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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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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City Sues Local School Board in Florida to Access Capital Improvement Funding for Charter Schools
The city of Pembroke Pines is suing the Broward County school board, alleging it has violated students' constitutional rights by refusing to fund capital improvements for the county's 52 charter schools. "Our belief is that the money belongs to the students and it should be used to enhance their educational opportunities," said City Manager Charles Dodge, who also is the superintendent of the city's charter schools. "We hope [the lawsuit] will bring a conclusion to this." The lawsuit, which follows three years of talks between the city and the Broward County school board, alleges the board has treated charter schools differently from traditional public schools by refusing to pass on property tax revenue collected for school construction and maintenance.
Source: Sun Sentinel, (11/05/2007)
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Charter Schools in California Set Single-Year Record for New School Openings
A record 103 charter schools opened this school year across California, according to a recent announcement by the California Charter Schools Association. The single-year record topped the previous high record set in 2005, when 84 new charter schools opened their doors for the first time. As of October 31, there are 686 charter schools operating in the state of California. The Los Angeles Unified district set a single-year national record for a school district with 23 new charter schools opening their doors. It leads the nation in the total number of charter schools with 125 in operation. "The main reason why the charter school movement is growing is because parents are demanding that we open new charter schools," said Caprice Young of the California Charter Schools Association. "They are starting to realize, 'Hey, I can have a personalized, small academy with a rigorous program, too, if I want one.'"
Source: The Press-Enterprise, (11/04/2007)
Also See
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Popular California Charter School's Waiting List Includes Yet-to-be-born Children
The Academy of Academic Excellence, a charter school in Apple Valley, California is so popular that parents have put their yet-to-be-born children on the school’s waiting list. School spokeswoman Cheryl Thompson said the waiting list, which is nearly 3,000, includes unborn babies as far ahead as the class of 2026. "To have 3,000 on a waiting list in a rural community is just unprecedented. It means the parents are speaking. They want changes in the public school system," said Gary Larson, spokesperson for the California Charter Schools Association.
Source: Daily Press, (11/03/2007)
Also See
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Charter School Competition Pushing Some Districts to Create School Choice Plans
Struggling local districts across the country, which are facing chronic poor performance or competition from public charter and private schools, are turning to "school choice plans" to encourage enrollment. The DeKalb County school system near Atlanta just adopted a choice plan, and the Cambridge school system in Massachusetts has seen academic gains since it adopted one six years ago. Under the Dekalb plan, the district has six regions. Students zoned to their nearest school can attend it, or parents can pick their top choices for other schools in their region. Then their name then goes into a lottery, and names are pulled at random based on the number of seats available. In Cambridge, the system adopted school choice as a strategy to encourage enrollment and increase equity. "We are in a consumer-driven area," said Cambridge school system spokesman Justin Martin. "If parents don't have choices, (many) have the means to go to private and charter schools. We are very cognizant of that."
Source: Macon Telegraph, (11/03/2007)
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More Charters May be Coming to Louisiana
Educators and others expect Governor-elect Bobby Jindal to push for more charter schools in Louisiana. On the campaign trail, Jindal offered repeated support for public school choice and praised the concept of charter schools. "These schools are typically operated with less bureaucracy and offer opportunities to test innovative teaching methods and alternative management approaches," the Governor-elect said in his education platform. Caroline Roemer, executive director of the Louisiana Charter School Association, is hopeful that the state's charter school program will soon expand. "We are very excited that what we are hearing is that Gov.-elect Jindal is very open to the idea of charters and that charters may have a place in the reform of a public education system that has failed generations of children."
Source: The Advocate News, (11/03/2007)
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Charter Staff "Organize Their Own Way" in California
As in many states, teacher unions in California have made great efforts to organize staff at public charter schools. Many charter faculty members, however, argue that teachers unions are not needed at their schools. They say they don't need to battle management because they are management. For example, at San Diego Cooperative Charter School, teachers design curricula, and help decide which teachers to hire. "All that (a union) does is set up an adversarial relationship," said Linc Fish, board president of the school. "It shouldn't be and it doesn't have to be ... Unions are an important step toward remedying a bad situation. I don't think we have that situation." When asked if his school, Gompers Charter Middle, could benefit from a union, seventh-grade teacher Peter Chodzko seemed baffled. "If teachers feel supported, and teachers are getting the supports that they need, what's the need for a union?" he said. A few charters have organized, but some of those are cautious about adopting union rules wholesale.
Source: The Voice of San Diego, (11/01/2007)
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