Every movement begins with a choice.Thirty years ago, educators, families, and leaders chose to be bold by choice—and the charter school movement was born. From the first charter law in Minnesota to a national ecosystem reshaping public education, this is the story of people who challenged the givens, reimagined what public schools could be, and […]
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Interview with Nihat Güvercin, Ed.D.
Dr. Nihat Güvercin, CEO of iLearn Schools, discussed his journey from Turkey to the U.S., where he became a physics teacher and eventually led the expansion of iLearn Schools from one to 21 campuses across New Jersey and New York. He emphasized the importance of STEM education starting from kindergarten and the role of character […]
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 […]
1995 “Involving Families in Education” White House Panel with Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton participated in the annual conference hosted by Vice President and Mrs.Tipper Gore. Panelists talked about how their local schools help get parents more involved in their children’s education through various programs and how these efforts can be applied to larger populations of students and families. In this panel discussion from VANDERBUILT UNIVERSITY, Nashville […]
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. […]
House Education and Workforce Committee hearing 1998: Success of Charter Schools
Witnesses testified about how charter schools were succeeding, how federal charter school funds were assisting them, obstacles to operating charter schools, and how federal programs, in general, help or hurt charter schools. View on CSPAN https://www.c-span.org/program/house-committee/charter-schools/101355 On June 15, 2018, C-SPAN broadcast a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on charter schools, exploring their advantages […]
Senate 1988: Increased Governmental Support for Charter Schools
The Senate Labor and Resources Committee conducted a hearing on charter schools. Witnesses testified about how to increase governmental support for charter schools, charter school operations, and the impact of charter schools on special needs students. View on CSPAN https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/charter-schools/77445
The Charter Story from Ember Reichgott Junge
Ember Reichgott Junge, former Minnesota State Senator and author of the first charter school law, recounted the origins and evolution of charter schools. The first charter school, City Academy, opened in 1992, serving students who had dropped out. Today, charter schools are in 44 states, including Guam and Alberta, Canada, with over 7,000 schools serving […]
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 […]
Governor Roy Romer
Governor Roy Romer supports the development of charter schools, which he believes can foster innovation and reform in education without being a sole solution. He emphasizes that charter schools should not privatize public education but rather enhance it by creating a critical mass of new schools and networks. Romer insists that charter schools should align […]
