The Subcommittee convened this hearing to examine the challenges facing charter schools as they expand in the District of Columbia. They heard testimony from witnesses who are all founders and directors of innovative charter schools in the District. These witnesses shared their success stories as well as the individual issues and challenges facing their respective schools. Statements were presented by: Senator Mike DeWine; Senator Mary L. Landrieu; Senator Richard J. Durbin; Thomas Loughlin, Chair, District of Columbia Public Charter School Board; Josephine Baker, Executive Director, District of Columbia Public Charter School Board; Peggy Cooper Cafritz, President, District of Columbia Board of Education; Ariana Quinones-Miranda, Executive Director, District of Columbia Public Charter School Association; Joe Nathan, Director, Center for School Change, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota; David Domenici, Co-founder, Maya Angelou Public Charter School, Washington, DC; Eric S. Adler, Founder, SEED Foundation, Washington, DC; and Joshua Kern, Co-founder and President, Thurgood Marshall Academy, Washington, DC.