Why is Professional Development Important for Charter School Authorizers?
Charter school authorizers play a crucial role in ensuring that the schools in their portfolios provide a high-quality education to students. Yet, many who take on the role of authorizer may not have specifically prepared for these responsibilities. Often times, individuals who are new to charter school authorizing come to the job with broad experience in public policy, school finance, serving special populations of students, or perhaps a strength in project management. However, they may lack specific expertise in some of the core functions of a charter school authorizer. Professional development opportunities for charter school authorizers remain limited, leaving newcomers to the profession with little formal training or peer support. This is where professional development (PD) focused specifically on the role and responsibilities of a charter school authorizer becomes essential for success.
The Complex Role of Charter School Authorizers
At its core, the work of a charter school authorizer is multifaceted. From approving or denying charter applications to overseeing the performance of charter schools, the tasks can be overwhelming.
As an authorizer, you need:
- A clear framework for evidence-based decision-making
- A deep understanding of the state charter laws and performance standards
- A clear understanding of effective practices in charter school governance, management, and oversight
- Experience in assessing whether schools in your portfolio are meeting their goals
Without the enrichment of professional development, many authorizers are left to navigate this complex landscape without the tools, skills, and support necessary to succeed.
How PD Can Serve as the Key to Effective Authorizing Across All Areas
For those just starting out, professional development offers foundational knowledge about the essential functions of authorizing, such as application review, performance contracting, oversight, and renewal processes. For experienced authorizers, it provides an opportunity to refine and optimize practices. Courses, webinars, and networking events designed for authorizers can help build essential skills, connect the dots between the various responsibilities of the job, and equip you with the tools needed to create a more efficient and effective authorizing process.
Take, for example, the importance of understanding charter school contracts and performance frameworks. Authorizers need to know how to structure their performance contracts in a way that supports positive outcomes for schools while holding them accountable. A professional development opportunity zeroed in on performance contracting can teach you the ins and outs of creating strong, clear contracts that set the stage for a successful oversight relationship.
When it comes to oversight, having a transparent process aligned to your performance framework is crucial. Choosing to seek out professional development that will provide you with a nationwide or even a state-wide lens can help you assess whether your current oversight processes are effective, ensuring that you can make informed decisions that contribute to continuous school improvement and ultimately, more positive student outcomes.
Another area that requires skills and in-depth knowledge is intervention. When a charter school fails to meet expectations, authorizers must act swiftly and decisively. Professional development opportunities can prepare you to think through what intervention looks like with equity top of mind. This knowledge can help you navigate the difficult decisions surrounding interventions, ensuring that you have a strategic approach to turn around struggling schools while focusing on the best interests of students and community.
Finally, and perhaps most crucially, professional development opportunities can often provide you with a community of fellow authorizers also dedicated to high-quality practices. Connecting with thought partners and sharing ideas will create a proactive mindset, setting up your authorizing practice for success when and if intervention becomes necessary.
Building a Rich Professional Development Experience
By incorporating a variety of professional development modalities into your annual PD plan, you can continually strengthen your expertise, while balancing your investment of time and resources. A robust plan may include all the following experiences:
- Conferences: Events such as the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Annual Conference or smaller state-level conferences, where authorizers can network, share best practices, and attend expert-led sessions.
- Technical Assistance: Customized support provided by qualified consultants at the authorizer’s office or schools.
- Live Webinars: Real-time, topic-specific sessions with opportunities for Q&A.
- Online Courses: Self-paced modules covering foundational and advanced topics.
- Peer Learning Communities: Regularly scheduled group discussions or forums to share challenges, successes, and strategies among authorizers.
- Newsletter Subscriptions: Regular updates and research findings on charter school oversight and best practices.
Creating a Consistent Framework for Success
Investing in professional development enables charter school authorizers to assess their current practices, identify areas for improvement, and develop a consistent and well-defined framework for their work. It equips authorizers to engage in evidence-based decision-making and to implement a structured approach to the various phases of charter school oversight—whether that be approving applications, conducting renewal reviews, or implementing interventions.
Get Started
SchoolWorks offers a variety of professional development support for authorizers, including online courses, free webinars, customized technical assistance, and more. To learn more or if you’re simply looking to connect with our authorizing experts, email us anytime at hello@schoolworks.org.
Article written by Kim Perron, President and Owner of SchoolWorks.