The role of charter school authorizing is to ensure that high-quality schools are established and continue to operate. Since authorizing is a relatively new field, research is still emerging about which practices effective authorizers employ and the state role in creating strong authorizing environments is critical.

The Policy Framework for High-Quality Charter Authorizing Practices (Framework) provides one tool for assessing the state policy environment’s support for high-quality authorizing practices and is also the foundation for the National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) activities related to quality authorizing. The Framework is based on a review of high-quality authorizing practices referenced in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and literature by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) and the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools (Alliance).