Conducting a rigorous and comprehensive charter application and decision-making process is one of an authorizer’s foremost responsibilities. As gatekeepers and stewards of the public trust, authorizers decide whether a proposed charter school should be permitted to open, enroll students, and receive millions of dollars in public funding. In doing so, authorizers must establish sound criteria for school approval and clear expectations for school performance. This course emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards and conducting a rigorous evaluation of every proposed school, and prepares authorizers to implement a comprehensive application process that 1) includes clear application questions and guidance; 2) follows fair, transparent procedures and rigorous criteria; and 3) grants charters only to applicants who demonstrate a strong capacity to establish and operate a quality school. Included with the course are NACSA’s new Core Resources for conducting a rigorous charter application review and decision-making process.