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 […]
1991: America’s First Charter Schools Law
The Minnesota Foundation’s fourteenth annual Itasca Seminar brought together tinkers, doers, and policymakers to explore how to improve public education. Among this October 1988 event’s national speakers were Al Shanker and New York’s Sy Fliegel, the architect of East Harlem’s choice-based innovations. More local attendees included the Citizens League’s Ted Kolderie and the vice chair […]
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 […]
