Follow the Resource Center at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference

Tap into the latest developments on federal grants, special education and charters on military bases, and preview a new national database of authorizers and schools. Just follow the National Charter School Resource Center (Resource Center) thread through the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference in Atlanta, June 20-23.

The Resource Center will participate in panel discussions and presentations focused on these topics as well as staff booth 1132 on the main floor of conference exhibitors. Conference attendees are encouraged to visit and review our offerings and discuss issues affecting the development and support of high-quality charter schools.

Charter School Operations: Thinking Outside the Charter Grant Box

June 21, 2011, 3:45–5:00 p.m., Room A407

Federal grants of all types and sizes and from a wide range of agencies are available to charter schools. John Bray, Resource Center senior communications associate, will join Irasema Salcido, founder of the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy in Washington, D.C., and Kristin Yochum, director of intergovernmental affairs for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, for a discussion on creative ways to effectively pursue federal discretionary grants.

Charter School Governance: Authorizer Renewal Decisions Database

June21, 2011, 3:45–5:00 p.m., Room A302

Authorizers, the organizations that grant and oversee charters, play a fundamental role in assuring charter school performance. Joni Pearlman, Resource Center Senior Consultant, will join Erin Pfeltz of the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program and Lyria Boast of the education policy group Public Impact for a discussion about a new database focused on authorizers’ renewals and closures of charter schools.

Charter School Leadership: Special Education Resources

June 21, 2011, 3:45–5:00 p.m., Room B401

Charter schools are being challenged to better serve special education students and improve their achievement. National Charter School Resource Center Advisory Board member and veteran special education administrator and policy analyst Eileen Ahearn will join Beth Giovannetti of the Louisiana Special Education Cooperative and special education researcher and policy authority Lauren Morando Rhim to discuss resources and tools available to help guide charter schools’ provision of the best possible special education services.

Charter Operations: Charter Schools on Military Bases

June 22, 2011, 1:45–3:00 p.m., Room A402

The number of charter schools on military bases is growing. John Bray, Resource Center senior communications associate, will join retired Marine Col. Jane Dye, principal of Belle Chasse Academy in Louisiana, the first charter school started on a military base; U.S. Air Force veteran Mike Toriello, deputy civil engineer at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, who played a key role in the start-up of a charter school on the base; Jean Silvernail, director of the Military Child Education Division for the U.S. Pacific Command; and Army veteran and U.S. Department of Education special advisor for military families Charles Boyer for a discussion about what is driving the trend and what can be learned from the experience.