David Osborne, a key figure in the charter school movement, discussed his influential books on government innovation, including “Reinventing Government” and “Reinventing America’s Schools.” He highlighted his work with Bill Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) in promoting charter schools. Osborne emphasized the importance of charter schools in providing choice, competition, and autonomy in […]
Interview of Bart Peterson
Bart Peterson, the first mayor in the U.S. to authorize charter schools, discussed his journey and impact. He highlighted his early education in Indianapolis, his career path from law to politics, and his role in advocating for charter schools. Peterson chartered 17 schools, with 60% of Indianapolis students now attending autonomous schools. He emphasized the […]
American Federation for Teachers news release announcing the idea of “charter schools” | March 31, 1988
This collection of materials from 1988 highlights Albert Shanker’s influential advocacy for a new kind of school reform rooted in teacher empowerment and educational experimentation. Through his “Where We Stand” columns in the New York Times and public addresses, Shanker proposed that teams of teachers be given the authority to create chartered schools-within-schools, a radical […]
Albert Shanker‘s Correspondence to Ray Budde
This document is a series of letters exchanged between Ray Budde, an originator of the charter school concept, and Albert Shanker, then-president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), dated between June and August 1993. Their correspondence centers on the theory and practical implications of chartering all schools in a district—a radical form of decentralization […]
SB 1448: How California Launched Charter School Reform
Summary of the 1992 SB 1448 Third Reading Analysis Senate Bill 1448, authored by Senator Gary K. Hart and supported by education reform advocates, proposed the establishment of charter schools in California. The bill introduced a legal framework allowing teachers and others to petition for the creation of charter schools—public institutions operating independently from many […]
A Nation at Risk (1983)
A Nation at Risk, published by the U.S. National Commission on Excellence in Education, warned that the foundations of the American education system were eroding under mediocrity. The report argued that declining academic performance, diluted curricula, and low expectations were placing the nation’s economic future and global leadership in jeopardy. With dire metaphors—“a rising tide […]
Albert Shanker: National Press Club Speech 1988
In his 1988 speech to the National Press Club, Albert Shanker, President of the American Federation of Teachers, addressed the shortcomings and challenges in American public education and proposed a bold, second-wave reform agenda. Reflecting on the initial wave of education reforms following A Nation at Risk, Shanker praised improvements such as higher standards and […]
Interview of Buzz Thomas
Jim Goenner sits down with Senator Buzz Thomas to commemorate 30 years of Michigan’s charter school movement. Buzz shares his personal journey from Detroit Waldorf to the state Senate, the origins of the “hire me, fire me” campaign pledge, and his vision for empowering neighborhoods through quality public-school choice. Along the way, he reflects on […]
Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville School v. Drummond Oral Argument
Courtesy of CSPAN https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/oklahoma-charter-school-board-v-drummond-and-st-isidore-of-seville-school-v-drummond-oral-arugment/658880 April 30, 2025 The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral argument in Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville School v. Drummond, a consolidated case about the constitutionality of states supporting religious charter schools with public funding. In 2023, St. Isidore, Inc., applied to Oklahoma’s charter school board to establish St. […]
Interview of Ted Lempert
Ted Lempert, former California assembly member and current CEO of Children Now, discussed his role in sponsoring AB 544, a pivotal charter school legislation in California. AB 544 lifted the cap on charter schools, shifted the burden of proof to school districts, and allowed charters to operate as nonprofits. Lempert emphasized the bipartisan support and […]
