Closing the Achievement Gap: Strategic Funding Attracts Co-Investment

Outlines Casey's early investment in the Indianapolis mayor's charter initiative as part of an effort to support innovative but as yet unproven programs, seed results, and attract co-investment. Describes the impact of program-related investments.

• Successful Strategy: By 2007, 16 mayor-sponsored charter schools were up and running in Indianapolis, including five of the top 10 most improved schools in the county. Almost three-quarters of students served by initiative charter schools are children of color and 67 percent are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Tweet
• Successful Strategy: Students gained ground on or stayed even with national peers in 89 percent of subjects and grades in 2007. Tweet
• Successful Strategy: Casey seed money attracted major co-investment in school research. Tweet
• Successful Strategy: Casey's early investment enabled the charter initiative to develop high-quality authorizing and accountability systems that helped people in Indianapolis open charter schools that are getting results. Tweet
• Successful Strategy: On a national level, several other mayors have expressed interest in the Indianapolis model. Tweet