NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 8, 2007
Contact: Justin Testerman, Director, Charter School Sponsorship Program, Volunteers of America of Minnesota, (612) 310-8949, jtesterman@voamn.org
U.S. Department of Education Recognizes Minneapolis-Based Nonprofit For Quality Charter School Authorizing Practices
Volunteers of America of Minnesota Charter School Sponsorship Program is Highlighted as Model Authorizer
(Minneapolis, MN, October 8)—Volunteers of America of Minnesota’s Charter School Sponsorship Program is one of eight outstanding charter school authorizers that have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in its newly released publication, Supporting Charter School Excellence Through Quality Authorizing. The publication provides detailed information designed to help current and potential authorizers replicate successful models and practices, as well as help policymakers at the state and national levels achieve quality authorizing.
Each of the eight authorizers profiled in the guide share fundamental quality authorizing characteristics including strong internal capacity, rigorous process for selecting which schools to authorize, transparent oversight policies and willingness to make difficult decisions. There are more than 800 charter school authorizers nationwide who are responsible for identifying and/or approving new charter schools, monitoring schools’ compliance with applicable laws, providing technical assistance, and evaluating schools’ performance.
“To be one of just eight authorizers in the country to be highlighted in this guide is strong validation of our commitment, hard work and results,” remarked Justin Testerman, Director of the Volunteers of America of Minnesota Charter School Sponsorship Program. Testerman continued, “When we were approached in 2001 to become the nation’s first nonprofit charter school sponsor, we weren’t exactly sure what we were getting into. Since then, we have harnessed our more than 100 years of nonprofit management and governance experience to help charter schools build solid foundations through developing strong relationships and establishing clear outcomes; and by holding schools accountable for their success.”
Volunteers of America of Minnesota currently sponsors fifteen distinctive charter schools located throughout the state. Its portfolio of charter schools includes a high school for deaf students that offers a bi-lingual program in English and America Sign Language; a K-8 school located on the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota; a dual-language immersion Spanish and English K-8 school that also promotes conflict resolution; a K-8 school that combines rigorous college preparatory courses with a focus on outdoor education; and a 7-12 school that features project based learning that is facilitated online.
Volunteers of America of Minnesota attributes the successful results of its charter schools to the development and practice of a charter school sponsorship model of that goes beyond the compliance-based role outlined in Minnesota state statute. During the start-up phase, Volunteers of America of Minnesota works closely with founding charter school groups to ensure that tasks necessary to a successful opening are accomplished in a timely manner. These tasks include facility, finance, human resources, marketing, recruitment, and curriculum development. Once operational, Volunteers of America of Minnesota vigilantly monitors the financial and academic performance of each charter school through frequent communication, site visits and regular review of financial and program documents. When signs of trouble arise, the organization works closely with the charter school’s board to problem solve and identify resources that may be helpful. This practice is a departure from the traditional reactive relationship between charter school sponsors and schools.
“Being connected with a larger, nonprofit has been a significant factor in building and maintaining a strong, efficient charter school sponsorship program,” reported Testerman. “When necessary, we are able to leverage a variety of resources from the larger Volunteers of America of Minnesota organization, such as legal, financial and fundraising expertise. Additionally, we replicate best authorizing practices and tailor these practices to fit our environment,” Testerman concluded.
Volunteers of America of Minnesota is a nonprofit organization founded in 1896 which offers a wide variety of services to more than 33,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and ex-offenders each year. It is one of the oldest, largest and most comprehensive human service organizations in the state and has more than 60 programs, 700 employees and 4,000 volunteers. Volunteers of America has a rich history of developing innovative, quality programs to meet emerging social issues and prides itself on sponsoring programs which are able to articulate explicitly the outcomes achieved in its program participants' lives. For more information about Volunteers of America of Minnesota, visit http://www.voamn.org/, or call (763) 546-3242.
For more information about the Volunteers of America of Minnesota Charter School Sponsorship Program or the schools it sponsors, please visit: http://www.voamncharters.org/.
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice/charter/authorizing/index.html
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