charter schools

THE DEBATE CONTINUES

*CHARTER SCHOOLSversus

TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

*HISTORY

* 1991 – FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL IN MINNESOTA.

* 1998 – 1,100 CHARTER SCHOOLS, 250,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED.

* 2004 – 3,000 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN 37 STATES AND WASHINGTON,D.C., 750,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED.

* CURRENTLY, 5741 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN 41 STATES AND WASHINGTON,D.C.

REFERENCES:CHARTER SCHOOLS. (2012). RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, FROM HTTP://WWW.NEA.ORG/HOME/16322.HTM.THE IMPACT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS. (2012). RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, FROM HTTP//NATIONALCHARTERSCHOOLS.ORG/THE-IMPACT.LUBIENSKI, C. A., & WEITZEL, P. C. (EDS.). (2010). THE CHARTER SCHOOL EXPERIMENT EXPECTATIONS, EVIDENCE, AND IMPLICATIONS. CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: HARVARD EDUCATION PRESS. WEIL, D. (2000). CHARTER SCHOOLS: A REFERENCE BOOK. SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA: ABC-CLIO, INC.

*WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?

* NON-RELIGIOUS PUBLIC ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL

* OPERATES UNDER A CONTRACT OR “CHARTER”

*MUST HAVE OPEN ENROLLMENT

*MAY NOT CHARGE TUITION

*MUST PARTICIPATE IN STATE AND FEDERAL TESTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAMS

* CHARTER MAY BE REVOKED OR NOT RENEWED IF A SCHOOL DOESN’T MEET ITS PERFORMANCE GOALS.

* EACH STATE DETERMINES ITS OWN CHARTER LEGISLATION

REFERENCES:CHARTER SCHOOLS. (2012). RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, FROM HTTP://WWW.NEA.ORG/HOME/16322.HTM O'BRIEN, E. M., & DERVARICS, C. (2012). CHARTER SCHOOLS: FINDING OUT THE FACTS: AT A GLANCE. RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, FROM WWW.CENTERFORPUBLICEDUCATION.ORG.

*POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR CHARTER

SCHOOLS

*PRESIDENT OBAMA – PROCLAIMED MAY 6, 2012 – MAY 12, 2012 NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL WEEK STATING, “…CHARTERS SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATE WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN STATES, COMMUNITIES, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER.”

*GOVERNOR ROMNEY – WHEN THE 85% DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL PUTTING A MORATORIUM ON ANY NEW CHARTERS, HE VETOED IT.

REFERENCES:OBAMA, BARAK. (2012). PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION – NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL WEEK 2012. RETRIEVED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 FROM HTTP://WWW.WHITEHOUSE.GOV/THE-PRESS-OFFICE/2012/05/07/PRESIDENTIAL-PROCLAMATION-NATIONAL-CHARTER-SCHOOL-WEEK-2012.ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT. (2012). RETRIEVED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 FROM HTTP://MITTROMNEY.COM/ISSUES/EDUCATION.

*FOCUS

*INNOVATION

*ACCOUNTABILITY

*DIVERSITY

*PERFORMANCE

* INNOVATION HELPED TO CREATE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

* BASED ON SMART METHODOLOGIES AND ESTABLISHED PRACTICES

* CHANGING LANDSCAPE, LIVING STYLE, AND DYNAMICS IN TODAY’S AMERICAN SOCIETY

* CREATES NEED FOR INNOVATION IN ALL FIELDS AND PROFESSIONS, INCLUDING EDUCATION

* CREATES NEED FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING METHODS AND CURRICULUM

*INNOVATION

* NOT PROVIDED WITH A LOT OF FREEDOM

* PRACTICES CARRIED OUT WITH A LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ELEMENT OF INNOVATION

*INNOVATION

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

* THRIVE ON INNOVATION

* IDEOLOGY OF THEIR MANAGEMENT

* PROVIDE SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATIVE MEDIUMS

* TEACHERS PROVIDED WITH FREEDOM TO EXERCISE INNOVATIVE IDEAS

* RESULTS IN CUSTOMIZED AND EFFECTIVE TEACHING STYLES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

*INNOVATION

CHARTER SCHOOLS

* VARIOUS ESTABLISHED THEORETICAL MODELS FOR TEACHING THAT ARE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AND PRACTICED

* ACT AS LABORATORIES OF REFORM

* CAN ACT AS A CATALYST FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

*INNOVATION

CHARTER SCHOOLS

* THREE TYPES OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN EDUCATION TODAY

* BUREAUCRATIC

* PERFORMANCE

*MARKET

*ACCOUNTABILITY

(Garn & Cobb, 2001)

* SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE CONSITUENCIES SUCH AS PARENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, LEGISLATORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

*MANY GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY

* TELL ADMINISTRATORS HOW TO RUN THEIR SCHOOL

* TELL TEACHERS WHAT TO TEACH AND WHEN

*ACCOUNTABILITY

BUREAUCRATIC MODEL

(Garn & Cobb, 2001)

* ASSESSMENT TESTING

* SCHOOL EFFICACY BASED ON STUDENT TEST PERFORMANCE

* NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS NAEP TEST: THE NATIONS REPORT CARD (2003)

* CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES (CREDO) REPORT

*ACCOUNTABILITY

PERFORMANCE MODEL

(Garn & Cobb, 2001)

* SUBJECT TO SUPPLY AND DEMAND

* IF A SCHOOL HAS HIGH ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS THERE WILL BE MORE DEMAND BECAUSE PARENTS WILL WANT STUDENTS TO ATTEND HIGH ACHIEVEING SCHOOLS

* LESS BUREUACRACY ALLOWS ADMINISTRATORS TO HIRE FROM A LARGER POOL OF POTENTIAL TEACHERS

*ACCOUNTABILITY

MARKET MODEL

(Garn & Cobb, 2001)

*ACCOUNTABILITY

MARKET

PERFORMANCE

BUREAUCRATIC

TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

*RED-TAPE

*DIFFICULT CERTIFICATION PRACTICES

*STIFFLED INNOVATION

*STIFFLED FREEDOM TO CHOOSE FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, & ADMINISTRATORS

*WE KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON

(Garn & Cobb, 2001)

*ACCOUNTABILITY

PERFORMANCE

BUREAUCRATIC

MARKET

CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

*DECISIONS FOR STUDENT ATTENDING ARE NOT ALWAYS BASED ON HOW WELL THE SCHOOL IS PERFORMING OR ITS CURRICULUM.

*NARROW VIEW OF SCHOOL SUCCESS

*CHARTER REVIEW PERIOD

(Garn & Cobb, 2001)

* TODAY’S AMERICAN SOCIETY IS FACING A HIGH DEGREE OF DIVERSITY

* NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS DIFFER GREATLY FROM EACH OTHER

*DIVERSITY

* HAVE TROUBLE ADDRESSING THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS

* HAVE STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM AND TEACHING METHODS WHICH REMAIN THE SAME AND DON’T VARY

*DIVERSITY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

* CAN BE CONSIDERED THE STRENGTH AND THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM PROBLEM

* CUSTOMIZE TEACHING METHODS, COURSES, AND PEDAGOGY ACCORDING TO THE COMMUNITY’S NEEDS

*DIVERSITY

CHARTER SCHOOLS

* CRITICS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ARGUE THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ADDING TO THE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY OF DIVERSITY

* HAVE A TARGET MARKET AND THIS IS WIDENDING THE GAP IN SOCIETY

* TARGET A MARKET BY HAVING A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM AND NOT PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

*DIVERSITY

CHARTER SCHOOLS

*PERFORMANCE

THE NATION’S REPORT CARDWHAT IS THE NATION’S REPORT CARD?

Started in 1969

National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education. They are responsible BY LAW to carry out this test.

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP)

Let’s policy makers know how schools are performing and what students know about certain subjects.

(National Center for Educational Statistics, 2007)

*PERFORMANCE(National Center for Educational Statistics, 2007)

*PERFORMANCE(National Center for Educational Statistics, 2007)

*PERFORMANCE(National Center for Educational Statistics, 2007)

*PERFORMANCE(National Center for Educational Statistics, 2007)

*PERFORMANCE

* FIRST NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF CHARTER SCHOOL IMPACT

* PARTNERED WITH 15 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

* THERE WERE 2403 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN STUDY

* ANALYZES THE IMPACT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ON 70% OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL POPULATION

* FOCUSED ON HOW CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS PERFORMED AND COMPARED IT TO THE PERFORMANCE THEY WOULD HAVE REALIZED IF THEY WOULD HAVE ATTENDED THEIR ASSIGNED TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

(CREDO)

*PERFORMANCE

* 17% OF CHARTER SCHOOLS STUDIED PROVIDE SUPERIOR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

* 46% OF CHARTER SCHOOLS STUDIED HAVE RESULTS THAT ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE LOCAL PUBLIC OPTION

* 37% OF CHARTERS SCHOOLS STUDIED DELIVERED LEARNING RESULTS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE

SuperiorSame

Worse

0%10%20%30%40%50%

CREDO RESULTS

*NEVADA

* CHARTER SCHOOL LEGISLATION PASSED IN 1997 (NRS 386.490 – 386.610)

* LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STATE PUBLIC CHARTER AUTHORITY ARE AUTHORIZING AGENCY FOR THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF NEW CHARTERS

* CHARTER SCHOOL POPULATIONS MUST NOT DIFFER BY MORE THAN 10% FROM THE RACIAL COMPOSITION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ZONE THAT THE CHARTER IS LOCATED

* FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM APPLYING TO OPEN A CHARTER SCHOOL

* CHARTER SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT WITH A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS IS PROHIBITED

REFERENCE:OFFICE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (2012). RETRIEVED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 FROM HTTP://NDE.DOE.NV.GOV/SD_CHARTERSCHOOLS.HTM

*NEVADA

* THERE ARE 32 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NEVADA

* SINCE 2000, 11 CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE CLOSED

* THERE ARE 17 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CLARK COUNTY

* CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SPONSORS 7 CHARTER SCHOOLS

REFERENCE:OFFICE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (2012). RETRIEVED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 FROM HTTP://NDE.DOE.NV.GOV/SD_CHARTERSCHOOLS.HTM

*CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

REFERENCE:2011-2012 DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY SUMMARY REPORT. (2012). LAS VEGAS, NV: CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

References

Budde, R. (1989). Education by charter. Phi Delta Kappan, v70 n7(Mar 1989), p518-20.

CHARTER SCHOOLS. (2012). RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, FROM HTTP://WWW.NEA.ORG/HOME/16322.HTM.THE IMPACT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS. (2012). RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 7, 2012, FROM HTTP//NATIONALCHARTERSCHOOLS.ORG/THE-IMPACT.LUBIENSKI, C. A., & WEITZEL, P. C. (EDS.). (2010). THE CHARTER SCHOOL EXPERIMENT EXPECTATIONS, EVIDENCE, AND IMPLICATIONS. CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: HARVARD EDUCATION PRESS. WEIL, D. (2000). CHARTER SCHOOLS: A REFERENCE BOOK. SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA: ABC-CLIO, INC.

Chen, G. (2009, July 10). Charter Schools Versus Traditional Public Schools: Which One is Under-Performing?. Public School Review. Retrieved from http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/123

Garn, G., & Cobb, C. D. (2001). A framework for understanding charter school accountability. Education and Urban Society, 33(2), 113-128. doi: 10.1177/0013124501332002

Hoxby, C.M. (2004, September). A Straightforward Comparison of Charter Schools and Regular Public Schools in the United States. Harvard University and National Bureau of Economic Research. Retrieved from http://www.wacharterschools.org/learn/studies/hoxbyallcharters.pdf

National Conference of State Legislatures. (2012). Charter School Arguments. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/charter-schools-pros-and-cons.aspx

National Center for Education Statistics. (2007). The nation's report card. Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Dept. of Education. Retrieved from http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo3601

Vergari, S. (1999). Charter schools. Education and Urban Society, 31(4), 389-405. doi: 10.1177/0013124599031004002

Vergari, S. (2002). The charter school landscape. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.