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    Support Resources for Charter Schools, Students, and Staff in Times of Natural Disasters

    Posted on October 9, 2024

    Many charter schools in our portfolio have been impacted by recent hurricanes across the U.S. These natural disasters have disrupted operations, damaged numerous school facilities, led to school closures, and created new challenges in rebuilding to ensure students continue to receive a high-quality education in the aftermath.

    Access the Resources
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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - How to Build and Fund Your Green School Facility

    Posted on September 27, 2024

    Join us on Wednesday, October 2nd from 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar,“How to Build and Fund Your Green School Facility” where we will share best practices for planning your green facility and highlight funding that schools can access to fund their green facility plans.

    Register for the Webinar
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    Autism Acceptance Month Spotlight: Arizona Autism Charter School

    Posted on April 10, 2024

    For public schools across the country, April is one of the most important times of the school year because we celebrate Autism Awareness Month. Autism Acceptance Month is meant to highlight the issues affecting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, educate the public on support services, and celebrate and destigmatize the perspectives of those living with ASD. During this month, we recognize how the Arizona Austism Charter School has put the needs of students with disabilities in the forefront of the education sector.

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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - Bonds and Blackboards: A Conversation

    Posted on March 4, 2024

    Join us on Tuesday, March 12th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar, "Bonds and Blackboards: A Conversation" to learn more about the current state of the charter school bond market, and discuss the bond study findings and implications for school leaders, state policymakers and other bond market participants.

    Register for the Webinar
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    Happy 5th Anniversary to LISC SchoolBuild

    Posted on October 1, 2022

    Join us as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of the launch of our award-winning LISC research portal, SchoolBuild: From Idea to Construction. Help us celebrate some of the progress, updates and achievements we have made in 2022.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Dr. Elena Litescu

    Posted on September 22, 2022

    Get inspired by our interview with the School Principal of Evergreen Charter School, Dr. Elena Litescu. When we sat down with Dr. Litescu, she shared more about what motivated her to work with charter schools, what lenders can do more effectively to support charter schools and school leaders, and the strategies that her school uses to help support their students' racial identity development.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Dr. Vasthi R. Acosta

    Posted on June 8, 2022

    Celebrate the impact of our school leaders! In our conversation with the Executive Director of Amber Charter Schools, Dr. Vasthi R. Acosta she shares more about how Black, Latino and Asian educators  have impacted the course of her own education, what lenders can do differently to support schools and their school leaders, and the biggest lessons she has learned from her school community.

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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - Building Your Charter School Facility Team: A Guide to Working with Architects

    Posted on May 4, 2022

    Join us on Wednesday, May 18th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar, "Building Your Charter School Facility Team: A Guide to Working with Architects" to learn more about what an architect is, the role they play on your facility team, and the critical services they provide to charter schools.

    View the Webinar Recording
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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - The Roadmap to Fiscal Security: Forecast the Future

    Posted on April 7, 2022

    Join us on Tuesday, May 3rd from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar, "The Roadmap to Fiscal Security: Forecast the Future" to help you understand the obstacles that may get in the way of your plans to expand your school and gain the ability to mitigate risks and effectively execute your short and long-term vision and mission.

    View the Webinar Recording
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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: David W. Nowlin

    Posted on April 5, 2022 

    Get inspired by our interview with the Superintendent of the Texas Empowerment Academy, David W. Nowlin. He shares more about the books that have impacted his approach to school leadership, how black educators impacted the course of his own education, what lenders can to support schools and their school leaders.

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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - The Roadmap to Fiscal Security: Command the Present

    Posted on April 4, 2022

    Join us on Tuesday, April 5th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar, "The Roadmap to Fiscal Security: Command the Present" to learn proven practices for budgeting, financial reporting, forecasting, managing cash, and gain the ability to identify financial mishaps early within your schools to prevent a financial disaster.

    View the Webinar Recording
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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - The Roadmap to Fiscal Security: Reconcile the Past

    Posted on March 9, 2022

    Join us on Tuesday, March 29th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar, "The Roadmap to Fiscal Security: Reconcile the Past" to learn the reasoning behind operating with a common definition of responsible financial management. 

    View the Webinar Recording
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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Jennifer Hodges

    Posted on February 24, 2022

    Get inspired by our interview with the Vice President of the Whole Child Initiative and Community Impact at KIPP Chicago, Jennifer Hodges. She shares more about her experience working in the charter school sector, the books that have impacted her approach to school leadership, and the strategies that her network uses to help support the racial identity development of her students.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Diana Castillo

    Posted on December 6, 2021

    Get inspired by our interview with the founding school director of Westchase Classical Academy, Diana Castillo. She shares more about her experience working in the charter school sector, the books that have impacted her approach to school leadership, and biggest lessons that she has learned from her school community.

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    Happy 4th Anniversary to LISC SchoolBuild

    Posted on October 19, 2021

    Join us as we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the launch of our award-winning LISC research portal, SchoolBuild: From Idea to Construction. Celebrate some of the progress and achievements we have made over a very unpredictable and challenging year

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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar -Building a Facility Team: Owner's Representative 101

    Posted on October 12, 2021 

    Join us Tuesday, October 26th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for our latest webinar, "Building a Facility Team: Owner's Representative 101", and to learn more about what an Owner’s Representative (OR) is and the role they could play on your facility team.

    View the Webinar Recording
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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Dustin Mitchell

    Posted on October 7, 2021

    Celebrate the impact of our school leaders! In our conversation with the Head of School of Henry Johnson Charter School, Dustin Mitchell, he shares more about how he creates joy for his students, the books that have impacted his approach to school leadership, and best advice. 

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Akeem Brown

    Posted on August 18, 2021

    Get inspired by our interview with the Founder of Essence Preparatory Charter School, Akeem Brown. He shares what motivated him to start working in the charter school sector, the books that have impacted his approach to school leadership, and what lenders can do differently to support schools and their school leaders.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Tori Jackson-Hines

    Posted on July 14, 2021

    Celebrate the impact of our school leaders! In our conversation with the Founder and Executive Director of the Resurgence Hall Charter School, Tori Jackson-Hines, she shares more about her experience working in the charter school sector, the books that have impacted her approach to school leadership, and how black educators impacted the course of her own education.

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    How to Tell Your Charter School's Financial Story

    Posted on May 19, 2021

    Learn tips for keeping your partners and school community informed about your financial position during times of so much uncertainty and change. Different ways of telling your school’s financial story will be outlined. This blog was written by the Nonprofit Finance Fund.

    Read the How to Tell Your Cha…
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    New Markets Tax Credits and How Your School Can Access Them

    Posted April 21, 2021 

    Charter schools that are contemplating a facility project in the next three years will get the information they need to find and apply for New Market Tax Credits.

    Read the Springtime is Here: …
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    An Overview of Charter School Access to District Bonds

    Posted on April 19, 2021

    The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released their Charter Schools and District Bond Offerings report as part of their State Policy Analyses for Public Charter School Facilities Series. This report outlines how charter schools and school districts can work together to create favorable financing conditions and increase charter school inclusion in future bond offerings.

    Read the Charter School and D…
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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Myron Long

    Posted on April 14, 2021

    Get inspired by our interview with the Founder and Executive Director of the Social Justice School, Myron Long. He shares how long he has been working in the charter school sector, the books that have impacted his approach to school leadership, and the impact of having Black teachers or professors over the course of his own education.

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    National Policy Index Released by NACSA

    Posted on April 7, 2021

    The National Association of Charter School Authorizers recently released their National Policy Index as a resource for the sector to learn and gain insight on the charter policy landscape in all 50 states. The National Policy Index covers statutes, primarily in state charter school law, that relate to charter school authorizing. It is the most comprehensive database of state-level legislation related to education reform, authorizing, and charter schools. This resource will help authorizers, school leaders, education researchers and advocates see how their state compares to others in areas such as access and equity, charter governance, and funding.

    Access the National Policy In…
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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Leslie-Bernard Joseph, J.D.

    Posted March 21, 2021

    Celebrate the impact of our school leaders! In our conversation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School, Leslie-Bernard Joseph, learn more about what lenders can do to effectively support schools, his motivation to do this work and best advice.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: David Spencer

    Posted March 21, 2020

    Celebrate the impact of our school leaders! In our conversation with the founding school leader of KIPP Indy Legacy High School, David Spencer, learn more about his time working in the charter school sector, the strategies that his network uses to help support the racial identity development of their students, and the biggest lessons he has learned from his school community.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Traci Thibodeaux

    Posted on March 10, 2021

    Get inspired by our interview with the Founder and School Director for the Rêve Preparatory Charter School, Traci Thibodeaux. She shares the best piece of advice she has received, her motivation to do this work, and the strategies that her network uses to support the development of their students.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Denise Alexander

    Posted on March 10, 2021

    Read our interview with the Head of School for the Bronx Charter School for Children, Denise Alexander. She shares how she creates joy for her students, the biggest lessons she has learned from her school community and the books that have impacted her approach to school leadership.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: James F. Waller

    Posted on February 18, 2021

    Get inspired with the debut of our School Leaders Who Inspire Series! In our conversation with the Chief of Schools of Friendship Blow Pierce Elementary and Middle School, James F. Waller, learn more about his motivation to lead and teach, his biggest lessons, influences and best advice.

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    School Leaders Who Inspire Series: Monique Daviss

    Posted on Feburary 9, 2021

    In 2021, we are excited to debut our School Leaders Who Inspire Series! This new series is intended to celebrate and highlight the prominent and impactful educators we have the pleasure of working with. In our conversation with Executive Director of El Sol Science and Arts Academy, Monique Daviss, learn more about her motivation to lead and teach, her biggest lessons, influences and best advice.

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    The National Alliance for Charter Schools Releases the School Buildings of the Future: Lessons from the Pandemic Publication

    Posted on January 25, 2021

    The National Alliance for Charter Schools recently released a new publication that explores how innovative approaches adopted during the pandemic will impact the future of school facilities. Read the School Buildings of the Future: Lessons from the Pandemic article to understand your future school facility needs.

    Read the Future of School Bui…
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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar -What Will Charter School Facilities Look Like in 2040?

    Posted on January 22, 2021

    Join us Tuesday, January 26th from 3:30 - 4:30 PM EST for our latest webinar, "What Will Charter School Facilties Look Like in 2040?", and discuss the many ways facilities will change over the next ten to twenty years as our understanding of student needs changes.

    View the Webinar Recording
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    The Equitable Facilities Fund Releases Its Latest Charter School Bond Sector Study

    Posted December 8, 2020

    The Equitable Facilities Fund recently released the latest Charter School Bond Sector Study: 2019 Year in Review. This resource will help charter school operators, policymakers, bond investors, and real estate developers make inform decisions about how best to expand high-quality charter schools. 

    Read the Charter Bond Sector Study
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    The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Releases a New Charter School Data Dashboard

    Posted October 26, 2020

    The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools recently released a new Charter School Data Dashboard. This resource will help school leaders, parents, students, advocates, and education researchers access the sectors most recent and up to date charter school numbers and data. 

    Access the Charter School Dashboard
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    Happy 3rd Anniversary to LISC SchoolBuild!

    Posted on October 20, 2020

    This month marks the 3rd anniversary of the launch of our award-winning LISC research portal, SchoolBuild: From Idea to Construction. We launched SchoolBuild with the mission of demystifying the facility development process. To celebrate, we wanted to take some time to reflect on the achievements and progress we have made since launching.

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    The Charter School Facility Center Releases a New Refinancing Guide for Charter Schools

    Posted on October 16, 2020

    The Charter School Facility Center recently released the Communities of Excellence Project: Charter School Facility Refinancing Guide & Toolkit. This resource will help schools understand the refinancing process and their refinancing options.

    Download the Guide & Toolkit
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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar -Back to School Facilities Planning in the Era of COVID-19

    Posted on September 22, 2020

    Join us Tuesday September 29th from 1:00 - 2:30 PM EST for our latest webinar, Back to School Facilities Planning in the Era of COVID-19, and learn the best practice strategies for preventing the spread of COVID-19, containing COVID & improving school facilities to serve students during this pandemic. 

    View the Webinar Recording
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    Back To School Remote Learning Resources for Charter Schools

    Posted on September 15, 2020

    In response to how charter schools adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic and as schools prepare to execute their Back to School plans, the LISC Charter School Financing Team decided to compile a list of Back to School articles and resources from charter schools and charter networks across the country that have already implemented successful and safe returns to school strategies.

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    Learning to Change: Reflections of the CDFI Racial Equity Collaborative on Education

    Posted on September 3, 2020

    The CDFI Racial Equity Colloborative on Education came together in a recent blog post to share the experiences and lessons they have learned to help guide simlar organizations as they try to center their lending, investing, and operational work around racial equity principles. These CDFIs came together to share their experiences as many organizations around the country commit to racial equity.

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    State Policy Snapshot: Facilities Financing for Public Charter Schools

    Posted on August 3, 2020

    The Charter School Facility Center recently released the third installment of the State Policy Snapshot: Facilities Financing for Public Charter Schools. The purpose of this report is to provide the charter school community and policy makers with a complete picture of the credit enhancement that may be avalaible to charter schools as a source of low cost financing support to reduce the cost of facilities financing. 

    Download the Resource
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    Register for our Upcoming Webinar - A New Landscape: Exploring Charter School Financing Options

    Posted on July 31, 2020

    Join us on Wednesday August 19th from 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST for our latest webinar, A New Landscape: Exploring Charter School Financing Opportunitiesand help your school navigate the facility financing options available for charter school facility improvements.

    View the Webinar Recording
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    Pursuing Equity for All Students

    Posted on July 15, 2020

    During last month's CSLC and NCSRC webinar, LISC joined Self-Help and Reinvestment Fund as representatives of the CDFI Racial Equity Collaborative on Education. Speakers shared the collaborative's efforts to review lending practices in order to center racial equity in their work. Watch this recording to learn more.

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    SchoolPrint: Perry Street Case Study

    Posted on June 26, 2020

    Perry Street Preparatory Charter School occupies a stately brick building on a quiet, leafy street in Northeast Washington, DC. Built in 1900 and fronting a grassy park, the school “is where parents envision sending their kids,” says Kelly Smith.

    Read this Case Study
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    COVID-19 Resources for Charter Schools

    Posted on June 25, 2020

    In response to this crisis, the LISC Charter School Financing Team research and compiled resources from across the nation that we believe will be helpful for charter schools, school leaders, students and teachers. 

    View these Resources
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    Modifying your Charter School Facility Plan to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19

    Posted on May 11, 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has made plotting a course through current and future facility needs an even more challenging exercise.  SchoolPrint’s team of experts have compiled some considerations and recommendations, both circumstantial and evergreen, to guide your decision-making over the course of your charter school’s facility lifecycle.

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    In the Midst of Covid-19, 21 Charter Schools Receive "Spark" Grants

    Posted on May 11, 2020

    This week is National Charter Schools Week, and LISC is pleased to announce a second round of $800,000 Spark Opportunity Grants to 21 persevering charters schools across the country. 

    Read This Press Release
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    The 3 Primary Stages of a Construction Project

    Posted on May 11, 2020

    The SchoolPrint team of experts has put together a new resource for the SchoolBuild website, outlining the 3 Primary Stages of a Construction Project. Learn about the key components and milestones within each phase.

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    How to Train your Dragon to Fly

    Posted on: November 12, 2019

    Guest blog by Mark Medema, Managing Director of the Charter School Facility Center. Some people say that charter school leaders should just outsource their entire facility project to a developer. In my experience, I’ve learned that charter school leaders want to know about any and everything going on with their school – including their building, especially when it costs more than college for all their students.

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    Spark Opportunity Grant Program

    Posted on: September 17, 2019

    LISC has launched the Spark Opportunity Grant Program to provide predevelopment grant capital to K-12 public charter schools to support development of feasibility plans for new school facilities.  

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    SchoolPrint: Charter School Project Management

    Posted on: September 17, 2019

    LISC has launched a new program to help connect charter school operators to experts in facilities development, called SchoolPrint: Charter School Project Management.

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    SchoolBuild Feedback Survey

    Posted on September 17, 2019

    Thank you for visiting and recommending SchoolBuild for the past two years. We are constantly working to make SchoolBuild exactly what schools need to answer all of their charter school facility questions. 

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    The Education Opportunity in Opportunity Zones

    Posted on August 6, 2019

    More than 8,700 newly created Opportunity Zones are now racing to attract a portion of the $6 trillion in capital that may flow under a provision of the new tax law enacted in 2017.

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    The Tax Break that Could Fund New Charter Schools

    Posted on August 6, 2019

    To help slake the movement’s thirst for new facilities, charter supporters have been eyeing a new pot of money with growing interest—Opportunity Zones.

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    Application for Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Grants - Now Open

    Posted on June 30, 2019

    The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications for fiscal year 2019 for Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Grants. 

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    Call for Proposals from the CSFC

    Posted on June 30, 2019

    The Charter School Facility Center at the National Alliance for Public Schools is looking to support projects that capture and share best practices for addressing the charter school facilities challenge.

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    DC charter schools may be able to access district facilities for the first time

    Posted on June 30, 2019

    The District plans to lease a vacant campus in Southeast Washington, potentially paving the way for a charter school to take over a public school building for the first time during Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s five-year tenure.

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    Four Things You Can't Miss at #NCSC19

    Posted on June 25, 2019

    This year, the LISC Charter School Financing team is looking forward to the opportunity to network with our colleagues and schools at the National Charter School Conference. See the conference elements we are most excited about.

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    Welcome to our SchoolBuild Blog

    Posted on: January 18, 2019

    This week we are joining in the School Choice Week celebrations with the launch of this SchoolBuild blog! This blog is a unique opportunity to extend the work we have partnered with our colleagues across the sector to do.

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