Announcements for the New Doctoral Minor in Charter School Education

By Dr. David B. Ross

In January of 2007, I had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Carlo Rodriguez and talk about the future of education. The most important topic we discussed was charter school reform and the need of further education at the doctoral level. Dr. Rodriguez and I, after several conversations until his sudden death, collaborated on the course curriculum for a doctoral minor in charter school education and leadership. We felt that all stakeholders in charter school education would need a curriculum designed to meet their needs in governance, facilities procurement, parental choice, business management, and curriculum and assessments. These stakeholders include (a) principals (b) CFO/business managers (c) school board members (d) authorizers (e) teachers (f) policy makers, and (g) parents.

Dr. Karen Bowser, Associate Dean of Doctoral Programs, and I worked a couple of months on the proposal of the doctoral minor to be presented to Dr. Dana Mills. On June 19, 2007, the proposal was sent to Dr. Mills for an approval. This proposal was recommended to the office of Dr. Frank DiPiano, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and prior to the Fall 2007 term, the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs notified Dr. Dana Mills that the new doctoral minor was approved.

The new minor will meet the needs of leaders and corporations who are pursuing an emerging alternative to traditional public education. The Charter School Education Leadership Minor will consist of five 3-credit courses: two new courses--Governance in Charter Schools (EDD 8760) and Charter Schools and Democracy: Parental Choice (EDD 8761); in addition to two courses already approved in the School Business Leadership minor-- Facilities Operation Management (EDD 8753) and Maintenance and Operation of Ancillary Services in School Systems (EDD 8754); and one already approved in the Instructional Leadership concentration-- Assessment Centered Curriculum Design (EDD 8112).

Nova Southeastern University – Fischler School of Education and Human Services (NSU FSEHS) has been working on promoting this new doctoral minor by sending staff to conferences as well as working with the Strategic Initiatives and Global Enterprise for Academic Development (SIGEAD) Office. SIGEAD is currently working on marketing initiatives with Imagine Schools and their Vice President for Education, Eileen Bakke, who has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NSU FSEHS. Imagine Schools, home office in Arlington, Virginia, is an organization comprised mostly of teachers which operates elementary and secondary (K-12) charter and independent schools nationwide. Imagine Schools who has over 3000 staff are located in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

Jim Crook and I are currently pursuing another MOU with The DC Association of Chartered Public Schools and Academica. Academica was founded in 1999 and serves as one of Florida’s successful charter school organizations. The president and founder of Academica, Fernando Zuleta, and I cooperated with each other to have an introductory meeting with 20 of Academica’s personnel who would be interested in pursuing their doctoral degree with NSU FSEHS. Other participants in this meeting were NSU academic advisors and a financial aid representative, Dr. Ellie Perry, as well as NIEO staff.

One of many characteristics of having a successful program is to employ an expert(s) in the field. The following professors have been selected to facilitate the courses: Dr. Teresa Baker, Dr. Steven Bartholomew, Dr. Alina Diaz, and Dr. Otho Tucker. Dr. Tucker and Brian Carpenter will assist on the development and restructuring of the course curriculum. These professors/administrators all have remarkable credentials and are recognized nationwide in the charter school movement for their contributions, research, publications and commitment to raise student achievement.

We feel confident that this new doctoral minor will be extremely successful for NSU FSEHS as well as charter schools nationwide.