Dive Brief:

• The individuals who serve as charter authorizers in many California districts reportedly fill that role in a part-time capacity that inherently means they have limited knowledge about their expected oversight role and limited time to do it well, leading to the creation of regional support networks.
• EdSource reports the Charter Authorizers Regional Support Network is a grant-funded, statewide organization that has offered boot camps, master classes and an annual conference to give authorizers more information about state regulations, timelines and best practices.
• While many on the charter and public school side of the equation believe the network will be good for students and that it could reduce turnover in district authorizer positions, some charter school leaders worry better-informed authorizers might be tempted to micromanage their organizations or be too harsh on applications.

Dive Insight:

Laws vary from state to state when it comes to covering the costs of charter school authorization processes and outlining the processes themselves. Some states require districts to approve charter schools in their attendance areas, while others allow third parties, like colleges, to do it. The variation leads to very different charter school landscapes around the country.

In Michigan, schools, community colleges and universities can all authorize charters, which has led to massive growth in the sector, particularly in Detroit, where the level of competition among schools has become staggering. Charter and public schools all spend significant amounts of time and money on recruitment, offering enrollment bonuses for families and taking resources away from the classroom.