Junge: Archive’s oral histories from charter pioneers are keeping the idea behind these innovative schools from being twisted for political aims.
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The Founders Library Speaks for Charters
“Charter schools were created to provide public school choice with independence outside the traditional district structure, but were always public schools protected by the U.S. Constitution.”– Ember Reichgott-Junge! @CharterLibraryvia @AP https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-charter-school-skirts-071a6bff9a62a0e3f233cd9bcf29d24f The Founders Library played an impactful role in speaking out for the constitutional rights of charter schools in a Supreme Court ruling June 27th, 2023. The […]
The Founders Library: Capturing Charter School History for Future Generations
MAY: Celebrating 30 Years of Committed Policymakers
Since its inception, committed policymakers – including Ember Reichgott Junge, the former Minnesota State Senator who authored the first charter school law in Minnesota and the nation 30 years ago – have taken strong actions to help create policy change supportive of the charter movement. In some instances, policymakers were driven to push through change […]
Committed Policymaker: Governor Jared Polis
During New Jersey US Senator Cory Booker’s two terms as mayor, the number of students served by charter schools in Newark tripled, a function of Booker’s willingness to push for the funding, facilities and authorizing decisions that high-quality charter schools needed to thrive and grow. Read more here: More Committed Policymakers: ### Celebrate 30 years […]
Committed Policymaker: Senator Booker
This year, Kentucky Speaker of the House, David Osborne, provided the leadership needed to steward a bill through a very complicated legislative process to make charter schools eligible for state funding, including overriding a gubernatorial veto. Read more here. More Committed Policymakers: ### Celebrate 30 years of chartering with us! Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate 30 […]
Committed Policymaker: Kentucky Speaker David Osborne
The latest policymaker to show extraordinary commitment in helping found an entire state’s charter schools movement is Kentucky Speaker of the House, David Osborne (R). For years, charter school supporters in Kentucky have attempted to overcome a nonsensical policy environment where charter schools were technically allowed under law, but were not eligible for state funding, […]
Committed Policymaker: US Congressman Jerry Lewis
Of course, elected officials going far out of their way to assist public charter schools spans both decades and political parties. One of the earliest and most noteworthy deep relationships between an elected official and a highly successful charter school organization developed in the 1990s between the Academy for Academic Excellence (AAE) in Apple Valley, […]
Conquer Politics and Grow the Coalition: Tell Your Story
Presented by Darlene Chambers, Ember Reichgott Junge, Wendy Larvick at the 2020 Independent Charter Schools Virtual Conference.
Chartering Matters…
Because Your Voice Matters!
See Your Gift Doubled on Giving Tuesday! Each state has its own unique story about how chartering came to be. Honor the founding pioneers who made chartering possible and blazed paths for others to follow. By supporting the National Charter Schools Founders Library, you can help us capture and celebrate the history of our movement and share […]