Leading National Collaboration to Strengthen Charter School Authorizing
The National Network for District Authorizing (NN4DA) is a national; collaborative network dedicated to improving charter school authorizing through shared learning, state-led innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. As the lead organization for the CSP National Model Development & Dissemination (MDD) Grant, NN4DA coordinates a multi-state effort to design, test, and scale high-quality authorizing tools that support diverse charter school models across the country.
Our Role in the Grant
NN4DA serves as the primary facilitator and project director, responsible for designing programming, coordinating all state partners, and ensuring timely completion of deliverables. Led by Executive Director Dr. Alex Medler, NN4DA manages the full project infrastructure—from oversight and technical assistance to national dissemination.
As part of this leadership role, NN4DA:
- Convenes state partners through regular meetings, shared planning structures, and cross-state working groups.
- Oversees the development of model-specific task forces, ensuring each group has the tools, support, and research needed to create high-quality resources.
- Builds and manages a national technical assistance system to help authorizers adopt new tools, support diverse charter models, and improve oversight practices.
- Coordinates nationwide dissemination, ensuring materials reach authorizers, operators, incubators, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
A Network Powered by State Partners
The grant is implemented by a network of Primary State Partners (PSPs)—California, Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin—and Incubating State Partners (ISPs) in Georgia, Oklahoma, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Each partner leads task force work, engages local authorizers, and develops technical assistance tailored to their state’s context.
This state-driven structure ensures that authorizing improvements are practical, scalable, and grounded in real conditions across the country.
Support Structures for Collaboration
The project includes:
- Travel support for cross-state convenings and annual meetings, enabling collaboration among leaders from PSPs, ISPs, and NN4DA.
- Equipment and technology investments that enhance virtual and in-person collaboration across states.
- Professional services, including evaluation and fiscal management, ensuring accountability and high-quality project oversight.
Why This Work Matters
Authorizing practices must evolve to meet the needs of emerging charter school models—including CTE-focused schools, micro-schools, rural charters, and specialized programs for students with disabilities. This grant provides the structure, expertise, and national collaboration needed to:
- Create model-specific tools and resources for both authorizers and operators.
- Ensure authorizers are prepared to evaluate, approve, and support innovative models.
- Build national alignment around quality standards while honoring state-level variation.
- Strengthen long-term sustainability of high-quality charter ecosystems.
A Five-Year Investment in National Impact
The grant represents a five-year national investment supporting personnel, state partner contracts, travel, supplies, evaluation, and technical assistance infrastructure.
NN4DA’s leadership ensures these resources are strategically used to expand access to high-quality charter schools and elevate authorizing practices nationwide.