students.
Our focus has always been on serving the whole child, and we remain committed to providing the resources, training, and advocacy necessary to support schools in their mission to provide high-quality education to all students.
Looking to the Future
As we celebrate 20 years of success, CSI remains committed to its founding mission of serving all students and providing equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for all. We have evolved into a nationally recognized model authorizer, leading the way in best practices for charter school oversight and support. Our schools continue to innovate, adapt, and meet the diverse needs of students across Colorado. In fact, CSI will be releasing an Innovative Schools Guidebook in January 2025 which will describe the support CSI currently provides to foster innovative models, including flexible application processes, individual consultation with potential applicants, facilities and governance support, and more.
The next 20 years hold immense promise. With full funding equity achieved and a solid foundation of schools that prioritize student success, we are poised to continue expanding access to quality educational options and advocating for the needs of all students.