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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Demystifying Special Education in Virtual Charter Schools
This report describes how educating students with disabilities in virtual charter schools entails not only modifying state charter school laws to fit a specialized type of charter school, but also adapting federal and state special education guidelines aimed at providing special education in traditional brick and mortar settings.
Charter Schools Designed for Children with Disabilities: an Initial Examination of Issues and Questions Raised
This document is part of the website created for the Primers on Special Education
in Charter Schools. It addresses why some charter school programs are created to serve students with disabilities and what challenges they face.
Full-Service Community Schools Program, Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply March 17
The federal government's Full-Service Community Schools program encourages coordination of educational, developmental, family, health, and other services through partnerships between (1) public elementary and secondary schools and (2) community-based organizations and public or private entities. That collaboration is designed to provide comprehensive educational, social, and health services for students, families, and communities. The federal Charter School Program encourages charter schools considered a local educational agency (LEA) to work in consortia which consists of an LEA and one or more community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, or other public or private entities in meeting the purpose of this program. New awards for FY2008 are available. Details available online.
Americans Stars of Teaching Initiative, Deadline March 31
The U.S. Department of Education is seeking nominations for its fifth annual American Stars of Teaching project as part of its commitment to support and recognize outstanding teachers across all grade levels and disciplines. Winners of the 2007 American Stars of Teaching awards included five charter school educators -- outstanding teachers who have raised student achievement, used innovative classroom strategies, and made a difference in the lives of their students. Nominations for the 2008 American Stars must be submitted to the Department by March 31.
Help for Charters in Race for Space
This Education Week piece investigates recent growing efforts to assist charter schools in finding and affording facilities. Facility support programs from the U.S. Department of Education, states, philanthropies, and others are discussed. The article reports that private lenders are, at last, becoming more comfortable with lending funds to charter schools as they are proving to be a lasting education reform strategy.
D.C. Every Kid Counts
This “Every Kid Counts” report issued by D.C. KIDS COUNT, a collaborative of 16 D.C. organizations committed to improving the health and well-being of D.C. children (only one of which is connected with the charter school movement) finds that the city's public charter schools are improving student achievement dramatically better than traditional public schools. An analysis of test data shows that 47 percent of students [in reading in grades 3-8 and 10] in charters authorized by the D.C. Public Charter School Board scored at proficient or above compared to 36 percent of students in district schools. In eighth grade, 54 percent of DCPCS students scored at proficient or advanced compared to 27 percent of students in district schools. Test results in mathematics showed similar disparities.
New Hampshire Charter School Program Review
This report examines the growth of the New Hampshire charter school program since its creation in 1995. Twelve charter schools have been authorized (seven are currently open, and five are scheduled to open) and over 500 students are being served in them. Like public school students state-wide, students attending New Hampshire charters are almost exclusively white, and few charter school students are reportedly eligible for the free/reduced price lunch program. The analysis reports that New Hampshire's charter schools have seen increased student achievement (though the report provides few details about academic performance). The authors report that the state's charter schools may be forced to close due to little access to public funding (in FY08, schools received approximately only $3707 per pupil) and offer a few remedies to increase their support and success.
Public School Academies: Michigan Department of Education's Report to the Legislature
This annual report on Michigan's charter schools, known as public school academies (PSA) in the state, compiles school and student data and reports on academic growth. Michigan's charter school students continue to be disproportionately urban, minority and poor. Over half of charter school students are eligible for free/reduced price lunch, compared to 34 percent of non-charter students. Academically, charter elementary and middle schools report encouraging academic results. Consistently, more PSA students in grades 3-8 score proficent on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests than do their counterparts in the geographic districts in which the PSAs are located. African-American and Hispanic students' performance approach or match the performance levels of all non-charter students throughout Michigan. The schools continue to receive less revenue than the districts in which they are located ($2,289 less per-pupil).
The PA Coalition of Charter Schools Conference, April 27-29
The PA Coalition of Charter Schools 2008 Conference, "Quality Charter Education for PA Families & Children," will convene on April 27 – April 29 at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, in Pittsburgh, PA. Conference registration will open in January; on-line vendor/exhibitor registration is available now. Additional information available online, via email (conference@pachartercoalition.com) or by telephone (724-934-8831).
Fair Trade: Five Deals to Expand and Improve Charter Schooling
In this Ideas at Work series from Education Sector, Andrew Rotherham outlines five policy initiatives designed to reduce the tension between charter school advocates and critics and to encourage high-quality charter school growth. Specifically, they are: (1) lifting the limits on the number of charter schools in exchange for more rapid expansion of proven models; (2) trading high test scores from some charter schools for space for charter schools to operate; (3) linking transitional aid for public schools to access to facilities for charter schools; (4) tying increases in school funding to the expansion of high-quality charter schooling; and, (5) unionizing some charter schools with teachers' contracts that reflect charter schooling values.
Charter Schools Development Center's 2nd Annual Oregon State Charter Conference, March 3-4
The Charter School Development Center is hosting the 2nd Annual Oregon Charter School Conference at the World Trade Center in Portland.
Wave of the Future: Why Charter Schools Should Replace Failing Urban Schools
Andy Smarick argues in this article that public charter school systems present new hope for urban public schools. He suggests that charter advocates should strive to have every urban public school be a charter, with each school having significant control over its curriculum, methods, budget, staff, and calendar. The "every school a charter idea" would have each school having a contract that spells out its mission and measurable objectives and each school held accountable by an approved public body. Smarick recommends a series of four steps to that goal. First, commit to drastically increasing the charter market share in a few select communities until it is the dominant system and the district is reduced to a secondary provider. Second, choose the target communities wisely. Third, secure proven operators to open new schools. Last, commit to rigorously assessing charter performance in each community and working with authorizers to close the charters that fail to significantly improve student achievement.
National Charter Schools Conference, 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. Register before April 27 to get the lowest conference rates.
Wisconsin Charter School Conference, April 21-22
The 2008 Wisconsin Charter Schools Conference, co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Charter Schools Association and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will take place at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison from April 21-22, 2008. Registration, sponsorship and exhibit information will be available soon at the conference website.
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