Transforming Urban Public Education: Exploring the Potential of City-Based Strategies

The National Charter School Resource Center and the U.S. Department of Education hosted a full-day conference in New Orleans on May 12, 2011. The presenters explored emerging city-based movements that are embracing high-quality charter schools as an integral component of citywide reform initiatives that are designed to improve the quality of public education for all students. 

 Welcome and Introductions

Presenters: Scott Pearson, U.S. Department of Education; Kelly Sparks, National Charter School Resource Center; Sarah Newell Usdin, New Schools for New Orleans

Conference Agenda

Independent Voices in Support of Quality: The Mission of City-Based Charter Support Organizations

Keynote presenter: Phoebe Boyer, Tiger and Robertson Foundations

Reviewing the Current Landscape and Potential of City-Based Strategies

Presenters: Eric Paisner, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; John Kania, FSG

Exploring the Potential of Citywide Charter Strategies

The Promise of Citywide Charter Strategies Report

New York City Education Reform: The History, Challenges and Promise of Crossing the Charter/District Divide

Moderator: Scott Pearson, U.S. Department of Education

Presenters: Phoebe Boyer, Tiger and Robertson Foundations; Robert Hughes, New Visions for Public Schools; James Merriman, New York City Charter School Center

New York City Charter School Center: The First 5 Years

Children First

Charter School Initiative: Concept Paper

Lunch Keynote Address: District-Charter Collaboration: Reflections on Next Steps for Urban School Reform

Keynote presenters: Robin Lake, Center on Reinventing Public Education; Caroline Roemer Shirley, Louisiana Association of Public

District-Charter Collaboration Compacts

Portfolio School Districts Project

Building a Pipeline of High-Quality Charter Schools

Moderator: Robin Lake, Center on Reinventing Public Education

Panelists: Maggie Runyan-Shefa, New Schools for New Orleans; Greg Thompson, Tennessee Charter School Incubator

The New Orleans Model

New Orleans Citywide Results 2005-Present

New Schools for New Orleans: Critical Impact 2006-Present

New Schools for New Orleans: Critical Impact

Launching High-Performing, College Preparatory Charter Schools in Tennessee

Tennessee Charter School Incubator

State Charter Support Organizations Advocating for Urban School Reform

Moderator: Eric Paisner, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Panelists: Jim Griffin, Colorado League of Charter Schools; Jed Wallace, California Charter Schools Association

California City-Specific Strategies

Colorado City-Specific Strategies

Investing in City-Based Strategies: Opportunities, Challenges, and Potential Impact

Moderator: Phoebe Boyer, Tiger and Robertson Foundations

Panelist:Jim Peyser, NewSchools Venture Fund

NewSchools' City Fund Strategy

Concluding Remarks

Presenter: Scott Pearson, U.S. Department of Education