Arizona State Board for Charter Schools (September 2013, Report No. 13-12)

Established in 1994, the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools (Board) authorizes and oversees the operations of charter schools. A charter holder is an entity that contracts with a charter authorizer, such as the Board, to operate one or more charter schools. The Board has increased charter schools’ accountability but can further enhance its oversight by continuing to implement its academic performance intervention policy, taking action to address charter holders with poor financial performance, assessing whether it should require charter holders to submit corrective action plans that address a broader range of internal control weaknesses or deficiencies, and establishing an operational framework. Additionally, although the Board provides information about charter holders and their schools on its Web site, it should provide charter school comparative information and guidance to better explain academic performance accountability on its Web site.