Who We Are

Magnet Schools of America

FACT Sheet

Magnet Schools and Funding

Magnet Schools in America: A Brief History

In the 1960’s in the United States, some options to traditional public schools sprang up as a protest against racially segregated schools. The history of magnet schools is tied to the 1960’s protest over school desegregation and the educational reform model of public school choice as a way to address educational inequity.

In the 1980’s, Magnet Schools of America (MSA) was organized as a for-profit organization, incorporating in the State of Texas, sponsoring conferences. In the early 1990’s, a small group of magnet leaders met and organized an Association of members. In 1994, MSA was approved by the IRS as a 501(c) 3 not-for profit, professional educational association. Originally located in Houston, TX , MSA relocated its office to Washington, D.C. in 2000.

Today, MSA sponsors programs, events, technical assistance, student scholarships, professional development, and leadership through the National Institute for Magnet School Leadership (NIMSL). There are approximately 4,000 magnet and theme-based schools across the U.S.

What are Magnet Schools?

Magnet Schools are public elementary and secondary public schools of choice. Magnet Schools plan and develop programs using local, state, and federal funds, specifically the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP). Other federal grants associated with Magnet Schools are: Title I, Voluntary Public School Choice, Advanced Placement, and Smaller Learning Community grants. MSAP supports LEA’s to develop new and/or significantly revised magnet schools that provides students with a valuable educational and personal experience, prepares them to function in a diverse society, and helps to eliminate, reduce or prevent long-standing patterns of racial isolation. Magnet schools serve as models for school improvement and “turnaround schools” for students in low performing schools, and provide students an opportunity to succeed academically while learning in a racially diverse environment.

What are the Benefits of Magnet Schools?

Specific benefits in Magnet Schools include: improved academic achievement; diverse student enrollments; innovative curriculum; specialized teaching staff; higher attendance rates, graduation rates, and lower drop-out rates. Magnet schools boast more parental and community involvement, more personalization through theme-based education, and specialized programs, providing a sense of a safer environment for learning. Teachers are “highly qualified” through specific theme-based training and professional development.

What is the Mission of MSA?

Magnet Schools of America provides leadership for innovative instructional programs that promote equity, diversity, and academic excellence for all students in public school choice programs.

What are MSA’s Guiding Principles?

1. We believe that MSA through it national and regional structure is uniquely able to provide support, advocacy, and leadership for all magnet schools and other public schools of choice.

2. We believe that MSA must develop strong group and individual leadership to accomplish the goals and mission of the organization.

3. We believe in providing equity, excellence, and high academic achievement for all students.

4. We believe that communication is a process by which MSA will educate our stakeholders to the values of equity, diversity, and academic success.

What are MSA’s Goals and Objectives?

1. To promote goals of desegregation, equity, excellence, and the expansion and improvement of magnet schools;

2. To encourage America's businesses to become actively involved in magnet schools and to support them both conceptually and financially;

3. To encourage the federal government to finance magnet schools as entitlement programs rather than as competitive grants, and to increase the amount of this support;

4. To encourage the passage of legislation at both the state and national levels that will promote the development and improvement of magnet schools;

5. To provide parents and community members information on the benefits of magnet schools as schools of choice;

6. To act as a National Clearinghouse for information dissemination on magnet schools and promote legislative advocacy for magnet schools

What Federal Funding is Available?

The president’s FY 2010 budget for MSAP has steadily decreased. The budget level funds the program at $104.83 million, supporting approximately 40 MSAP grantees. Without funding increases or adjustments for inflation, MSAP is unable to meet the demand for more magnet school programs.

What is NIMSL?

NIMSL is the National Institute for Magnet School Leadership, a new initiative of Magnet Schools of America. NIMSL's mission is to develop a new vision for professional development for current and aspiring magnet school leaders and has established the “Principals’ Academy” to train aspiring, new and current elementary and secondary school principals. A “Blue Ribbon” panel of leaders assisted MSA in the development of the essentials necessary to make NIMSL an integral entity within Magnet Schools of America. NIMSL has trained over 200 principals, has assisted in developing State and/or Regional Associations as affiliates of Magnet Schools of America, and currently provides technical assistance to local school districts through on-site leadership training, evaluation of magnet school programs as well as reviews of policies and procedures relating to theme selection, marketing and student assignment.

More Information?

For more information about MSA, becoming a member, or NIMSL (or to become a part of the NIMSL faculty), please contact Dr. Robert Brooks, Executive Director of Magnet Schools of America at executive.director@magnet.edu.

Magnet Schools of America

1012 14^th Street, NW

Suite 203

Washington, DC 20005

Magnet Schools of America Staff

Executive Director: Dr. Robert G. Brooks is the Executive Director of Magnet Schools of America, located in the National Office in Washington, D.C. He is a past president of Magnet Schools of America (1998-2000) and served as the Association's first Secretary-Treasurer when the organization became incorporated in 1994. Dr. Brooks is an author/editor of: Definitive Studies of Magnet Schools: Voices of Public School Choice (1999); Author/Editor, Blueprint for Understanding and Operating Successful Magnet and Theme-Based Schools (2000) and 2nd edition (2004); and Editor, Magnet Schools of America quarterly newsletter, CHOICE. He may be reached at 202-824-0672 or e-mail: executive.director@magnet.edu.

Events Coordinator: Judy Shen is the Events Coordinator for Magnet Schools of America, located in the National Office in Washington, D.C.. She handles all conference-related work, including registration, payments, and on-site planning and preparation. She may be reached by e-mail at events@magnet.edu.

Legislative and Communications Manager: Timothy Brown, Esq. is the Legislative and Communications Manager for Magnet Schools of America, located in the National Office in Washington, D.C.. He handles all legislative and communications matters, including updating and advising the Executive Director, the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and MSA's Legislative Committee on legislative matters pertinent to the mission of Magnet Schools of America. In addition, he is responsible for developing and maintaining contacts with legislative staff on Capitol Hill regarding authorization and approriations related to Magnet and educational legislation. He may be reached by e-mail at communications@magnet.edu.

Office Assistant: Lynda Clifford is the Office Assistant for Magnet Schools of America, located in the National Office in Washington, D.C.. She handles all membership related items, including renewals and invoices. She can be reached by e-mail at membership@magnet.edu.

Administrative Assistant: Bunmi Omo-Dare is the Administrative Assistant for Magnet Schools of America, located in the National Office in Washington, D.C.. Among other duties, she provides administrative support, maintains office transactions and assists with maintaining the membership database. She can be reached by e-mail at membership@magnet.edu.