Introducing The Charter Impact Committee

This legislative session, one of our main goals is to stay connected to what charter schools are experiencing right now. We believe advocacy works best when it’s shaped by those doing the work every day. That’s why we created the Charter Impact Committee (CIC).

The CIC brings together charter leaders who meet regularly with Alliance staff and our lobbying team during the legislative session. These meetings help us stay focused on the real challenges schools face, so when we talk to policymakers, we are clear, accurate, and guided by your experiences.

The committee includes members from many types of schools and backgrounds. They represent different authorizers and models, serving all grade levels, from single-campus to multi-campus and virtual schools. This diversity helps us look at policy issues from all angles and understand their impact on different schools.

At our first meeting, we talked about state budget items and how they affect public charter schools. We also discussed the South Carolina Department of Education’s budget requests and how they could help improve charter schools, as well as proposed legislation like Senate Bill 454. Besides the budget, S.454 is expected to have the biggest impact on charter schools. The group’s insights were very helpful as we get ready for the rest of the session.

With the Charter Impact Committee, our goal isn’t to push an agenda. We want to listen, stay informed, and make sure our advocacy reflects what matters most to charter schools across the state. We want you to know we’re doing this with your interests in mind and deep respect for your expertise as member schools.

We are very grateful to the Charter Impact Committee members who have taken on this role and shared their time, perspective, and experience:

Dr. Jacinta Bryant, Acceleration Academies; David Crook, The Heron Institute; Tom Cronin, GREEN Charter Network; TK Kennedy, Midlands STEM Charter School; Davontae Singleton, Riverview Charter School; Kim Statler, Polaris Tech Charter School; Josh Trahan, Fox Creek High School; Chad Weiden, Berkeley Charter Association.

As always, we want to hear from you. Your feedback matters, and we want you to feel involved throughout the legislative session. If you have concerns or issues that need attention, please contact us directly. We’re here to listen and are committed to advocating for charter schools in ways that reflect your needs.

We look forward to working together this session and continuing to serve the best interests of South Carolina’s public charter schools.