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A GUIDE TO CHARTER ACTIVITY (AUGUST 1996) That n e w part of public education often called "the charter movement" continues both to grow a n d to evolve. We're seeing new ideas i n the laws a n d innovations in the learning programs. There're n e w twists o n governance a n d o n management. Lots of energy; people working very hard. Lots of mistakes b u t lots of dynamics. All typical of any n e w movement. This guide tries to provide the names a n d phone numbers of the key people involved, a n d some sense of the program a n d the politics in each state. This gets harder as n e w states come in, as programs grow and as people move. So, again, m y apologies for any errors a n d omissions. I'd appreciate corrections; i n the names a n d phone numbers or i n m y reading of the situation. Mostly this is a guide to people involved with the live laws that can have real system effects . . . the strong programs i n which the state opens the w a y for some public b o d y other than the local board to offer public education i n the community, as well as for some entity other than the district to start a n d r u n a public school. The National Scene Since 1994 this idea —of the state opening the w a y for more than one organization to offer public education i n the community ~ has moved increasingly to the center of the national search for a n effective strategy. I n mid-1996 the level of 'national' attention to the charter idea is quite remarkable. Meetings —The U.S. Department of Education brought (mostly) people running charter schools into Mirmeapolis July 26-27 for a how-to discussion; about common problems of start-up a n d operation. The fascinating networking-session organized b y the Association of Educators in Private 1 CENTER FOR POLICY STUDIES Ted Kolderie 59 West Fourth Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 Telephone: 612-224-9703