CHARTER SCHOOL FINANCING

On February 20, 2025, Ziegler covered two topics in our market update webinar. The market update portion provided charter and private K-12 schools with an update on the municipal bond market as well as market reactions to initiatives by the Trump administration. As part of this discussion, we discussed lobbying efforts in Congress to maintain the ability of charters and private K12’s to issue tax-exempt debt for projects. This continues to be a critical topic for all involved in the School Choice movement.

The second half of the webinar featured Bryan Knowles, CEO of VersaBadge, discussed how the VersaBadge technology can enhance the culture of safety for K-12 schools. The VersaBadge Safety Platform gives teachers and other staff an effective way to quickly and discreetly summon assistance to their specific location. The platform leverages an affordable, Bluetooth-based location infrastructure, wearable panic buttons, a customizable mobile application and online dashboard. VersaBadge can help facilitate deescalation of common conflicts, along with mass notifications to support shelter-in-place events, and tools to assist with visitor management.