CENTRIST NEO-CONSERVATIVE IDEAS

Charter schools help to simulate a free market system among schools.

• Competition would pressure schools to improve.

– Schools called monopolies, with no incentives to perform well.

– Test scores allow comparing schools

• Choice for parents.

Charter SchoolsSupported by ideas of choice and competition with regularpublic schools.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan Pushes to Aggressively Expand Charter Schools

The President believes that investment in education must be accompanied by reform and innovation. The President supports the expansion of high-quality charter schools. He has challenged States to lift limits that stifle growth among successful charter schools and has encouraged rigorous accountability for all charter schools.

Right now, SCHOOLS HAVE ALONG LIST OF REGULATIONS

RED TAPEBUREAUCRACY

Red tape seen as a problem CHARTER SCHOOLS TODAYAVOID MOST OF THE RED TAPE

Charter schools are:

Alternative public schools and most educators believe that there is a place for a variety of public schools within a large system of public schools in order to serve the variety of needs, interests, and talents of all school students. Since the 1970s, alternative schools have focused on:

– Science and technology

– Culture and languages

– Arts

– Bridge programs for at risk students

2009 4,000 charter schools over 1 million studentsUS National School Population: 49 million

Spring, 159-165

• US Department of Education is encouraging more charter schools.

• Charter Schools are:– Exempt from significant State and local rules that inhibit flexibility– Free public schools– Schools of choice and select students based on lottery– Guided by specific objectives– Compliant with anti-discrimination laws– Required to take state tests– Run by public or private groups

• Aim of charter schools is to foster innovation in teaching, curriculum and school organization.

What do studies show about student performance in charter schools?

Spring reports an earlier study, same results.• Almost all studies to date show no better performance in test

scores of charter schools compared to local public schools.

– The best evidence comes from the CREDO (2009, Stanford University) study;

• Multiple studies suggest that most charters do as well as or less well than traditional public schools on achievement tests; 17% outperform local schools

– There is some evidence on the positive impact of New York City charters but these show an under-enrollment of ELL and special education students that makes the comparisons to local schools difficult.

There are some very high performing charter schools

Charter School: High Tech High SchoolSpring Chapter 6, 161

Opened in 2000 to address shortage of workers in high tech industries in San Diego. High tech competitiveness for the global economy.

Charter School: High Tech High SchoolSpring Chapter 6, 161

A Liberal Arts Charter High School

“Discovery, “make and do”, “not sink or swim”, learn from failure, “students are psyched about science”, “not just read about it.”

• Qualcomm donated $3 million• Students selected by lottery• Stresses independent and group work.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june08/hightech_04-17.html

AFT strongly supports charter schools

The American Federation of Teachers strongly supports charter schools that embody the core values of public education and a democratic society:

– equal access for all students; – high academic standards; – accountability to parents and the public; – a curriculum that promotes good citizenship; – a commitment to helping all public schools improve; – a commitment to the employees' right to freely choose

union representation.

What are the main concerns about the emphasis on charter schools?

Serve a small populationVary in qualityDraws resources from public schoolsDoes not serve as many special needs studentsDraws highly motivated students out of public schoolDoes not help to address problems in reforming all low

achieving schoolsMany educators oppose for-profit companies running

charter schools

There are many successful public schools, magnate schools, and charter schools

What makes a successful school?

• Many use some aspect of an inquiry based model of learning

• All have positive learning environments

• All have strong leadership

• All have qualified teachers operating in a supportive, professional space