2012 Charter School Hall of Fame:  Jim Griffin

Courtesy of: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Jim Griffin, a law student in Colorado, found himself inadvertently becoming a key figure in the charter school movement when he offered to write about the charter law and the experiences of the Colorado League of Charter Schools. The League, the longest-running charter school association in the U.S., was in need of support services and advocacy. Griffin’s involvement grew to include running the organization and raising funds for his own salary. The League provided essential support for new schools, including policy advocacy, group purchasing, and a food service operation. They also played a crucial role in shaping state legislation and securing funding for charter schools, such as a significant grant for a new school building.

Transcript

Outline

Supporting Charter Schools in Colorado

• Jim Griffin discusses the initial realization that charter schools in Colorado needed a robust support system to succeed.
• He attended a meeting of the Colorado League of Charter Schools and introduced himself as a law student writing on charter law.
• Despite his lack of formal qualifications, Griffin found himself inundated with requests for help and information about the charter law.
• The League recognized the need for dedicated support and asked Griffin to run the organization, emphasizing the need to raise funds for his own salary.

Establishing the Colorado League of Charter Schools

• The Colorado League of Charter Schools is a membership-based non-profit organization established in 1994.
• The organization provides support for new schools, developmental processes, and advocacy at the state and local levels.
• Griffin highlights the League’s role in shaping the policy environment for charter schools.
• The League also offers assistance with group purchasing and launched a food service operation to support schools.

Legislative Impact and Early Challenges

• Griffin mentions the League’s influence on state legislation, including the Colorado Growth Model and the state’s accountability system.
• He spent a significant amount of time helping schools through the charter application process.
• Colleen Poole acknowledges the League’s crucial role in the founding and success of her school.
• The League’s efforts were instrumental in overcoming district opposition and securing support for new schools.

Policy Advocacy and Facility Funding

• Griffin emphasizes the importance of improving the policy landscape for charter schools and their facilities.
• The League ensured that charter schools were eligible for state grants to repair or replace public school buildings.
• A school received a significant grant from the state of Colorado to build a new, state-of-the-art facility.
• Colleen Poole credits Griffin’s suggestion to apply for the grant, which led to the school’s successful funding.

Community School Vision and Grant Success

• The founding vision of the school was to be a community school located within the children’s neighborhood.
• The school initially did not plan to pursue the best funding from the Colorado Department of Education.
• Griffin suggested giving the grant application a try, leading to the school’s successful grant application.
• The grant funding allowed the school to build a new, modern facility, enhancing its community and educational offerings.