Charter Schools

1
Charter Schools For-Profit Schools
King and Queens of Collaboration
2
What are Charter Schools?

• Nonsectarian public schools of choice
• Accountable to their sponsor
• Usually state or local school board
• Increased autonomy in return for accountability
  for both academic results and fiscal practices
• Accountable to
• Sponsors that grants them
• Parents who choose them
• Public that funds them

3
What about Charter Schools?

• Intention of most charter school legislation is
  to
• Increase opportunities for learning and access to
  quality education for all students
• Create choice for parents and students within the
  public school system
• Provide a system of accountability for results in
  public education
• Encourage innovative teaching practices
• Create new professional opportunities for
  teachers
• Encourage community and parent involvement in
  public education

4
Who Runs Charter Schools?

• Independent boards
• Educators
• Community members
• Parents
• Board controls
• Funds Staff
• Responsible for making sure charter goals and NYS
  Regents standards are met.

5
Who starts a Charter School?

• People do (Usually founders fall into 3 groups)
• Grassroots organization of parents
• Teachers and community members
• Entrepreneurs
• Existing schools converted to charter
• Reasons for establishing a charter school
• Realize an educational vision
• Gain autonomy
• Serve a special population

6
Who Attends Charter Schools?

• Part of the public education system
• Not allowed to charge tuition
• Any student may attend a Charter school
• Enrollment is oversubscribed
• Lottery-based admissions

7
When and Where didCharter school begin?

• Late 1980s Philadelphia
• Started schools-within-schools called charters
• 1991
• Minnesota passed the first charter school law
• California next in 1992
• By 2003, 40states had signed laws allowing for
  charter schools
• Since 1994, the U.S. Dept. of Ed. has provided
  grants to support states charter school efforts
  (6 million in fiscal year 1995)

8
Why do Charter Schools Exist?

• Attempt to provide a more efficient education
• Some specialize in certain fields
• Allows parents more choice of where to send their
  kids
• Try to help students achieve more especially low
  income and minority students

9
Why do Charter Schools Work?

• Have more autonomy to make changes in relation to
  student needs
• Hold students and teachers responsible for
  achievement
• Have freedom to reward performing teachers or
  release non performing teachers

10
What are Private Schools?

• Independent, non-government schools
• Serve a diverse community
• Provide religious values based on education
• Promote a specific educational philosophy
• Include day schools, boarding schools,
• co-educational and single sex schools
• EX. Catholic Schools, Jewish Schools, Montessori
  Schools, Schools specializing in the needs of the
  disabled

11
Who Runs Private Schools?

• Not administered by local, state or national
  government
• Majority are operated by religious institutions
  and organizations
• Funds are received through endowments, donations,
  grants, alumni fundraising and tuition

12
Who Attends Private Schools?

• Students who are seeking particular religious
  instruction
• Students who are seeking preparatory instruction
  for college
• Anyone who is not satisfied with the services
  available at public schools
• Students who belong to the community that the
  school represents

13
In the early 1990s Education Management
Organizations (For-Profit schools) began to
grow. Some EMOs contract with school districts
and use tax dollars and venture capital to
operate public schools.
14

• The largest EMO is the Edison School
• Founded in 1991 by Chris Whittle
• There are 51 schools (in 25 locations)
• Strong focus on technology
• 7 hour school day (90 minute classes) 200 days a
  year

15

• Benefits
• Specialized (Students with Special Needs)
• School/ academic Accountability
• Parents have free educational choice

16

• Criticism
• Increased segregation is schools
• Advocates skew data
• Financial gain outweighs the educational process