US Charter Schools Web Dialogue

Resources & Relationships: Influencing Traditional Public Schools - Working With Districts

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Give Up Control to Gain More Influence	6/9/04 6:42 AM
Author: Mark Cannon

Research and experience are beginning to show state and district authorizers that they can serve needs through chartering that are not being amply fulfilled through traditional public schools, such as:

* educational effectiveness
* economic efficiency (charter schools operate on fewer public dollars)
* diversity and innovation
* parental support
* control (e.g., meaningful oversight)

Regarding this last point, in small school districts from Barnstable, Massachusetts to Chula Vista, California and large urban districts from New York City to Philadelphia to Chicago charter schools are blazing a trail of innovation that is beginning to impact the governance and management of all schools in their system. The focus becomes less one of compliance reporting and more about fostering unique school environments that can best respond to and meet the needs of students. Thus, the central office gains more meaningful influence (i.e., control) over outcomes by retaining less hands-on control over inputs.

Such points are discussed in the following article by NACSA associate director William Haft and former board member Otho Tucker ...
http://www.charterauthorizers.org/files/nacsa/Commentaries/nasbe-fall03article.pdf

Posted as a reply to: Reframing the Question by Deborah McGriff

Discussion Thread:

Influencing Traditional Public Schools - Working With Districts
Submitted by Bob Montgomery on 6/9/04 5:27 AM
- Partners
  Submitted by Otho Tucker on 6/9/04 5:34 AM
  - End traditional districts
    Submitted by Doug Thomas on 6/9/04 7:42 AM
    - Districts can't change fast enough???
      Submitted by Joe Nathan on 6/9/04 10:21 AM
    - Charters are competition--and that's a good thing.
      Submitted by Gerry Vazquez on 6/9/04 6:12 PM
  - competition doesn't have to denote winners and losers
    Submitted by Cindy Zautcke on 6/9/04 10:19 AM
    - Parental Choice
      Submitted by Deborah McGriff on 6/9/04 10:47 AM
      - Choice for Parents
        Submitted by Otho Tucker on 6/9/04 11:01 AM
        
        Empowering Parents
        Submitted by Deborah McGriff on 6/9/04 11:27 AM
    - Competing and Partnering - Winners and Losers
      Submitted by Otho Tucker on 6/9/04 10:53 AM
    - Competition in Public Education
      Submitted by Roger W. Bourassa on 6/9/04 11:02 AM
- Positive Outcomes
  Submitted by Otho Tucker on 6/9/04 5:50 AM
  - Introduction of Charters Shown to Increase Achievement in Traditional Public Schools
    Submitted by Michelle Godard Terrell on 6/9/04 6:43 AM
- Reframing the Question
  Submitted by Deborah McGriff on 6/9/04 5:58 AM
  - Research-Based Education
    Submitted by Janice Showler on 6/9/04 6:42 AM
  - Give Up Control to Gain More Influence
    Submitted by Mark Cannon on 6/9/04 6:42 AM
  - Yes, reframe the question!
    Submitted by Doug Thomas on 6/9/04 7:30 AM
  - preventing entrenchment
    Submitted by Dorothy Wood on 6/9/04 8:11 AM
    - Entrenched Programs
      Submitted by Deborah McGriff on 6/9/04 8:34 AM
- Shared Goals and Objectives
  Submitted by Micheal Floyd on 6/9/04 6:16 AM
- Influencing Traditional Public Schools
  Submitted by Alice Heller on 6/9/04 6:23 AM
  - Replication of Successful Schools
    Submitted by Otho Tucker on 6/9/04 7:25 AM
    - Requesting Definitions
      Submitted by Patty Dump on 6/9/04 9:03 AM
      - "Successful"
        Submitted by Otho Tucker on 6/9/04 9:43 AM
        
        Inequity
        Submitted by Patty Dump on 6/9/04 11:10 AM
        
        What About Teacher Replication?
        Submitted by Bob Montgomery on 6/9/04 1:21 PM
        
        Tomorrow
        Submitted by Patty Dump on 6/9/04 5:11 PM
      - Defining Success
        Submitted by Deborah McGriff on 6/9/04 9:48 AM
        
        Total Afffirmation
        Submitted by Patty Dump on 6/9/04 9:58 AM
        
        Arrogance in Education?
        Submitted by Roger W. Bourassa on 6/9/04 10:43 AM
        
        Still in agreement
        Submitted by Patty Dump on 6/9/04 11:18 AM
      - Success of Mission
        Submitted by Roger W. Bourassa on 6/9/04 10:30 AM
        
        Whose mission?
        Submitted by Patty Dump on 6/9/04 11:50 AM
    - Collaborating for Improved Educational Outcomes
      Submitted by Lynn Kepford on 6/9/04 9:18 AM
    - Replication of Successful Schools - this makes me shudder!
      Submitted by Carole Mottaz on 6/9/04 1:53 PM
      - Replication of successful schools - a postscript
        Submitted by Carole Mottaz on 6/9/04 2:01 PM
        
        Never Replicate?
        Submitted by Deborah McGriff on 6/9/04 2:19 PM
  - Different Models
    Submitted by Stef Stahl on 6/9/04 11:10 AM
    - Educational Equity & Academic Achievement
      Submitted by Bob Montgomery on 6/9/04 12:33 PM
      - Educational Equity and Academic Achievement
        Submitted by Carole Mottaz on 6/9/04 1:47 PM
- Influence
  Submitted by Mike Clem on 6/9/04 7:20 AM
  - Opposite effect
    Submitted by Mike Fernandez on 6/9/04 3:09 PM
- Working with district schools
  Submitted by Heidi Mitchell on 6/9/04 8:29 AM
- Dealing with charter critics
  Submitted by Joe Nathan on 6/9/04 9:50 AM
  - Charter Joe Nathan's comment about charter schools having something to offer mainstream education.
    Submitted by Carole Mottaz on 6/9/04 1:37 PM
- Collaboration between districts and charter schools
  Submitted by Tracy Quarnstrom on 6/9/04 12:52 PM
- Charter School Influence
  Submitted by Carmen Rivera on 6/9/04 8:32 PM