2007 US DOE CS Showcase: One City at a Time

A group representing a cross-section of Hawaii’s charter school and educational communities braved rare April snow flurries in Washington, DC to attend the National Charter Schools Program Showcase.

Under the theme “One City at a Time: Expanding High Quality Charter Schools,” the US DOE’s Office of Innovation and Improvement brought together state and federal educational professionals to disseminate information aimed at increasing the understanding of the charter school model and expand the number of quality charter schools. 

The first morning’s general session focused on Expanding High Quality Charter Schools Under NCLB. Three federal officials presented the administration’s thoughts on charter schools and NCLB reauthorization.

The afternoon’s general session covered School Choice and the Military-connected Communities. Defense Department officials spoke about the potential impact of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) on public education in the target communities. A Baltimore BOE member and economist spoke about the opportunity for urban renewal in his city posed by BRAC.

The closing general session had Jeannie Allen, founder of the Center for Education Reform, and Nelson Smith, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, talking about how to take charter schools to the next level in Growing Charter Schools in Your City.