We intend to keep the non-instructional aspects of school creation from becoming too burdensome by serving as a support, resource and networking center. Since choice in the American public education system has heretofore been limited to choosing where to live, rather than where to go to school, evaluating and choosing a charter school on its merits will be a new concept to most parents. It will take intensive marketing and public relations to adequately inform parents and students of their options. We see our role as helping to foster, nurture and promote public school choice. That means helping Missouri's future charter schools to market their concepts, teach and involve parents in making educational choices for their children, and support and promote a variety of viable schools.
Innovation is at the very heart of the charter school concept.
It has been proven that when educators are freed from burdensome statutes and rules, variety, innovation and responsiveness flourish. When a community offers quality public school options, every family, every child is well served. But school choice is only viable as long as the choices available are good ones. For charter school success to be repeated and built upon, there must be comprehensive information sharing between schools and access to best practices approaches. We intend to serve as an information clearinghouse and networking resource center for the state's charter schools.