Charter SchoolsEDSC 310 - Group G:

Craig JonesRachel Hixson

Bryan KlotzscheJonathan Valdez

Kristin Kreese

Charter Schools - Topics

History/Background of Charter SchoolsPresent Programs at Charter SchoolsPros of Charter SchoolsCons of Charter SchoolsConclusion

History/Background of Charter SchoolsWhat is a Charter School?

A nonsectarian public school of choice that operates with freedom from many of the traditional public school policies.

The charter school practices more freedom because of its increased accountability to a state or local school board.

What is a “Charter”A contract detailing the school’s mission, program,

goals, and ways to measure their successCharters last for about 3-5 years and after the

expiration the school decides whether or not to renew the contract.

Charter SchoolAlthough different in many ways, the campuses of charter schools vs. public schools are very similar.

History/Background of Charter SchoolsThe roots of charter schools

The idea of the charter schools has had a lot of its inspiration from such concepts as: Alternative schools Magnet schools Privatization Many other alternative programs from the

traditional public school programs

Ray Budde

The term “charter is mainly credited to a New England educator named Ray Budde in the 1970’s who thought that groups of teachers should be given charters from the local school board to experiment with new teaching styles.

Albert Shanker

Another educator responsible for the success of charter schools is Albert Shanker. Albert has been very involved in education and was a past president of the American Federation of Teachers.

History/Background of Charter SchoolsWhen did it start?

Finally, in Philadelphia around the late 1980’s there started to develop schools-within-schools called charters.

Minnesota participated and started charter schools with three basic values: Opportunity Choice Responsibility for results

Passed into lawIn 1991, Minnesota passed a charter school lawIn 1992, California passed a charted school lawSince 1994, the number of states passing the charter

school law has increased from 19 to 42

History/Background of Charter SchoolsCharter schools of today

In 2006, President bush asked for $219 million in grants to support the upbringing of 1,200 new and already existing charter schools

Bush also asked for $37 million to help charter schools get the needed credit to lease, renovate, or buy school facilities

Although charter schools are mainly funded by the state and its local area to help with operations, the charter schools do not receive funds for its facilities.

Charter Schools – Five StandardsCurrent charter schools are held to five basic

standards:Student academic achievement first

Provide challenging curriculum and excellent resourcesEthical leadership

Leaders are exemplary stewards of the school’s missionContinuous focus on increasing quality

Constant efforts to improve the quality of the schoolResponsible governance

Leaders understand vision and carry vision outFiscal Accountability

Makes good use of it funds and keeps a record available to the public

Charter Schools – Present ProgramsToday, there are charter schools in 40 states as

well as the District of Columbia.There are over 3,000 charter schools nationwide,

with over 700,000 students attending these schools.

Over 70% of charter schools are found in only seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts,

Michigan, Minnesota, and North CarolinaThese states are known to have the strongest laws

to autonomy from labor laws and granting the necessary funding for charters

President Bush and Charter SchoolsBush at Harlem charter school

Charter Schools – Present ProgramsCharter School Facility Grant Program:

Passed in 2001Gives charter school $750 per unit of average daily

attendanceMoney goes toward building rent and lease costSpecific regulations:

can cover no more than 75% of facility expenses; must be located in same area as public school with at least 70% of

student population receiving reduced-price meals

Charter School USAHelps develop, manage, and fund charter schoolsIncorporates the cooperation and help of businesses,

government, and non-profits together to make charters stronger

Charter Schools - LocalCurrent Charter Schools in OC

Dana Point – Opportunities for Learning, 67 students

Santa Ana – Albor Charter School, 388 students Nova Academy, 11 students Orange County High School of the Arts, 1297

students

Charter Schools - ProsAlternate Choice

It doesn’t cost the student to attend, unlike private schools

Offers different opportunities to students who just don’t fit well into public schools

More of a selectionCharter schools are public schools, and can’t

discriminate on enrollment, in some states you can enroll in a school that is out of the district boundaries

Charter schools come in different flavors, meaning many have a specialty in certain disciplines.

Charter Schools - ProsOften a better type of schooling

Are able to perform trial and error methods of teaching, allowing them to find better ways of teaching

Still participate in state testing70% of LA charter schools outperformed comparable

district public schools on the API (Academic Performance Index)

Why are charters better?More flexibility on curriculum, budget, and staffingAbility to make quick and effective changes to meet the

student’s needsHigh level of accountabilityMore open to innovation of new teaching styles

Charter Schools – ConsUnfair Advantage over Public Schools

Flexibility to develop unique program in order to attract students. In contract, public schools are restricted in the range and type of programs they can offer.

Likely to take the most talented public school students and their highly involved families, leaving public schools with students who may be difficult and expensive to educate

Actively discourage the inclusion of low-achieving students

May discriminate against minorities resulting in increased racial, ethnic, and social segregation.

Charter Schools – ConsThe Case Against Charter Schools

Lack safeguards for accountability found in traditional public schools Therefore, not competing on level playing field Some charter schools fall short of meeting broader educational standards of

student performance Exempt from state requirements for licensing teachers

Employ teachers and other staff who have little or no training in subject they teach

Redirect funds away from traditional schools at a time when resources are stretched

Other Drawbacks Because charter schools operate as a business, they are subject to

market forces that may eventually force them to close. The emergence of education management organization as proprietors

of their charter schools creates “pseudo-school districts” in which decisions are made far removed from the school

Work CitedHistory of Charter Schools:

1. http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/32. http://www.myschool.org3.http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/o/history.htm

Charter Schools - Cons:1. Metcalf, Kim K., Neil D. Theobald, and Gerardo Gonzalez.

"State University Roles in The Charter School Movement." Phi Delta Kappan 84 (2003): 542-45.

2. "Charter Schools." Encyclopedia of School Psychology. Ed. Steven Lee. Thousand Oaks: Sage Reference, 2005. 3 pp. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. California State Univ. Fullerton. 9 Dec. 2008 

3.http://www.ecs.org/html/issuesection.asp?issueid=20&s=pros+%26+cons

The EndThanks for listening.