Eric Paisner Chief Operating Officer | National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Charter Schools Conference 2025 (NCSC25) recently concluded, gathering over 4,000 participants including school leaders, teachers, policymakers, and advocates from across the United States. The event focused on collaboration, idea-sharing, and exploring best practices in education.
Key discussions at the conference included voices from educational thought leaders who emphasized that parents know what is best for their children and deserve excellent public schools tailored to students' needs. Starlee Coleman, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, noted that the charter school community was recognized for its innovation and excellence this year. Notably:
- 24 charter schools were named Blue Ribbon Schools.
- 21 charter high schools featured on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best high schools in America.
- North Dakota became the 47th state to allow charter schools to open.
A panel moderated by Andy Rotherham of Bellwether Education Partners discussed challenges and opportunities for charter schools with a focus on innovation and AI. Panelists included Marlon Marshall from City Fund, Nella Garcia Urban of DSST Public Schools, Hanna Skandera from Daniels Fund, and others. They expressed optimism about the growth of charter schools as part of the public education ecosystem.
Richard Reeves delivered a keynote address highlighting the need for policies supporting boys and men in education. He pointed out issues such as fewer male teachers and rising loneliness among boys while proposing solutions like delaying school entry for boys to match developmental needs.
The conference also hosted 86 breakout sessions covering topics like parent-teacher collaboration and federal policy understanding. The National Alliance shared its federal priorities to expand charter schools amid increased funding from the Department of Education totaling $500 million.
Legislation advocacy continued with efforts to pass acts like The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act and The Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act.
On June 30th, four individuals were inducted into the Charter Schools Hall of Fame: Chris Barbic of YES Prep Public Schools; Constance Ranae Jones formerly of Noble Schools; Dr. Elaine Swafford from Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy; J.C. Huizenga founder of National Heritage Academies.
Starlee Coleman praised these honorees saying they serve as inspiration through their innovative approaches in public education.
Next year's conference will be held in New Orleans from June 24-26, 2026.
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