Innovation’s CTE programs are among the many independent charter schools across the country that are meaningfully engaged in CTE. For instance, in a CTE Charter Roundtable held by Opportunity America in 2017, participants and panelists included more than a dozen representatives of independent charter schools with CTE programs or focuses from California, Washington DC, Georgia, Rhode Island, New Mexico and New York. In their discussions, they expressed the key advantages that independent charter schools have in implementing effective CTE programs including:

• Flexibility—Independent charter schools, while held to rigorous accountability standards, have a degree of flexibility in programming and operations that is greater than that of traditional school districts and network-based charter schools. One independent charter school participant confirmed this saying “Our biggest strength as a CTE charter is our flexibility,” while another stated “We have more flexibility for our teachers to plan alongside industry experts.”
• Adaptability—Independent charter schools are uniquely positioned to be “learning organizations” that can react quickly to data about what is working and what is not and to “change course” as needed to improve. Unlike traditional school districts and network-based charter schools, independent charter schools can adapt its programming without having to overcome layers of administrative or corporate bureaucracy. In CTE programs, where new best practices and potential landmines are being discovered every day, this adaptability is a major strength.
• Connections with the Community—Independent charter schools typically have strong connections with parents, activists, faith-based leaders, elected officials and businesspersons in their respective communities. These connections are invaluable when establishing programming and internships/mentorships in and community support for CTE initiatives.  

I am encouraged that the work being done by these independent charter schools to create effective CTE programs is aligned with the goals and objectives of the incoming Biden/Harris administration. In his campaign platform, President-elect Biden committed to “guaranteeing every American the skills and education they need to get ahead” by expanding and improving CTE opportunities. The President-elect expressed his belief that “students who participate in high-quality career and technical education are more likely to graduate, earn industry credentials, enroll in college, and have higher rates of employment and higher earnings.” He also promised to support CTE by investing in partnerships between high schools, community colleges and employers. Through these partnerships, he said, students will have opportunities to earn industry credentials at the time of high school graduation that will lead to good-paying careers.

We are experiencing an amazing shift in American history, especially as it relates to education. As the education policy of the Biden/Harris administration transitions from the “idea stage” of the campaign to the “reality stage” of governing, independent charter schools can play a significant role in expanding and improving CTE programs across the country. To my friends and colleagues at independent charter schools, let’s continue to claim our voice in the national discussion about where K-12 education goes from here.

I saw a headline in the New York Post recently that grabbed my attention. The headline read “Joe Biden Reportedly to be Tough on Charter Schools.” The article went on to discuss how the incoming Biden/Harris administration has been working closely with people and organizations that have historically not been friendly to charter schools. The article implied that the Biden/Harris education policy might be influenced by “broad brush” arguments that categorize all charter schools as alike. 

This would be a huge mistake. Simply stated, not all charter schools are alike. 

I’ve spent the better part of the last two decades working with independent community-based charter schools. I’m talking about charter schools created by parents, educators and faith-based and civic leaders. Specifically, I’m talking about nonprofit charter schools created by concerned community residents who came together to address the needs of their children and families.  

The independent charter schools I work with are often referred to as “mom and pop” charter schools. Typically, they are not part of charter school networks nor are they “for-profit” charter schools. They are schools created by parents and community members working together to help kids. 

They are also exactly the schools that should be supported by the Biden/Harris administration. 

In the Biden Plan for Educators, Students and Our Future—President-elect Biden says that K-12 educators will “have a partner in the White House“ and that his Education Department will support and expand “community schools.” Independent charter schools are community schools, in the truest sense of the term. They work with parents, students, teachers and community organizations to identify and address families’ unmet needs, and they establish themselves as “community hubs.” 

To see how independent charter schools are in fact the very community schools that President-elect Biden is seeking to support, you need only to look at Challenge Preparatory Charter School (Challenge Prep). This is a school I worked with since it was just an idea. Roughly 10 years ago, my partners and I met with Rev. Dr. Leslie Mullings and several parents and community leaders to talk about the need to improve educational outcomes for children, mostly Black and Brown, in Far Rockaway Queens. We worked together to create Challenge Prep, which began as an elementary school and has since grown to become an elementary, middle and high school with one of the most innovative Career Technology Education (CTE) programs in the nation. What’s more, Challenge Prep established itself as a leader in the recovery efforts during and following 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, which hit Far Rockaway with a 32.5 foot wave that shut it down and left most of the school’s students and their families homeless. In response, Challenge Prep stepped up and launched emergency initiatives to help its students and their families. Challenge Prep became the central hub in Far Rockaway for facilitating distribution of $6.8 million in relief supplies and providing services and resources to people throughout the community. Challenge Prep continues to be a beacon in its community, most recently by providing free meals and supporting children and families in the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Another example of how independent charter schools are dedicated to serving their communities is the Renaissance Charter School (TRCS). TRCS is one the oldest and most successful independent charter schools in New York City, with a commitment to civic education and fostering student empathy, advocacy and activism. In an absolutely heartbreaking article published earlier this year, the stories of several young children and families in the hard-hit neighborhoods served by TRCS struggling with COVID-19 were told. TRCS is located in Corona/Jackson Heights, which is among the most severely impacted communities by COVID-19 in the country. Indeed, at one point this year at least 80% of students in its counselors’ caseloads were sick or had sick family members and more than 40% of its families had had someone laid off or furloughed. In keeping with its mission to holistically serve its students and families, TRCS added more mental health providers through a federal grant program and expanded its morning meeting, advisories and social emotional wellness initiatives. It also enhanced its professional development with training in anti-bias and culturally responsive instruction to ensure that all teachers have a “common understanding of trauma and resilience.” As a result, TRCS has been a leader among all New York City public schools in serving its community during the pandemic.

I expect that much will change in the next few months as the Biden/Harris educational policies are established. I’m encouraged that the President-elect has promised to include diverse voices and views in the discussion. As we envision a new future in K-12 education, let’s make certain that the voices and views of the independent charter school community are heard.  

Many of us were excited with the announcement last weekend of a new President-elect and Vice President-elect, especially after living through the exhausting vote counting and hand wringing process of that preceded it.  Now that the election looks to be settled, the question on my mind—and probably yours too—is “what’s next?”

For those of us working in or with independent community-based charter schools, our expectations of the Biden-Harris administration are complicated. On the one hand it’s great that, after years in which the Department of Education has prioritized vouchers and for-profit educational ventures, the new administration will probably focus on bolstering public K-12 educational programs, especially in high-need communities. Indeed, the Biden Plan for Educators, Students and Our Future calls for “Investing in all children from birth so that regardless of their zip code, parents’ income, race or disability, they are prepared to succeed in tomorrow’s economy.” Accordingly, we can expect new grants and investments in K-12 initiatives for schools that support disadvantaged and at-risk students.

On the other hand, many voices critical of charter schools have been prominent in the campaign and will probably have a say in the Biden/Harris administration. We can expect that the next President and Education Department will face pressure from teachers’ unions and others to impede the expansion of charter schools. Indeed, President-elect. Biden has proposed significant changes to federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) grants along with some restrictions for new federal charter school funding. However, most of the criticism leveled against charter schools by the Biden campaign has been targeted at the less -than-15% of charter schools that are overseen by for-profit companies. The Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force recommendations state that “we will ban for–profit private charter businesses from receiving federal funding” for charter schools. Clearly President-elect Biden, who served as Vice-President in President Barack Obama’s pro-charter school administration, is not condemning all charter schools but is pushing to limit a small percentage of them.

So what does this mean for independent, community-based charter schools?

We are in a time of incredible opportunity for independent charter schools. President-elect Biden has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in new education spending from pre-K through college. The Biden Education Plan calls for the country to “Build the best, most innovative schools in the country in low-income communities and communities of color.” Independent charter schools­ are currently providing innovative and effective education to students in disadvantaged communities and communities of color. These schools are perfectly positioned to help achieve the Biden Education Plan’s goals.

The strength of independent charter schools is their fundamental and organic connection to their communities and families. The independent charter schools I have been privileged to work with were created by parents, educators and community leaders, and they are committed to addressing the specific needs of children and youth in their communities. In one instance, I can remember participating in preliminary “kitchen table” meetings with prominent pastor Rev. Dr. Leslie Mullings and parents, local businesspersons and activists in Far Rockaway NY as they discussed the dire need for educational alternatives in their community and laid out the building blocks for an innovative charter school. I’m proud to say that my partners and I worked with this group to establish the Challenge Preparatory Charter School (Challenge Prep), one of the most successful independent charter schools in New York City. Challenge Prep has been renewed twice and is now expanding to create a groundbreaking K-12 CTE program in connection with the multi-billion-dollar transformation of the JFK International Airport.

I believe that independent charter schools can leverage their trusted position with parents and their communities, which is their core strength, to succeed in the new Presidential era. President-elect Biden and his wife Jill, a teacher, have often spoke of the need for strong connections between parents and schools. Independent charter schools traditionally have strong community roots and provide service to their communities. Take for example VOICE Charter School in Queens NY, which bought and distributed food to low-income children and families in its community throughout the 2020 COVID-19 disruption. VOICE Principal Franklin Headley and his staff rented a U-Haul truck to bring food to its site and established a food-sharing center at its school for families throughout the community. The VOICE Charter School story is not an outlier but is just an example of how independent charter schools typically “step up” to help their parents and families whenever needed. Indeed, the key ingredient that fuels the success of independent charter schools is their relationships with and service to their students’ parents and families.

The connection between the Biden Education Plan and the every-day life of independent charter schools is direct and clear. Independent charter schools are living the objectives of the President-elect’s educational plan. A key objective of the Biden Education Plan is to increase the number of students in “community schools”—i.e. schools that “work with families, students, teachers and community organizations to identify families’ unmet needs and then develop a plan to leverage community resources to address these needs in the school building, turning schools into community hubs.” This description of “community schools” is the absolute definition of most independent charter schools. Frankly, most of the independent charter schools I’ve worked with have embraced the concept of community schooling by partnering with community agencies and organizations to serve their students and parents.

So to all my friends and colleagues in the independent charter school community, I suggest that we work with the new Presidential administration and that we take advantage of every opportunity that comes along to show how independent charter schools are helping children. I expect that new grant and other funding opportunities for independent charter schools will arise in the next few years. I also expect that new openings will emerge for independent charter schools to claim a significant voice in the national dialogue about K-12 education, JPS Solutions and our Essential Charter School Services team will monitor these opportunities closely and will share them with you.

Let’s look positively to the future as we continue to support our children and families. Better days are ahead.

Written by Wayne D. Jones
Partner, JPS Solutions LLC

Written by Wayne D. Jones
Partner, JPS Solutions LLC