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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Sen. Barack Obama Calls for Support of Charter Schools
In a February 10 interview, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama said that the federal government should experiment with charter schools. "I've consistently said I think we need to support charter schools." "I think it's important for us to experiment in terms of how teachers are compensated - working with teachers but looking at how we can reward excellence in classrooms" he said. Asked about the reaction of teachers' unions, Obama acknowledged that they "haven't been thrilled with me talking about this." He said, "My sister's a teacher, so I am a strong supporter of teachers. But I'm not going to be bound by just a certain way of talking about things in order for us to move forward on behalf of our kids. And I think a lot of teachers want to talk about how we can continue improving performance measures. We've got to get beyond a lot of the traditional categories."
Source: Politico.com, (02/11/2008)
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New Bill in Oklahoma Would Allow Native American Tribes to Start Charter Schools
A bill allowing Native American tribes to authorize charter schools in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties won a key approval passing through a Senate committee and will soon go to the Senate floor for consideration. Currently, Oklahoma's charter law allows only the state's largest school districts and public universities to establish charter schools. Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee says expanding the number of groups that can set up charter schools will give parents more educational choices for their children.
Source: Education Week (subscription required), (02/10/2008)
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Florida May Increase Restrictions on Charter Schools
Florida's Senate Education Committee has given support to a public charter school reform bill that would require un-graded charter schools to increase disclosure of students' academic achievement and require the state to compare the performance of charters to traditional schools within the district. Currently about 43 percent of the state's 350 charter schools go un-graded, which is twice the proportion of district schools that receive no grade. Additionally, the bill would limit funding for charter schools that exceed state class-size requirements and it would allow school districts to intervene sooner if charter schools become financially troubled. Senate PreK-12 Education Chairman Don Gaetz applauded charter schools overall but said some have abused the system. "Oftentimes that leads to an extraordinary and wonderful maturing. . . . Sometimes, however, we've had extraordinary abuses." Charter school leader Bill Jones of the Manatee School for the Arts voiced some concerns about the bill. "It's one more attempt to make charter schools look like regular schools," he said. "I will admit there have been some abuses in the system. I'm just not sure that a shotgun blast is really what's needed."
Source: Orlando Sentinel (free registration required), (02/09/2008)
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South Dakota Legislators Defeat Charter School Bill
The Senate Education Committee voted 6-1 to defeat SB194, a bill that would allow charter schools in South Dakota. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Tom Katus (D), had hoped the bill would help a Rapid City group establish the proposed HOPE School, which he believes would help reduce the high drop-out rate of Native Americans students in Rapid City. Dick Tieszen, a lobbyist whose clients include the Sioux Falls School District, said the bill would be "a departure from that entire concept of who regulates decisions in our schools." Sen. Sandy Jerstads said she is impressed with the charter concept and the people supporting it, but the existing public school system lacks resources. "I cannot support this bill at this time," she said.
Source: The Rapid City Journal, (02/08/2008)
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North Carolina Appeals Court Sides with Charter Schools in Charlotte
Five North Carolina charter schools have won another round in their quest for a larger share of local education money. A three-judge panel agreed with the charter schools, saying the $165,000 a Superior Court judge awarded them in 2006 is not enough. Richard Vinroot, an attorney for the charter schools, said the Charlotte-Mecklenberg system owes the schools $457,146 based on that ruling alone -- and more than $2.1 million if the district also complies with a January Superior Court ruling in a related case. CMS lawyers say the school board may ask the N.C. Supreme Court to review the case.
Source: Charlotte Observer, (02/07/2008)
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Nevada Poll Finds Residents Interested in More School Options
A recent survey found that only eleven percent of Nevada residents would send their children to public district schools if they had other options. Nearly half of respondents, 48 percent, would choose a private school, 23 percent would select a charter school and 15 percent would opt for home schooling. Three percent chose a virtual school for their children. Assembly Education Chairwoman Bonnie Parnell defended the state's educational system, saying the legislature has made progress in offering alternatives to a traditional public education, including measures supporting the creation of charter schools and home schooling programs. "I'm a strong supporter of charter schools," she said. "We realize that the traditional public school setting is not for all children." The poll showed that about 55 percent are strongly or somewhat favorable to the idea of charter schools.
Source: Las Vegas Review Journal, (02/06/2008)
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