Charter school authorizers ensure charter schools are held to high standards, including charter schools that receive CSP funding.
Authorizers may interact with CSP grantees in two ways:
- Developer and CMO grantees must meet federal requirements for managing their grant, as well as comply with authorizer policies, the requirements of their charter, and state law. Authorizers are also often asked to verify school eligibility and provide documentation for grant applications or compliance monitoring.
- SE grantees are required to provide technical assistance to authorizers to support the development and implementation of best practices for high-quality authorizing in their state through their CSP grant. Authorizers in states with an active SE grant are encouraged to participate in these activities. Some authorizers may also be eligible for an SE grant, specifically SEAs that are also authorizers under state law and state charter school boards.
There are several entities that support high-quality authorizing across the country and within individual states. They are:
- National Association of Charter School Authorizer
- National Charter Schools Institute
- National Network for District Authorizing
- California Charter Authorizing Professionals
- Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers
- Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers
- Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools