Leaders from several charter support organizations and schools have agreed to serve on the new association’s board of directors. Initial board members include: 

Governance of the new organization is a central to the success of The Next Step. As we meet with stakeholders across the state, most ask "who will run this new association?" The answer is fairly simple: charter school leaders. But charter schools are special places, and the support for these new schools of change is not as strong as it should be. How do we build an effective board that is representative of charter school leaders, but also has the capacity to leverage fundraising, influence policy makers, and help spread the message with the media.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) today awarded a grant of up to $2.1M to the Charter School Policy Institute in support of The Next Step. Recognizing that there are critical gaps and overlaps in the existing landscape of Texas charter organizations, The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is making a significant investment in the formation of a world class association of charter schools in Texas, building upon the initial investment of the Walton Family Foundation. The grant will enable CSPI and charter school leaders from around the state to accomplish the following:

Welcome to The Next Step. Our mission is to create a robust, high quality state association for Texas charter schools. This interactive website is intended to both inform Texas public school stakeholders about this exciting project and to gather input from charter school educators, parents, and students. The website is a news source and a place to contribute your thoughts. Please take a few moments to browse the site.