Tag: public schools

Why Choosing Online School is the Best Fit for Our Family

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date February 21, 2019

By Tara Boedigheimer

In 2011, when our son Drew was just two years old, we experienced every parent’s worst nightmare.

We were given the shocking and completely unexpected news, by a pediatric cardiologist, that our precious boy was critically ill with a very rare form of cardiomyopathy–and in need of a heart transplant. It was the only thing that could save his life. Not only that, he needed it immediately and the transplant program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital was very new and not approved by our insurance to handle Drew’s situation.

Tags accountability, Arizona, Arizona Legislature, arizona state board of education, Central Phoenix, Chandler, Charter, charter schools, Education, K-12, public schools, school choice

Association Blog

Association COO/CFO Robert DiBacco Talks Non-profit Spending, Sustainability in Podcast

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date January 16, 2019

By Jamar Younger

Association COO/CFO Rob DiBacco recently sat down with Procurify, a company that helps organizations align spending with their business objectives, to discuss how he manages financial operations for the Association, ways to scale spend management sustainably and tips for how educational institutions should implement a purchasing process.

Di Bacco covers these topics and other lessons learned from a long career that’s spanned from the corporate world, where he worked as a bond underwriter for the Travelers Group, to Chile and Argentina, where led and founded The Gaia School, and finally to Arizona, where he’s handled the Association’s finance and operations for eight years.

Tags Arizona, charter schools, Education, finance, K-12, procurement, public schools, school choice

Association Blog

New Charter Schools Answer the Call for More Educational Choice

Post author By Comms Staff
Post date December 14, 2018

By Jamar Younger

As we approach the 25th anniversary of public charter schools in Arizona, charter school enrollment continues to surge with almost 200,000 students now attending the state’s charter schools.

This growth, along with the increasing prevalence of open enrollment, signals that parents are demanding more and varied choices for their students.

The State Board for Charter Schools on Monday added even more choices for families by approving charters for 10 new schools that plan to open for the 2019-20 school year.

These new public charter schools will add 3,187 new seats for Arizona students and families who are seeking more diverse educational options. As part of our strategic efforts to increase access to quality charter schools, the Arizona Charter Schools Association contributed to the creation of more than 2,600 of these seats by providing support to these new schools through consulting, charter application reviews, mock interviews and other workshops.

These new charters will be spread throughout the Phoenix Valley, situated in areas such as Maricopa, Apache Junction, Phoenix’s Maryvale neighborhood and Goodyear.

Tags accountability, Apache Junction, Arizona, Central Phoenix, Charter, charter schools, East Valley, Education, Goodyear, K-12, Maricopa, North Phoenix, Phoenix, public schools, school choice, South Phoenix, West Valley

Press Releases

Association Hires Director of Government Affairs

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date November 7, 2017

The Arizona Charter Schools Association is proud to announce the hiring of Matthew Simon as its Director of Government Affairs. Simon, a Tucson native, joins the Association after serving as Education Policy Advisory for Senate Majority Staff. During his time at the Arizona State Legislature, Simon developed a wealth of education finance and policy knowledge. Simon is a former high school science teacher and Teach for America corps member. He graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Political Science and is working towards his MBA in 2019.

“As a former teacher, Matthew understands the impact advocacy and policy can have on the classroom,” said Eileen B. Sigmund, President and CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association. “Matthew brings another layer of support to Association members and we are thrilled to have his expertise on our team to inform policymakers of the excellent work in Arizona’s public charter schools.”

Tags Arizona, Arizona Legislature, charter schools, Education, K-12, Phoenix, Politics, public schools, Tucson

Association Blog

Charter supporters set the record straight on school accountability

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date October 2, 2017

By Jamar Younger

After a self-published and flawed report on public charter schools, Arizona’s charter community and the Arizona Republic quickly responded that charter schools are held accountable and school leaders are motivated by student success, not financial gain.

The Arizona Charter Schools Association issued the first set of responses with a statement and letter to our schools emphasizing that charter schools are academically successful, which is what matters most.

Here is a roundup of the other responses:

Tags accountability, Arizona, Central Phoenix, charter schools, Phoenix, Politics, public schools, school choice, Tucson

Association Blog Charters Changing Lives

Charter leaders sacrifice to see dreams become reality

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date August 18, 2017

By Jamar Younger

When Nick Schuerman reflects on the fact that he’s responsible for the education of the 225 children who attend his school, he is nearly moved to tears.

Schuerman opened Victory Collegiate Academy, a K-6 public charter school, this month in Phoenix’s Maryvale neighborhood, fulfilling his dream of providing a quality education to underserved students.

“I’m seeing the fruits of my labor. It’s here now. I have to sit back and pinch myself,” he said.

Lori Weiss and Melissa McKinsey experienced a similar feeling when they welcomed almost 300 students to Synergy Public School, their brand new central Phoenix campus, which also opened this month.

These schools started as a kernel of an idea just three years ago, but have grown into the manifestation of their founders’ dreams.

Tags accountability, Arizona, Central Phoenix, Charter, charter schools, Education, K-12, Phoenix, public schools, school choice

Association Blog Charters Changing Lives

Central Phoenix charter school creates a blueprint for academic success

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date April 4, 2017

By Jamar Younger

For Judy White, the decision to open Midtown Primary School in a low-income community in Central Phoenix wasn’t just a choice, it was a calling.

White and co-founder Belinda Suggs sensed a need for quality education and community involvement in the neighborhood when they opened the K-4 public charter school in 2002.

Although the idea of opening a public school serving students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds would deter some educators, White and Suggs stared down the challenge and sought to figure out how to succeed with that population.

The task of creating a high-achieving school in a low-income neighborhood has puzzled many educators, but the two administrators have seemed to find the right pieces for success at their small public charter school.

Tags Central Phoenix, charter schools, K-12, Phoenix, public schools, school choice