When CSI was created 15 years ago, it was the intent of the General Assembly that CSI “model best practices in authorizing charter schools and make those practices available to school districts.” (C.R.S. 22-30.5-503).
CSI has taken this call to model authorizing seriously. We believe in sharing our knowledge and experiences to further authorizing work across the country. That means we share what has worked, and yes, what hasn’t worked. We seek to accomplish this directive in various ways, including:
Partnership Authorization
CSI has provided direct support to 8+ Colorado school district authorizers and counting. CSI’s authorization services include consultation, sharing materials, application reviews, and training. (Learn more about our partnership authorization initiative on our website.)
Authorization Collaboration
CSI is an active member of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA) and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). CSI also partners with the Colorado League of Charter Schools and CDE Schools of Choice office.
We have also looked for innovative ways to engage in model authorizing work. In the fall of 2018, CSI was awarded a three-year $2.6 million National Dissemination Grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation to improve charter school authorizing best practices. Our project, the Tri-State Alliance for Improving District-Led Authorizing, allows us to partner with authorizing organizations from Florida, California, and Colorado to further this work.
Best Practice Sharing
CSI staff members regularly participate in conferences and events to share new research, insights, and information with others. And, we share these presentations and materials with the public on our website.
In line with best-practice sharing, members of the CSI staff will be presenting multiple sessions at the upcoming Colorado League of Charter Schools Conference, including:
- Decoding Your Financials: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You | Amanda Karger, CSI Director of Finance
- Optimizing Teaching and Learning for ALL Through UDL | Clare Vickland, CSI Director of Student Services and Josh Nichols, CSI Special Education Coordinator
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Five Scenarios When Charter Boards Got It Right, Wrong, or Somewhere In Between | Keith Ouweneel, Crown Pointe Academy and John Brendza, CSI School Support Liaison
- Successful Student Outcomes Start with the Support of Special Educators | Josh Nichols, CSI Special Education Coordinator
- Short-Cycle School Program Evaluation | Greg Nusz, CSI Assessment and Program Evaluation Specialist and Nick Stachokus, CSI School Programs Specialist
- A Walk Through the History of Charter Schools in Colorado and the U.S. | John Brendza, CSI School Support Liaison
- Quality Charter Application Reviews Panel | Janet Dinnen, CSI Chief of Staff
We look forward to engaging in opportunities that continue advancing quality authorizing in Colorado and the nation.