Description
Over thirty years ago, the Minnesota legislature passed the first charter school law in the nation. By all accounts, it shouldn't have happened. Today, over 3.7 million students attend over 7,800 charter schools and campuses nationwide, with charter school laws in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.
Chartering succeeded because it was a bipartisan initiative from the middle of the political spectrum that arose from visionary citizens outside the political system.
Ember Reichgott Junge, the Minnesota state senator who authored the law, candidly shares her personal and challenging journey of pioneering chartering through its early origins, its tumultuous legislative passage in Minnesota, and its explosion onto the national stage. With never-before-published historical documents and first-person accounts by supporters and opponents, this book informs both the past and future of public education. It is an eye-opening and stimulating inside look at policymaking. Zero Chance of Passage is the seminal reference on the history of this unique and inspiring redesign of public education.
This new audiobook includes an updated Introduction and Epilogue with new information and resources from the decade since the original book was published. Dive deep into the origins of the charter schools movement. Available in audiobook and eBook.
