Most policymakers, charter school operators, and others immersed in the charter school movement since it began in the early 1990s have focused their attention primarily on charter schools, not on the public bodies that license these schools to operate. As the charter school movement has grown, there has been increasing recognition that effective charter school authorizing is critical to the success of the charter school sector. Charter school authorizers are entities charged by law to approve new schools, monitor their compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and evaluate their performance to make decisions about charter renewal and closure. The role of charter authorizers has become particularly important in the context of increasing accountability under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Intended primarily for policymakers and charter school authorizers and potential authorizers, this guide describes various ways that authorizers and policymakers can achieve quality authorizing. It provides detailed information designed to help policymakers at the state and national levels and to help current and potential authorizers replicate these successful models and practices. In order to provide specific illustrations of abstract concepts involved in successful charter authorizing, this guide highlights the practices of eight charter authorizers that have fostered the development of high-quality charter schools. Part 1 of this guide describes the common practices of the eight charter authorizers profiled here. This guide describes how effective authorizers: build a strong organization; develop a strong talent pool; select for quality; support new school operators; provide meaningful and transparent oversight; and hold schools accountable for meeting performance goals. Part II describes the kinds of policy factors that can either support or hinder quality charter authorizing practices. Part III offers profiles of each of the eight authorizers that are highlighted throughout Parts I and II. The profiles cover the history of each of these authorizers and provide more detail on the contexts in which they operate. Appended is the research methodology and a list of resources of organizations, Web sites, essays, and research studies that address elements of successful authorizing and oversight of charter schools. (Contains 16 figures and 2 tables.) [This document was also prepared by Public Impact.]