Public charter schools are an important component of education reform throughout the country. But unlike other public schools, they generally do not receive public funds to help acquire buildings and pay for renovations and often rely on CDFIs like IFF to help finance their capital projects.

IFF supports increased funding for the U.S. Department of Education Credit Enhancement for Charter Schools Program, which CDFIs use to help charter schools raise long-term, affordable financing in the capital markets. We also support increased funding for the Charter Schools Program and the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Program.

President Obama’s budget for fiscal year 2010 includes $268 million for charter school programs – $52 million more than last year. View the President’s budget request for charter schools here.

Write your Senator and Member of Congress and ask them to support the President's proposal here.

IFF Research

Public School in St. Louis: Place, Performance, and Promise This study analyzes the performance, location, and enrollment of both public schools and charter schools in St. Louis in 2007-08.  The study - Place, Performance, and Promise - determined that St. Louis students have limited access to a quality school in their neighborhood.  The report was produced by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) and IFF, in conjunction with the St. Louis Mayor's Office. [PDF 2.5mb]     Here and Now 2: Change We Can Measure This report examines citywide and community area changes in the number of performing schools in Chicago's 77 neighborhood areas between 2004 and 2008. It also documents the contribution of charter and other new schools under Renaissance 2010. Like the 2004 Here and Now study, this study is based on the premise that all Chicago students should have academically performing schools within or near the community area in which they live. [PDF 1.5mb]   Here and Now: The Need for Performing Schools in Chicago's Neighborhoods A planning tool for government agencies and communities that ranks Chicago's 77 community areas in terms of the need for performing public elementary and high schools, based on academic performance, space utilization, and demographics. [PDF 400kb]