On average, the funding gap between charter schools and traditional schools is 22 percent, or $1,800 per pupil. The average charter school ends up with a total funding shortfall of nearly half a million dollars.
Source: Charter School Funding: Inequity’s Next Frontier
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Note: Please be aware that online publishers often change URLs or no longer provide access to articles after 7 days. If any of the below links no longer work, access the publishing newspaper and search the archives for the keywords in the subject matter. Good luck.
National Charter Schools Conference (New Orleans, June 22-25)
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools will host the 2008 National Charter Schools Conference from June 22-25 in New Orleans, LA. "Still We Rise: Achieving Academic Excellence at Scale" is the conference theme, reflecting the growth of quality public charter schools across America. The theme has special resonance in New Orleans, which boasts the nation's largest percentage of public charter school enrollment. Register for the conference or apply to sponsor/exhibit at http://www.nationalcharterconference.org. The conference is the largest gathering of charter school operators and proponents in the nation. Geoffrey Canada, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Harlem Children's Zone, will offer the keynote speech. Attendees will learn and share best practices, discuss national and state policy issues, have the opportunity to volunteer at local charter schools, and enjoy special events featuring New Orleans traditions, food and music! Questions? Call 206-463-3344 or e-mail nationalconference@publiccharters.org.
Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, (03/01/2008)
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Strong NAEP Gains for Eighth Grade Charter School Students
Eighth graders attending public charter schools showed strong gains in reading and math in the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). In both subjects, charter students' performance increased at a faster rate than their peers in traditional public schools. African-American and low-income charter eighth-graders also registered larger reading and math gains than their peers in traditional public schools. At the fourth-grade level, however, results were mixed. Charter fourth-graders' math gains matched those of traditional school students, but charters trailed other public schools in overall performance.
Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, (10/01/2007)
Also See
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New Business Group Pushing to Lift Charter Cap and Increase Charter Funding in Massachusetts
Business Leaders for Charter Public Schools in Massachusetts is calling on legislators to lift a cap that currently limits charter schools to nine percent of local school districts' budgets. A bill currently before the state legislature would raise the cap to 20 percent. "If (students) don't come out of high school with good skills, they won't have a shot at a good job -- and that's bad for them and horrible for the economy," said Akamai Technologies chief Paul Sagan. The group is also calling for increased funding for charter schools. Some teacher unions officials and traditional school superintendents oppose the group's efforts to increase support for charters.
Source: Boston Herald, (09/30/2007)
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Catholic Parents Protest Against DC Archdiocese Plan to Convert Schools to Charters
Catholic families protested this past weekend outside St. Matthew's Cathedral in their continuing opposition to an Archdiocese of Washington D.C. plan to make eight schools into nonreligious charter schools. The conversion could come as soon as fall 2008 and likely would impact 1,400 students. The families believe the closings target black families and carried signs with such slogans as: "Keep Black Catholic Schools Alive" and "Educate by Faith, Not By Race." Archbishop Donald Wuerl has said the church can no longer afford to keep the schools open. "We have attempted to educate as many people as possible, and have done so beyond our means," he said.
Source: Washington Times, (09/30/2007)
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Massachusetts Legislators Seek More Scrutiny of Charter Schools
Last week, Massachusetts lawmakers held a wide ranging hearing on charter schools, with some calling for a study on how charter schools are funded, whether there should be caps on student enrollment, and what innovations the schools should be credited with. Rep. Douglas Petersen, D-Marblehead, a member of the Education Committee, said he supports an in-depth study of charter schools. "I don't think we've had a thorough study of what impact charter schools are having on municipal finances, whether or not there are substantial differences in what charter school kids receive versus public school kids," he said. Sixty-one charter schools are currently operating in the state.
Source: Salem News, (09/26/2007)
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Texas Education Agency Extends Charters of Eight Charter Schools Deemed "Academically Unacceptable"
In mid-September, Acting State Education Commissioner Robert Scott added five years to the charters of 48 Texas schools, including eight that recently received the state's lowest performance rating. Scott's decision allowed the 48 schools to bypass the standard charter-renewal process. He said he extended the charters to comply with wishes expressed by members of the State Board of Education, who wanted the period between charter renewals to grow from five to 10 years. "The schools will not be subject to any less scrutiny in terms of their operations," Scott said. He added that a charter school can be shut down after two straight years of unacceptable ratings. Agency spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said the extended charters make it easier for the schools to secure lengthy leases and to make long-term plans.
Source: Austin American Statesman, (09/25/2007)
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Parents Using Idea of Charter Schools to Pressure District Choices
After the Palo Alto school board told parents that the district would not launch a Mandarin-immersion program, the parents threatened to start their own Mandarin charter school. In turn, two board members changed their minds and approved the move for a district run Mandarin immersion program. Mandy Lowell, one of the two board members who switched her vote, said "I really thought a charter school would be more damaging to our district than a choice program. We're tight on space. If someone takes part of a school, it limits what we can do to accommodate all students." Lowell said charter schools are a wonderful alternative when public schools are not satisfying educational needs, but she doesn't think children "need" Mandarin education. "If someone brought us a proposal for a school for autistic kids or some other need we really aren't meeting," she said, "then perhaps we should consider it."
Source: Mercury News (free registration required), (09/24/2007)
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Eight Percent Increase in Number of Charter Schools Nationwide
There has been an eight percent increase in the number of charter schools since last year, according to a new report by the Center for Education Reform. Approximately 347 new charter schools opened for the 2007-08 school year. Currently, 4,147 charter schools are serving 1.2 million students across the country, according to the report. The report found that 560 charter schools have closed since 1992.
Source: Education Week (subscription required), (09/23/2007)
Also See
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