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.
Charter Advocates Excited About New York Governor
As a Harlem State Senator in 2003, now Governor Paterson stood beside Mayor Bloomberg as the Mayor announced a plan to house charter schools in public buildings. Governor Patterson has a long history of support for charters and choice and includes supporting charter school expansion; education tax credits for private school parents, and a proposal to have Edison Schools take over some city public schools. Charter advocates are excited about what Paterson may accomplish in education reform in the state. Paterson is an "education gov" who will courageously tackle once-taboo subjects, said Thomas Carroll, president of the Foundation for Education Reform. The co-chair of the think tank Education Sector, Andrew Rotherham, applauded Paterson as "even more hardcore about school reform" than former Governor Spitzer. Sources said advocates are won over by the passionate and personal way Paterson speaks about education. To defend his support for giving students more options, Paterson speaks about the experience of his own children. His son attends a public middle school in the city, but must travel outside his own neighborhood to reach it. "There was no public school in Harlem he could find," a source said. "It's a personal issue for him."
Source: New York Sun, (03/24/2008)
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Policymakers in Guam Seek Charter School Law
Policymakers in Guam are seeking to pass the Guam Charter Schools Act of 2008, a new bill seeking to establish and maintain charter schools that operate independently from the Guam Public School System. The bill says the schools' independence from GPSS can be used to improve student learning; encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods; and to hold the schools accountable for meeting educational standards.
Source: KUAM, (03/23/2008)
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Charter School Bill Fails in Mississippi
Senate Bill 2721, which proposed allowing parents and educators to establish five charter schools in Mississippi for under-performing students, passed in the state Senate but died in the House. Part of the problem is the bad connotation associated with the term "charter school," said Michael Marks, director of the Adept School, a dropout recovery school seeking state funding. The first charter schools in Mississippi were seen by some as an attempt to circumvent integration and create exclusive, white-only schools. Too many legislators associated the charter school bill with the old controversy, Marks said.
Source: Hattiesburg American, (03/22/2008)
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Charter School Aid Bill Approved by New Hampshire House and Moves to Senate
The New Hampshire House approved new financial aid for charter schools last week. The proposal would send $1.7 million in state aid to charter schools next year. Schools without local financial support would get $2,700 per pupil more in state aid. Charter schools supported by their districts would get $500 more per pupil. The House voted 204-118 to send the bill to the Senate. Senate President Sylvia Larsen predicts the Senate will not approve the spending."We are not passing additional financing bills out of Senate Finance with the exception of an emergency" such as to deal with a flood. Larsen said the state first needs to find a way to pay for regular state school aid before giving a boost to charter schools.
Source: Sea Coast Online, (03/21/2008)
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Michigan Charters Use Variety of Media to Boost Enrollment
Michigan charters are using billboards, residential signs, TV and radio commercials, internet advertisements, and mass mailings in an effort to attract new students. "It's a very sensitive subject. Unfortunately, with schools of choice there are winners and losers," said Fruitport Community Schools Superintendent Nick Ceglarek. "Our whole funding mechanism is based on the number of students within the school system. If a particular school system loses children, they lose funding, which results in a diminished capacity to offer programs. Ultimately our funding is based on enrollment, and we have to make decisions based on that." Schools have seen boosts in enrollment due to aggressive advertising. "In this day and age where parents have the ability to make choices, we have to recognize that it's important that we represent our district positively and make sure parents know the different programs and offerings," said Ceglarek.
Source: Muskegon Chronicle, (03/21/2008)
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Some Charter Schools in New Jersey Expect to See Increase in Funding
A majority of New Jersey's public charter schools will experience a 20 percent increase in funding under Governor Jon Corzine's new budget. Payments to the 56 existing charter schools from state and local funds are expected to rise 20 percent overall under the plan, or about $39.6 million over last year. Under the plan's complex rules, not all charter schools will benefit, but for some fast-growing charters, especially in urban districts, the additional money will be a windfall and help make up for years of under-funding.
Source: New Jersey Star-Ledger, (03/20/2008)
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Conversion Plan Wins Approval from Catholic School Parents and Teachers in Washington, DC
The Washington Archdiocese says a plan to convert seven D.C. Catholic schools into charter schools has the overwhelming support of parents and teachers. Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs says 98 percent of teachers and 93 percent of parents have signed forms in support of the plan. The plan required the support of at least two-thirds of both groups. A private nonprofit group, Center City Public Charter School, is proposing to operate the schools as "value-based" charter schools. The group must submit its full application to the D.C. Public Charter School Board by March 31. With the seven schools leaving the Catholic school system, Washington will have 21 Catholic schools remaining in operation in the fall.
Source: Washington Post (free registration required), (03/19/2008)
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National Public Charter Schools Week to Be Held May 5-9
National Public Charter Schools Week will be celebrated May 5-9, 2008. A primary purpose of this annual event is to connect public charter school students, parents, teachers, and leaders to policymakers, so they can experience the schools and the enthusiasm of the people supporting them. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools encourages charter schools to participate in a dynamic video campaign called "See Us Growing Excellence" - go here for more information.
Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, (03/15/2008)
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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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