The NN4DA is convening a series of regular calls for people to work on issues that cross state boundaries. Three groups meet monthly. Each working group addresses an issue that may be of interest to authorizers in any state. We also hope that participants in our working groups can serve as ambassadors, sharing information from the working group out to states and bringing input to our discussions from their state or district.
Our groups are open to everyone, so feel free to join any of our working groups listed below. And if you have another topic you would like to discuss with colleagues from around the country, please feel free to ask and we can form a new one. If you have questions or suggestions about any of these efforts, please email Alex directly at Alex.Medler@nn4da.org.
The Public Nature of Charter Schools
When: First Monday of the Month, 2-3 pm, MST
How to Join: Zoom Link
Scope: The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case from Oklahoma about a proposed Catholic charter school is currently a big topic of conversation. We will discuss developments in the case and activity in the field related to these events, including likely Amicus Briefs. More broadly, this group discusses and hears from experts on issues related to how charter schools fulfill their obligations as public schools and the implications of charter schools’ public status for authorizing. We track issues in the courts nationally and in the states; and we consider how federal and state law, authorizer policy and practice, as well as charter contracting and oversight may shape charters’ public nature.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Authorizing
When: Second Monday of the Month 2-3 pm, MST
How to Join: Zoom Link
Scope: This group discusses the implications and applications of AI for charter school authorizing. This includes ways that authorizers may eventually use AI to assist in their work, as well as the implications for authorizers when charter applicants use AI to develop charter applications. The group will learn about what people are doing in the field in authorizing, and in AI generally, and discuss opportunities and risks associated with AI. Look for more background materials on this initiative soon. NN4DA is hosting discussions on these topics in the next few months in Colorado and Florida.
Authorizer Evaluation
When: First Thursday of the month 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, MST
How to Join: Zoom Link
Scope: This group discusses authorizer evaluation and how our state initiatives can use evaluation to support and engage authorizers. This includes any state strategy that involves evaluation, including zero-stakes self-evaluations designed to help authorizers reflect on their own practices, as well as evaluations that are conducted for summative purposes by third-parties that have stakes for authorizers, and more formative evaluations by third-parties that help authorizers prioritize areas for self-improvement. We also discuss how NN4DA state partners can leverage evaluations as a strategy to engage districts, to build common understanding of best practice, and to work directly with districts on their highest-priority needs.