Advocacy Agenda 2011
The advocacy agenda of the WI Charter Schools Association is based on the wants and needs of the over 200 charter schools that WCSA represents. WCSA also considers the state and nationwide movement for charter schools when developing policy priorities. WCSA actively advocates for increased autonomy and accountability for and quality of Wisconsin's public charter schools.
The 2011 Advocacy Agenda includes:
1. Expand authorizing options: The state should amend its charter law to create a state charter school board that would have the ability to authorize charter schools throughout the state and allow CESA districts to serve as authorizers within their boundaries.
2. Improve authorizing practices: The state should amend its charter law to require charter authorizers to adhere to the principles and standards of quality authorizing developed by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.
3. Strengthen charter autonomy: The state should amend its charter law to require charter schools to be governed by fiscally and legally independent governing boards. The state should also amend its charter law to require charter school to be non-profit education corporations and make clear that 2r charter schools are their own local educational agencies.
4. Promote growth of quality charters: The state should amend its charter law to allow for the creation of multiple schools under a single charter and for an effective governing board to oversee schools under more than one charter contract.
5. Eliminate all caps on growth: The state should amend its charter law to eliminate both of its limits on the number of public charter schools and students in the state. The first one provides that the number of students attending virtual charters may not exceed 5,250, while the second one provides that the University of Wisconsin-Parkside may only sponsor one charter school in the Racine School District that may not enroll more than 480 students.
6. Expand pool of teachers: The state should amend its charter law to direct the Department of Public Instruction to develop rules for a charter school license which would allow the licensee to teach multiple subjects.
7. Provide access to benefits programs: The state should amend its charter law to permit public charter schools to participate on a voluntary basis in the state retirement and other benefit programs.
8. Expand virtual learning: The state should amend its charter law to allow all authorizers to create virtual schools.
9. Require random enrollment for charter admissions: The state should amend its charter law to require that a school's contract contain its random enrollment procedures.
Download a copy of the policy priorities quick read or full version.
The 2011 Advocacy Agenda includes:
1. Expand authorizing options: The state should amend its charter law to create a state charter school board that would have the ability to authorize charter schools throughout the state and allow CESA districts to serve as authorizers within their boundaries.
2. Improve authorizing practices: The state should amend its charter law to require charter authorizers to adhere to the principles and standards of quality authorizing developed by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.
3. Strengthen charter autonomy: The state should amend its charter law to require charter schools to be governed by fiscally and legally independent governing boards. The state should also amend its charter law to require charter school to be non-profit education corporations and make clear that 2r charter schools are their own local educational agencies.
4. Promote growth of quality charters: The state should amend its charter law to allow for the creation of multiple schools under a single charter and for an effective governing board to oversee schools under more than one charter contract.
5. Eliminate all caps on growth: The state should amend its charter law to eliminate both of its limits on the number of public charter schools and students in the state. The first one provides that the number of students attending virtual charters may not exceed 5,250, while the second one provides that the University of Wisconsin-Parkside may only sponsor one charter school in the Racine School District that may not enroll more than 480 students.
6. Expand pool of teachers: The state should amend its charter law to direct the Department of Public Instruction to develop rules for a charter school license which would allow the licensee to teach multiple subjects.
7. Provide access to benefits programs: The state should amend its charter law to permit public charter schools to participate on a voluntary basis in the state retirement and other benefit programs.
8. Expand virtual learning: The state should amend its charter law to allow all authorizers to create virtual schools.
9. Require random enrollment for charter admissions: The state should amend its charter law to require that a school's contract contain its random enrollment procedures.
Download a copy of the policy priorities quick read or full version.
