Charter Schools

Charter Schools

By Amy Hubbs

Charter schools are public schools that are funded through the district in which they are located. According to Public School Review, they tend to be small schools, with a median enrollment of 242 students and serve different communities with a variety of curriculum and instructional practices. A charter school cannot charge tuition and is required to be open to all students on a space-available basis. If the number of students seeking admission is larger than the number that can be admitted, charter schools will use a lottery system or keep waiting lists. These schools run independently of the traditional public school system and tailor their programs to fit the needs of the communities. They are required, by law, to meet the same academic standards and assessment requirements adopted by the Department of Education for all public schools and adhere to their charter contract. Charter contracts last between three and five years. If a charter school does not meet the state standards for educational effectiveness and fiscal responsibilities, it can be closed.

First of all, charter schools create a choice to parents and students within the public school system. Since many charter schools are located in urban areas, they provide an alternative to the area’s public schools, which may be underperforming. A charter school also has the power to select its curriculum and can tailor it to meet the needs of its students. As mentioned above, charter schools tend to have smaller numbers of students, which allows for more instruction and support for individual students. in addition, charter schools have a great accountability to get results. If the school fails to measure up to state standards, students may be pulled out or the charter can be taken away altogether.

On the other hand, charter schools are taking money away from public education. Charter schools are funded by the district in which they are located, and they are also eligible for state and federal funding. Traditionally, charter schools are small in size and have a limited number of available spaces for students. Therefore, they can only provide an option for a limited number of families. Additionally, these schools have fewer resources and money for start-up costs, which can result in poor facilities and a lack of classroom resources. Charter schools can also be easily closed due to poor management or financial problems. From a teacher’s perspective, charter schools are not unionized. This is a disadvantage to teachers because they are not protected in the same ways as a public school teacher.

In sum, the debate about whether charter schools are more effective than public schools is not going away. With our current administration in support of charter schools, it will probably become a more heated topic. We must keep in mind that the debate is not about whether charter schools are better than public schools. In fact, it is about which individual schools use their tools effectively and are producing students that are ready to contend with our global competitors. According to President Obama, “The future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens.”