NACSA About NACSA National Association of Charter School Authorizers ( NACSA ) is dedicated to improving the quality of public education by improving the performance of charter school authorizers. We are the oldest national organization devoted exclusively to strengthening charter schools by developing outstanding authorizers. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that provide new options to students and their families. They operate independently from school districts, but are overseen by an entity called an authorizer. Authorizers are entities charged by law to approve new schools; oversee ongoing performance; and evaluate the performance of public charter schools. Authorizers use these tools to create conditions that improve student outcomes. The growth of charter schools over the last 15 years is a testimony to parents' desire for more public school options that can produce results for their children. Thousands of charter schools now enroll more than one million students across the nation; 300-400 new schools open every year, and most of them have waiting lists.