National Association of Charter Schools Authorizers, 2010
Closing a failing charter school is difficult, but it can be done. In fact, it has been done hundreds of times across the country. However, if you are on the staff or the board of a charter school authorizing agency that is facing a closure decision, the fact that other authorizers have closed schools may be of small comfort. You are facing a daunting collection of academic, financial, compliance, legal, political, philosophical and personal information. Some of that information will suggest that you take bold action to close the school; other information may suggest more cautious strategies. Many authorizing staff and board members end up feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Those feelings themselves often lead authorizers to become cautious and to keep a failing school open.
