Charter SchoolsCharter Schools

Wayne McMahonWayne McMahonClaudine CottiniClaudine Cottini

Elizabeth Van DunkElizabeth Van DunkAllison DziadosAllison Dziados

History of Charter SchoolsHistory of Charter Schools

• Started in the 1970's by Ray BuddeStarted in the 1970's by Ray Budde• Budde suggested that groups of teachers be given "charters" to explore Budde suggested that groups of teachers be given "charters" to explore

new ideas and ways of educating students.new ideas and ways of educating students.• During the 1980's Philadelphia began experiments with schools within During the 1980's Philadelphia began experiments with schools within

schools.schools.• When that succeeded, it began to catch on in other statesWhen that succeeded, it began to catch on in other states• Minnesota was the first state to pass a Charter School law in 1991Minnesota was the first state to pass a Charter School law in 1991• The number of states passing Charter School laws increased from 19 The number of states passing Charter School laws increased from 19

in 1995 to 42 in 2004.in 1995 to 42 in 2004.• The New York State Charter Schools Act was passed in December The New York State Charter Schools Act was passed in December

1998.1998.

What are Charter Schools?What are Charter Schools?

• Called schools of choiceCalled schools of choice• Get their name from their 5-year terms or "charters"Get their name from their 5-year terms or "charters"• Students can choose to enroll in a school that may offer a unique Students can choose to enroll in a school that may offer a unique

learning environmentlearning environment• Teachers and administrators have the ability to make more decisions Teachers and administrators have the ability to make more decisions

than they would in public schools.than they would in public schools.• Measurable goals are set.  If goals are not attained, their charter may Measurable goals are set.  If goals are not attained, their charter may

be revoked.be revoked.• Currently there are more than 5,000 charter schools that serve over Currently there are more than 5,000 charter schools that serve over

1.5 million students nationally.1.5 million students nationally.• In 2008, more than 39,000 students applied for 8,500 openings at In 2008, more than 39,000 students applied for 8,500 openings at

charter schools in New York Citycharter schools in New York City• Not bound by governmental control, but are responsible for Not bound by governmental control, but are responsible for

accountability standards, teacher-student ratios, and health laws.accountability standards, teacher-student ratios, and health laws.

$$Who Pays$$$$Who Pays$$

• Publicly funded and tuition free for all studentsPublicly funded and tuition free for all students• Charter schools get a minimum allocation per student each yearCharter schools get a minimum allocation per student each year• According to a 2009 study done for New York, the allocation was According to a 2009 study done for New York, the allocation was

$12,443 per student.$12,443 per student.• In New York, additional funds for supplies, health, textbooks, and In New York, additional funds for supplies, health, textbooks, and

security (in New York City) are also provided.security (in New York City) are also provided.• Students in the general population receive $16,673 per studentStudents in the general population receive $16,673 per student• A portion of the operating costs may also come from private sourcesA portion of the operating costs may also come from private sources• Governor Patterson just vetoed an education bill in July 2010 that Governor Patterson just vetoed an education bill in July 2010 that

lifted a per student cap on charter schools that has been in place since lifted a per student cap on charter schools that has been in place since 2008.2008.

• This will result in an additional $70 million dollars being paid to This will result in an additional $70 million dollars being paid to charter schools state wide.charter schools state wide.

Demographics of Charter SchoolsDemographics of Charter Schools

• Charters tend to have smaller than 200 studentsCharters tend to have smaller than 200 students• Tend to exist in urban areas rather than ruralTend to exist in urban areas rather than rural• Tend to be somewhat more racially diverseTend to be somewhat more racially diverse• Enroll fewer special needs studentsEnroll fewer special needs students• A 2008 survey of charter schools found that 59% of them had a A 2008 survey of charter schools found that 59% of them had a

waiting list.waiting list.

Advantages of Charter SchoolsAdvantages of Charter Schools• Provide choice and competition in public educationProvide choice and competition in public education• Alternative to school vouchers (B. Clinton)Alternative to school vouchers (B. Clinton)• Inclusive of teacher unions (G. W. Bush)Inclusive of teacher unions (G. W. Bush)• Free from certain regulations and codesFree from certain regulations and codes• Prototypes for successPrototypes for success• Don’t need to follow certain mandated practicesDon’t need to follow certain mandated practices• Performance-basedPerformance-based• Choose their own approach to educationChoose their own approach to education• Continued charter contingent uponContinued charter contingent upon

Sound fiscal management Sound fiscal management Ability to attract studentsAbility to attract students Student accountabilityStudent accountability

Harlem students talk about why they Harlem students talk about why they love going to a charter schoollove going to a charter school

About Charter SchoolsAbout Charter Schools

• ““Public Charter Schools are Public Charter Schools are • independent public schools that are free to be more independent public schools that are free to be more

innovative and are innovative and are • held accountable for improved student achievement. held accountable for improved student achievement.

They foster a partnership between parents, teachers They foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which and students to create an environment in which

• parents can be more involved, parents can be more involved, • teachers are given the freedom to innovate and teachers are given the freedom to innovate and • students are provided the structure they need to students are provided the structure they need to

learn.” (NAPCS, 2008)learn.” (NAPCS, 2008)

The Stanford StudyThe Stanford Study(CREDO, 2010)(CREDO, 2010)

Summary of Findings for HarlemSummary of Findings for Harlem With the students they have enrolled, New York City charter With the students they have enrolled, New York City charter

schools provide schools provide significantly better significantly better results for the following results for the following groups of students:groups of students:

ReadingReadingAll StudentsAll StudentsStudents enrolled for 2 yearsStudents enrolled for 2 yearsStudents enrolled for 3 yearsStudents enrolled for 3 yearsBlacksBlacksHispanicsHispanicsStudents in most starting deciles Students in most starting deciles (well below average academically)(well below average academically)

MathMathAll Students All Students Students enrolled for 1 yearStudents enrolled for 1 year

Students enrolled for 2 yearsStudents enrolled for 2 yearsStudents enrolled for 3 yearsStudents enrolled for 3 yearsBlacksBlacksHispanicsHispanicsStudents in most starting decilesStudents in most starting deciles

The Disadvantages of Charter SchoolsThe Disadvantages of Charter Schools

There are many proponents of charter schools There are many proponents of charter schools including President Obama, but there are many including President Obama, but there are many opponents with valid points. opponents with valid points.

Disadvantages: Disadvantages:

1. Financial competition with public school systems 1. Financial competition with public school systems

2. Standards: Educators  2. Standards: Educators  

3. Inability to meet 3. Inability to meet ALLALL student's needs student's needs

4. Student enrollment 4. Student enrollment

Competition: Is it benficial or detrimental?Competition: Is it benficial or detrimental?

FinanciallyFinancially  

• Makes it more difficult for public schools to excel (enotes). Makes it more difficult for public schools to excel (enotes). o Students in public schools are being deprived of the advantantages Students in public schools are being deprived of the advantantages

granted in charter schools.  granted in charter schools.  youtube clip: Class Size matters  youtube clip: Class Size matters  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egq8nBUpgcI&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egq8nBUpgcI&feature=related• Decreases funds allocated to public schools Decreases funds allocated to public schools

o With each student taken from a charter school, funds are taken away With each student taken from a charter school, funds are taken away from public school systemsfrom public school systems This amount tripled from 2002-2004, cost districts $millions This amount tripled from 2002-2004, cost districts $millions

What About the Educator?What About the Educator?

• Teacher Turnover is highTeacher Turnover is higho Teachers have less experience Teachers have less experience o Salary can be lower than the average teacherSalary can be lower than the average teachero No Teacher Union to defend teachersNo Teacher Union to defend teachers

Teacher "Burnout" Teacher "Burnout" ((http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_be_a_more_successful_teacher_in_2010http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_be_a_more_successful_teacher_in_2010 ))     

School EnvironmentSchool Environment

• Education for students and Education for students and families becomes competativefamilies becomes competativeo   Limited availability Limited availability

compared to public schoolscompared to public schools Limited to families Limited to families

interestedinterested Acception can become Acception can become

biased towards favored biased towards favored families. families.

( Jan McComb. March 2002)( Jan McComb. March 2002)

• Limited fundsLimited fundso Cannot properly provide Cannot properly provide

resources for students with resources for students with disabilities (Rapp & Eckes, 2007 disabilities (Rapp & Eckes, 2007 p617)p617)

• Disprortionate population Disprortionate population o A large quantity of Charter A large quantity of Charter

schools are located in urban schools are located in urban areas. areas. Population = minority Population = minority

students(students(http://news/wush.eduhttp://news/wush.edu/news/Pages/901.aspx/news/Pages/901.aspx))

o Some fear social stratification Some fear social stratification Separating students by Separating students by

achievements, class, race, achievements, class, race, social class, & culture. social class, & culture. (Rapp& Eckes, 2007,p617)(Rapp& Eckes, 2007,p617)

Future of Charter SchoolsFuture of Charter Schools

  It is no secret that charters were vigorously fought by the It is no secret that charters were vigorously fought by the educational establishment for many years, seen as a vehicle for educational establishment for many years, seen as a vehicle for taking money from the old-school publics and "diluting" the school taking money from the old-school publics and "diluting" the school district's mission. district's mission.   As years have gone by, we've seen many charters do extremely well As years have gone by, we've seen many charters do extremely well (and some still very poorly), as the model has moved into the (and some still very poorly), as the model has moved into the mainstream and status quoers' ire has instead been directed at mainstream and status quoers' ire has instead been directed at vouchers and similar programs.vouchers and similar programs.

In many ways, quality charters can serve as incubators for best In many ways, quality charters can serve as incubators for best practice in our school districts.  They allow us to strengthen practice in our school districts.  They allow us to strengthen administrative functions and oversights.  They allow us to set tough administrative functions and oversights.  They allow us to set tough standards and chart the path to reach them.  They allow us to standards and chart the path to reach them.  They allow us to innovate, both in terms of instruction and social structures.  And they innovate, both in terms of instruction and social structures.  And they allow us to break the notion that we can't expect more, and we allow us to break the notion that we can't expect more, and we should be satisfied with the status quo.should be satisfied with the status quo.  Some say that public schools will eventually take over and there will Some say that public schools will eventually take over and there will no longer be charter schools.no longer be charter schools.  Others say that charter schools will remain and keep building the Others say that charter schools will remain and keep building the standards for the public schools to follow.standards for the public schools to follow.

TEP Charter SchoolTEP Charter School

There is one charter school that is located in New York City. This There is one charter school that is located in New York City. This charter school offers an excellent salary for their teachers. Salary is charter school offers an excellent salary for their teachers. Salary is $125,000 a year with a chance to earn bonuses. The teachers have to $125,000 a year with a chance to earn bonuses. The teachers have to meet rigorous requirements. meet rigorous requirements.   At this charter school the teachers have several prep and planning At this charter school the teachers have several prep and planning times built in to their daily schedules as well as specific times to times built in to their daily schedules as well as specific times to observe other colleagues.observe other colleagues.  The teachers are granted a one year sabbatical every five years.The teachers are granted a one year sabbatical every five years.

Charter Schools ControversyCharter Schools Controversy

ReferencesReferences

Center for Research on Education Outcomes, CREDO, 2010). Charter School Center for Research on Education Outcomes, CREDO, 2010). Charter School Performance in New York City. Retrieved from Performance in New York City. Retrieved from www.credo.stanford.eduwww.credo.stanford.edu

Charter Schools Research Brief (2008). Center for Urban and Multicultural Charter Schools Research Brief (2008). Center for Urban and Multicultural Education. Education.  Retrieved from Retrieved from

http://education.iupui.edu/cume/pdf/charterschoolsbrieffinal.pdfhttp://education.iupui.edu/cume/pdf/charterschoolsbrieffinal.pdfChen, Grace (2007).  What is a Charter School?  Public School Review Retrieved Chen, Grace (2007).  What is a Charter School?  Public School Review Retrieved from from http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/3http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/3National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).

http://www.publiccharters.org/http://www.publiccharters.org/New York City Charter School Center.  Retrieved fromNew York City Charter School Center.  Retrieved from

http://nyccharterschools.orghttp://nyccharterschools.orgTEP Charter School website TEP Charter School website http://www.tepcharter.orghttp://www.tepcharter.orgTheTakeawayPRIWNYC (March 11, 2009). Harlem students talk about why they TheTakeawayPRIWNYC (March 11, 2009). Harlem students talk about why they

love going to a charter school [video file]. Retrieved from love going to a charter school [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxXiVH47P-shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxXiVH47P-s

Otterman, Sharon (February 24, 2010).  Charter Schools Get Less Money per Otterman, Sharon (February 24, 2010).  Charter Schools Get Less Money per Student, Student, Study Says.The New York Times. Study Says.The New York Times. Retrieved fromRetrieved from http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.comhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com