About CACSA

Mission:

The mission of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA) is to promote and support best practices in charter school authorizing and to help all Colorado charter school authorizers develop, adopt, and implement practices that improve results for all students.

Vision:

The vision of CACSA is that all charter school authorizers will have the tools needed to implement best practices to ensure the charter schools they oversee are of high-quality; effectively serve all students; operate with appropriate autonomy, governance and oversight; and are accountable for academic results, finances, and operations.

Our Focus:

CACSA members seek to improve authorizing by sharing lessons learned, model materials, and strong practices; as well as by defining the roles and responsibilities of authorizers. CACSA supports practices that are reflected in the Colorado Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing as adopted by the Colorado State Board of Education. CACSA work is informed by nine Organizing Principles.

1. Building Community
2. Quality Authorizing
3. Standards-Based Support
4. State-Wide Inclusion
5. Professional Merit-Based Decisions
6. Systemic Improvement
7. Autonomy & Accountability
8. Voice for Quality Authorizing
9. Promotes Equity

Our Work:

CACSA supports authorizers through various strategies, including networking meetings, model materials, personalized support, peer-to-peer connections, and serving as a voice for quality authorizing. With CACSA support, authorizers are better able to:

• Determine the quality and viability of charter applicants;
• Create effective performance management systems that allow them to track the quality, performance, and appropriate operation of charter schools;
• Support equitable access and appropriate services for all students; and
• Make sustainable high-stakes decisions about the charter schools they oversee that are in the best interest of students and their community

Our Members:

CACSA members include both authorizers and the individual people that work directly as authorizers and current membership represents about two-thirds of Colorado’s charter schools. CACSA members participate in the work of the association, including through committees that focus on key aspects of work, such as: Authorizer Support; Individualized Education; and Membership and Outreach.