Stepping up: University Leadership in the Charter School Sector. Authorizing Matters. Issue Brief

Engaging in the charter school sector is not for the faint of heart--doing so requires grappling with many complex questions. How will the work impact the reputation of the university? What political, financial or legal liabilities will the institution assume? Who will do the day-to-day heavy lifting? Across the country, dynamic higher education leaders are assessing these challenges and deciding to take action. The opportunities to advance the missions of their colleges and universities are considerable, as are the potential public benefits of improved teaching and learning at the elementary and secondary levels. As Timothy Knowles, director of the Urban Education Institute at the University of Chicago asserts, "What are universities for, if they aren't helping America solve its biggest problems?" This Issue Brief provides an overview of various ways higher education institutions are engaging in the charter school sector, explores their reasons for getting involved and shares challenges they have faced in starting and sustaining charter school initiatives. More importantly, it outlines ways their involvement has strengthened their institutions and the communities they serve. (Contains 3 endnotes.)