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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$17.5 Million in Grants Given to Support New Charter Schools, Principals, and Teachers in New Orleans
Three philanthropic organizations - the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Doris and Donald Fisher Fund, and the Broad Foundation - plan to give $17.5 million to help public schools in New Orleans. The new funding will go to three nonprofits, New Schools for New Orleans, New Leaders for New Schools and Teach for America-Greater New Orleans. New Schools for New Orleans will receive $10 million, mainly to create and support charter schools. New Leaders for New Schools will receive $1 million to train and support 40 principals. Teach for America will get $6.5 million to attract teachers to the city. "These announcements provide a huge boost for the children of New Orleans and reflect a growing, long-term national commitment to education in this city," said Jon Schnur, founder of New Leaders for New Schools. More than 50 percent of the city's children attend 40 charter schools -- half of the public schools currently open in New Orleans. Up to nine more charter schools could open in fall 2008.
Source: Bayou Buzz, (12/16/2007)
Also See
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Regional Charter School System Proposed in Rhode Island
Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee is proposing opening a public elementary school to serve five separate communities. The new school would enroll up to 200 elementary school children, have no admission criteria, and would be the first of several schools to be established over the next five to six years in the Blackstone Valley. The school would be supervised by the mayor or a board of mayors from the five communities, with the day-to-day operations run by a nonprofit organization. The school could be created under the state's charter school law, but the General Assembly has limited the approval of new charter schools in the state. McKee and supporters of the regional system would have to get the General Assembly to lift the charter moratorium or draft new legislation that specifically creates the Blackstone Valley regional school system. "We're talking about building it completely from scratch, creating a network of schools that is a lot more transparent and more accountable," says the town director of Children, Youth and Learning, Michael Magee. "If the current system could control costs and improve education, we wouldn't be doing this."
Source: Providence Journal (free registration required), (12/15/2007)
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Hawai'i Appoints New Charter School Leader
Hawai'i has appointed a new charter school leader following more than a year of turmoil in the state's charter school administrative office. The appointment of Reshela DuPuis comes two months after Interim Director Maunalei Love threatened to resign over disagreements with some members of the charter review panel. Love had been chosen interim head after the school board fired Jim Shon in a closed-door meeting. The board ousted the former state legislator without publicly giving a reason, sparking protests in the charter community. DuPuis will be responsible for the organization, operation, and management of the state’s charter school administrative office.
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, (12/14/2007)
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Wisconsin Growing "Green" Charter Schools
According to the Wisconsin Charter Schools Association, 12 of the nation's 40-plus charter schools with environment-focused education programs are located in Wisconsin. One Wisconsin charter, the Wisconsin River Academy, has a dissemination grant to help districts develop similar charter schools. They are using the money to create and share curriculum guides and instructional DVDs. Not only are schools creating programs, but environmental organizations are dedicating themselves to working with students, said Senn Brown, director of the newly formed Green Charter Schools Network.
Source: Wausau Daily Herald, (12/14/2007)
Also See
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Closed Charters Revived Inside District Schools in San Diego
San Diego Unified has folded three closed charter schools into the district system as "schools-within-schools." While some see the mergers as rescuing unique education programs, others are angry that the charter curriculum is pared down or complain that the former charter students receive special treatment. The district is expecting more mergers with closed charters in the near future and is working on creating new policies. By merging back into the public system, charters are revitalizing public schools with new ideas and approaches, exactly as charters were intended to do, said Tad Parzen, a consultant and legal counsel to former San Diego Unified Superintendent Alan Bersin. He added: "Could this be a wonderful shift in the perspective of the institution? Can we cut through the red tape sometimes and figure it out later? In my mind, that's what's happening. ... That's what charter schools bring to bear on the larger system, much to everyone’s benefit." Since the 1990s, 120 charters have been absorbed into the public schools, as stand-alone schools, programs within schools, magnets or alternative schools, according to the Center for Education Reform.
Source: The Voice of San Diego, (12/10/2007)
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NYC KIPP Charter School Criticized for Rewarding Teachers with Vacations
Disclosure by the New York State Controller, Thomas DiNapoli, that KIPP Academy New York has been rewarding its teachers with all-expenses-paid trips has ignited a debate about the appropriate use of money in public education. Leaders of the successful charter school said that KIPP's system of bonuses is the best way to help children learn and that the funding for the vacations came from private sources. In a statement, DiNapoli suggested the private vs. public monies distinction was not important. "Money intended for education should be spent on education," he said. KIPP staff members said the retreats are fundamental to keeping energetic teachers knowledgeable and inspired and that the trips would continue.
Source: New York Sun, (12/06/2007)
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