We increasingly believe there need to be entities within the K12 system charged with promoting innovation, and encouraging applications to start new, quality schools. Charter school authorizers may be good candidates for this role.

One example of this is Innovative Quality Schools (IQS), a single-purpose charter school authorizer in Minnesota. IQS has issued a request for proposal asking individuals and organizations anywhere in the world to submit proposals to develop outstanding chartered public schools for Minnesota’s students.

It’s interesting, encouraging, to see this initiative by an authorizer.