Quality Authorizing for Online and Blended-Learning Charter Schools

This April 2011 report from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) highlights key challenges facing authorizers of online and blended-learning charter schools. The report discusses issues such as accountability for student achievement, the provision of special education, building authorizers’ capacity, and funding levels for online programs. Characteristics of online charter schools are described in the report, which notes that the policy framework for the schools varies widely by state and that they often operate in conjunction with for-profit EMOs. The report involved interviews with authorizers in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Utah. NACSA engaged the Evergreen Education Group and The Donnell-Kay Foundation, both of Colorado, to prepare the report.