CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) issued the following statement today regarding the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC):
“The goal of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers is to advance excellence in public charter schools as a way to improve public education for all children. We are committed to high standards, fair treatment of all students, public transparency, and fiscal responsibility of all charter schools. We promote those values to a wide range of audiences that hold a variety of beliefs.
NACSA has always been and will continue to be a non-partisan organization that works with many organizations interested in improving public education, regardless of their political party or ideology. We have worked with Democrats for Education Reform, the Progressive Policy Institute, the Black Alliance for Educational Options, the Aspen Institute, the National Governors Association, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), among others. As an organization focused exclusively on charter schools, NACSA does not take positions on other issues in which these organizations may be involved.
Our work with ALEC has been focused entirely on promoting excellent charter schools. As part of our annual review processes, however, we determined that alternative strategies would be more effective in achieving these policy objectives. Thus we will not be renewing our membership in ALEC when it expires next month.”
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) is committed to advancing excellence and accountability in the charter school sector and to increasing the number of high-quality charter schools across the nation. To accomplish this mission, NACSA works to improve the policies and practices of authorizers—the organizations designated to approve, monitor, renew, and, if necessary, close charter schools. NACSA provides training, consulting, and policy guidance to authorizers. It also advocates for laws and policies that raise the bar for excellence among authorizers and the schools they charter. Visit www.qualitycharters.org.