Charter Schools 101

a conversation

Moderators

John ManahanEducational Consultant

Jill GaitensCommunity Affairs Leader- Hampton RoadsMilitary Child Education CoalitionBoard Member- Green Run Collegiate Charter School

Goals for this Session

Define what a charter schools is and offer some history.

Recognize that the military community was an early adopter of school choice and discuss the growth of charter schools on and near installations.

Offer guidance regarding development, authorization, and performance accountability.

Panel MembersBruno V. Manno PhD, Senior Advisor for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, Walton Family Foundation

 

LaShawndra Thornton, Program Officer, Office of Innovation and Improvement's Charter Schools Program, U.S. Department of Education

 

Don Soifer, Executive Vice President of the Lexington Institute, Board Member, District of Columbia’s Public Charter School Board

Why Military-Connected Charter Schools?

• All parents want high quality, safe schools for their children.

• Schools located near some installations are not perceived as high quality or safe.

• Charter Schools on bases are perceived as “community schools”. *

• Charter Schools are perceived as more conscious of academic and socio-emotional needs of students.

Charter Schools on Military InstallationsJacksonville Lighthouse Charter School: Flightline Upper

Academy, Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Arkansas; Sonoran Science Academy Davis Monthan, Davis-

Monthan AFB, Arizona; Manzanita Public Charter School, Vandenberg AFB,

California; Wheatland Charter Academy, Beale AFB, California; Sigsbee Charter School, Naval Air Station Key West,

Florida; LEARN 6 North Chicago, Naval Station Great Lakes,

Illinois;Belle Chasse Academy, Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve

Station New Orleans, Louisiana; Imagine Andrews Public Charter School, Joint Base

Andrews-Naval Air Facility, Maryland.

Shared Definition of a Charter School

Charter schools are unique public schools that are allowed the freedom to be more innovative while being held accountable for advancing student achievement. Because they are public schools, they are:• Open to all children;

• Do not charge tuition; and

• Do not have special entrance requirements.National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, 2014

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (2014)

How are Charter Schools Funded• Local/State Funding:

• Based on student enrollment

• On average charters are funded at 61% of their

traditional counterparts1

• Federal Funding:• Title funds and Special Education funds

(through state)

• Charter School Program grants

• Philanthropy:• Several national and regional foundations have

special charter school programs.

Source: 1 – the Center for Education Reform - 2012

Who Authorizes Charter Schools?Local school board alone IL, MD, OR, PA, TN, VA, WY State board of education alone CT, MA, NJ

Local school board andState board of education

AR, DE, LA, NH, NM, RI, TX

First Local school board thenState board of education

AK, IA, KS

State charter school review board D.C., HI

Local school board and State charter school commission

GA, ID, SC, UT

Combination (in some cases including highereducation and not-for-profit)

AZ, CA, CO, FL, IN, MI, MN, MO, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, WI

Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, State Charter Law Rankings Database, 2010*Mississippi's charter law expired at the end of 2009, bringing the total to eleven states without charter school legislation: AL, KY, ME, MS, MT, NE ND, SD, VT, WA, WV

Percent of Charter Schools by Authorizer

Source: NASCA: State of Charter School Authorizing: 2010

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

53%

20%14%

8%4% 1%

National Authorizers

High Quality Charter Schools

Bruno V. Manno PhD

Senior Advisor for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area

Walton Family Foundation

Charter Schools

Public schools that usually have great freedom to be innovative while being held accountable for student and achievement and other results.

Foster partnerships between parents, educators, and students.

Provide effective education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. 12

Startup Grants Program

Supports creating new charters by providing grants to developers to launch new schools; since 1997

Must serve significant number of low income students in Foundation’s target urban sites

Grants for up to $250,000

Reviewed by WFF staff and stateand local partners; 3 to 4 monthreview process

13

Criteria for Judging an Application

What is your school design and why have you chosen it?

Who is your target student group and community and what are your enrollment projections?

How will you select your leaders and teachers and evaluate and support them?

What results do you expect for your students?

14

Criteria for Judging an ApplicationHow will you manage the school, students, and the enrollment process?

Who will be on your board?

What are your facility plans?

What is your operating budget?

15

U.S. Department of Education’s Role in Supporting Charter Schools

LaShawndra Thornton

Program Officer

Office of Innovation and Improvement Charter Schools Program

U.S. Department of Education

The Charter School AuthorizationAn Authorizer’s Perspective

Don Soifer

Executive Vice President of the Lexington Institute

Board Member, District of Columbia’s Public Charter School Board

Questions?