Highlights and Accomplishments of the Coalition
While still a relatively "young" organization, the Coalition for
Charter Schools has grown to become an essential resource for the
state's charter schools. While serving and supporting its charter
school members, the Coalition also participates in the national charter
school movement. We are proud to boast a number of accomplishments:
Capacity Building
- Received a three-year capacity building grant from the Walton Family Foundation in
January 2005. The funds helped the Coalition open its new offices, launch our new member
services program, and expanded our ability to deliver technical and professional
development opportunities to charter schools.
- Received a grant from the McCune Foundation in February 2005 that partially supported
our 2005 legislative initiatives.
- Worked in tandem with the Office of Alternative Education to implement two grants
from the PED, for a total of $420,000.
- Contracted with several professional consultants to provide technical assistance to charter school teachers,
administrators and governance council members throughout the state.
- Worked with the Walton Family Foundation Grant Partners Program to provide start-up
and incubating competitive grants to charter schools. During the 2004-05 grant cycle the Coalition rewarded
three, three-year grants.
-
Partnered with the Center for Education Research Outcomes (CREDO) at the Hoover
Institute at Stanford University to help standardize charter school student information
systems. This year, under the NMCCS Powerschool Pilot Program, the Coalition granted
approximately $20,000 to four charter schools, which will now take part in a program
of data collection and evaluation.
- Made progress toward opening Coalition regional offices to ensure full representation and strength as
the primary state charter school organization.
- Launched the new and improved Coalition website: www.nmccs.org.
- Partnered with the New Mexico Public Education Department, the Executive Branch of state
government and other charter school organizations to provide a broader continuum
of services.
Technical Services & Professional Development
- Provided technical assistance to more than 45 charter schools since January 2005.
- Provided
technical assistance to three incubating groups throughout the state.
-
Sponsored Charter School Day on February 14, 2005, with more than 30 schools
participating.
- Hosted three regional professional development mini-workshops in Taos (April 16, 2005),
Albuquerque (May 16) and Las Cruces (April 30).
- Launched on-site school visits throughout the state.
-
Launched a pilot Powerschool program for four charter schools, providing financial
and technical support to implement this new student information system.
- Will continue to sponsor workshops, bootcamps and seminars throughout the year to
serve and support charter schools.
Legislative Advocacy
- Helped pass Senate Bill 455, Public School Capital Outlay Amendments, which increased
lease reimbursements from $300 to $600 per pupil beginning in August 2005.
- Worked for three years toward the successful passage
of House Bill 510 of 2005, Charter School Standards, which requires
districts to include charter schools in district facility master plans.
- Supported Senate Bill 789, which allows charter school students to participate in
district sports and activities.
- Supported five Albuquerque charter schools in their successful protest of a blanket
non-renewal of charter applications in April 2005.
APS, Charters on Same Accountability Page
Albuquerque Journal-April 28, 2008
How refreshing— a bureaucracy demanding a plan for spending money instead of just handing it out by the sack.
The Albuquerque Public Schools board is requiring 19 charter schools present a spending plan before doling out $2.73 million in legislative cash.
Kizito Wijenje, APS' capital master plan director, points out the state won't release money to traditional schools without a spending plan. "We just have the same rule for everyone."
And APS board member Marty Esquivel says "let's treat this like we do other outlay money. Provide us with plans."
On the other side of the equation— and just as refreshing— the charter schools appear eager to belly up to the accountability bar.
Lisa Grover, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools, says the request is "reasonable."
And principal Alan Marks, whose South Valley Academy is waiting on $320,000 to buy its property, says "I think (APS is) trying to be even-handed. That's good."
It's not just good, it's responsible.
|
