Michelle A. Ruskofsky

Michelle A. Ruskofsky graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego. She obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2003 from the University of California, Davis School of Law. After law school, Michelle worked in higher education policy and legislative matters at the University of California Office of the President in Oakland, California. Michelle then joined the Charter Schools Division of the California Department of Education in Sacramento, California, where she led a team of consultants responsible for the oversight of charter schools authorized by the State Board of Education, and the review of charter petitions previously denied by school districts or county boards of education. While at the California Department of Education, Michelle also frequently appeared before the State Board of Education to present recommendations on charter petition appeals, renewals, and revocations; served as policy advisor to executive staff of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction; led the development of regulations concerning charter revocations and renewals; and was the principal author of California‘s 2010-2015 Public Charter Schools Grant Program application, which resulted in a federal grant award of nearly $42 million in first year funding to support the start-up and implementation of new charter schools in the state.