Changing to Charter delivers much more than an examination of the demands, risks, and rewards of converting K-12 schools to charter status. Through the biographies of charter conversion pioneers and their conversion schools, the authors convincingly portray two seemingly contradictory findings: (1) the backgrounds of conversion pioneers are as varied as the circumstances surrounding each conversion; (2) successful school conversions, like the pioneers that led them, share a common core of leadership, indeed human, characteristics critical for successful school conversion and operation.

Guilbert C. Hentschke, Dean Emeritus, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California

Shore, Leahy, and Medley have written the book that every person interested in better schools for our children must read. It is hard to make a school great, but it can be done with excellent leadership and dedication.

Bill Siart, Founder & Chairman of ExED

For any aspiring group of educational leaders wanting to retain the tangible or intangible values of a district or private school and merge them with the inherent benefits of a charter structure, here is your book.

Eddie Goodall, North Carolina State Senator; founder and director, NC Association of Public Charter Schools; 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award winner for his extensive work with charter schools