Posts Tagged ‘public charter schools’

The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association (IPCSA) is hosting Charter 101, a basic introduction to the process of starting a charter school in Indiana, on March 7, 6 p.m., at the IPCSA office, 407 Fulton St., Suite 301. There is no charge to attend this session.

“Starting a charter school is a rigorous and daunting process requiring a team effort, diverse skills and talents, commitment and hard work. It is imperative that school developers understand the attributes of a quality school and build a strong foundation from the beginning,” says Russ Simnick, president of IPCSA.

“The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association is committed to the development of high-performing public charter schools and offers Charter 101 as an introduction to these processes,” Simnick adds.

Some of the topics to be covered during the free session include Indiana’s charter school law, the relationship between the authorizer and organizer, funding and timelines. Light appetizers will be served.

For more information about public charter schools in Indiana or to find events near you, visit INcharters.org.

The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association (IPCSA) is pleased to add several new member services to its variety of operational and support services.

Effective governance is critical to the success of any organization, especially charter schools. The IPCSA now offers aboveBOARD, a comprehensive program to strengthen each charter school board at any stage of its development. The aboveBOARD consultants will provide the essential knowledge that every charter board member and school leader must have about charter governance, then work directly with the governing body and school leadership to assess and develop the board into a high-quality, effective governing unit. Made possible through a partnership with the Indiana Youth Institute, aboveBOARD can be scheduled by contacting the IPCSA.

In addition, the new IPCSA Legal Help Desk offers the security and convenience for members to access attorneys for knowledgeable legal advice. Legal challenges can impact an institution’s reputation in the community, break the budget or threaten the school’s existence. To access the Legal Help Desk, IPCSA members can visit INcharters.org.

“There has never been a more important time to join the Association,” Russ Simnick, IPCSA president, says. “IPCSA membership is the first step for schools to deliver and support the high-quality education all Indiana students deserve,” adds Simnick.

Additional new member services include professional development, public relations support, document solutions, new school leader mentor program and Charter U for new schools.

The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association offers services, advocacy and support for Indiana’s 70 public charter schools. Nearly 32,000 students attend public charter schools in Indiana. The Association web site is www.INcharters.org.

Indianapolis –Indiana Public Charter Schools Association President Russ Simnick is pleased to announce that LaNier L. Echols has been named membership services coordinator.

Echols holds her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and master’s degree from Marian University. A Teaching and Learning Education Leadership Candidate at Marian University, Echols will graduate in May 2013.

Previously a teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools for three years, Echols was selected from more than 25,000 applicants nationwide to join Teach for America, a national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in under-resourced public schools. In addition, she interviewed potential Indianapolis teaching fellows for The New Teacher Project.

She is a volunteer with the National Society of Black Engineers, a member of the Marian University Alumni Association National Board of Directors and lobbied on behalf of Stand for Children on Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1002. She served as a member of the Tony Bennett Education Round Table in the spring of 2011 to review educational matters concerning education reform.

“We are thrilled that LaNier has joined the Association as membership services coordinator,” says Simnick. “Her past experience and expertise will be an asset to our current and future members.”
The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association offers services, advocacy and support for Indiana’s 62 public charter schools. Nearly 23,000 students attend public charter schools in Indiana.  The Association web site is www.INcharters.org.

Indianapolis –Indiana Public Charter Schools Association President Russ Simnick was an invited speaker at the 2011 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Along with charter leaders from Texas, Colorado and Georgia, Simnick shared Indiana’s strategies to improve opportunities for legislative success at the presentation titled “State Facility Survey Blueprint: Lessons from Four States.”

In addition, Simnick was invited to present a case study on Indiana charter school legislation to charter school leaders from around the nation.

“Indiana has quickly gained the attention of the nation as a battleground for education reform,” Simnick said. “This year, the Indiana General Assembly saw the greatest strides in education reform in the state’s history.”

Simnick holds his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. He has received the “40 under 40″ honor from the Indianapolis Business Journal and was named a Junior Achievement “Best and Brightest” finalist. Prior to his leadership of IPCSA, Simnick was the leader of a public charter high school in Indianapolis, executive vice president of a large Indianapolis PR firm and worked in the Indiana State Senate.

The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association offers services, advocacy and support for Indiana’s 62 public charter schools. Nearly 23,000 students attend public charter schools in Indiana. The Association web site is www.INcharters.org.
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Indiana chosen as one of four sites for national listening tour

Indianapolis – Russ Simnick, President of The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association (IPCSA), is pleased to announce that Indiana has been chosen as one of four sites on the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ (NAPCS) Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization Listening Tour.

NAPCS President Peter Groff and David Dunn, president of the Texas Charter Schools Association and current president of the NAPCS State Leaders Council, will be in Indianapolis on Thursday, January 20, to hear directly from key education policymakers on the reauthorization of the ESEA.

In addition, the group will meet with charter school educators at the Indianapolis Metropolitan High School.

The Indiana Public Charter Schools Association offers services, advocacy and support for Indiana’s 62 public charter schools. Nearly 23,000 students attend public charter schools in Indiana. The Association web site is www.INcharters.org.
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