Charter Schools: Help Or Hindrance To The Public Education System?

Charter schools are a fairly new phenomenon in the American education system. The first charter school opened in Minnesota in 1992. Since then the movement has grown to almost 1800 schools operating nationwide for the 1999-2000 school year. The charter school movement has roots in a number of other reform ideas, from alternative schools, to public school choice, magnet schools, privatization, site-based management, and community-parental empowerment. It is believed that the term "charter" originated in the 1970s when New England educator Ray Budde suggested that small groups of teachers be given contracts or "charters" by their local school boards to explore new approaches. Albert Shanker, former president of the AFT, then publicized this idea. He suggested that local boards could charter an entire school with union and teacher approval. In the late 1980s Philadelphia started a number of schools-within-schools and called them "charters." Some of them were schools of choice. The idea was further refined in Minnesota and based on three basic values: opportunity, choice, and responsibility for results.

In order to better understand the term “Charter schoo

l”, we turn to USCharterSchools.org, a site supported by the U.S. Department of Education, for an official definition:

There have been many charter schools opening in the Chicagoland area within the last several years. Many of these schools were founded in order to promote a higher level of education to students that may not have been available otherwise. It has been found though, that “Of the 11 charter schools that administered third-, fifth- or eighth-grade ISATS last February (1999), only two beat the state grade-level averages in every math and reading test.” Both of these schools are downstate though. It was also found that “all seven Chicago charter schools underperformed state averages, and five scored mostly below the average for Chicago, which traditionally is lower than the state average because of Chicago’s greater concentration of low-income students.” Governors State University Charter School opened at the start of the school year in Crete, IL. “It has no desks, no grades will be issued and children will learn by doing projects of their own choice.” This school only takes students as high as the fourth-grade, but no higher. Will this be the best way for students to learn? It will be helpful for some, but for many, it may not be as productive.

The alternative school is an off shoot of the charter school. This system was brought into existence in hopes of lowering dropout rates. Alternative schools align themselves with their partner high schools and offer students a chance to learn important work related skills as well as academic and behavioral skills. “At risk” students are recommended to this program in an attempt to keep them in school. Through this program, students are able to earn credits toward graduation by doing community service, participating in a health club, and through work-study. The instructor both in the classroom and on site monitors the progress of the student. This is helpful in not only involving the student in the local community, but also in teaching valuable re

Some topics in this essay:
Department Education, Crete IL, School District, System Charter, Albert Shanker, ISATS February, charter schools, Ray Budde, charter school, Charter School, public schools, education system, schools standards, alternative schools, public education system, school system, public school, school person, standards sometimes, education system charter,