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In This Issue

Homegrown
As the Northwest joins the charter school reform movement that is sweeping the country, many unanswered questions remain.

• Oregon becomes the most recent Northwest entry into the charter school movement
• Alaska, the first state in the Northwest to pass a charter law, has 16 schools currently operating.
• The 31st state to pass a charter law, Idaho has nine schools enrolling close to 1,000 students.

All in the Family
Daily life for the Semmens family of Soldotna, Alaska, turns around a little school named for the northern lights that dance in the heavens in this part of the world.

• A family in Kenai, Alaska, finds transitioning from home schooling to a charter school isn't difficult, that is, if you don't count having to change out of pajamas.

Why Charter Schools Stumble — and Sometimes Fall
Pulling together the countless elements that go into designing and running a school can flummox even the most dedicated founders.

The Quest for Accountability
If charter schools are to survive and thrive, they must be able to prove their worth. A workshop in Idaho shares some of the strategies schools need to effectively assess their students — and, ultimately, themselves.

• A six-step plan for developing accountability.

Stuck on the Starting Blocks
Despite growing support and some heavy-duty financial backing, Washington state's charter school advocates have been unable to muster the votes for a charter schools law — yet.

Taking It Slow
While educator and author Gordon Castanza of Alaska backs the charter school concept, he advocates a go-slow approach.

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• Resources
• Dialogue

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