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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Sweating the Small Stuff: Inner-City Schools and the New Paternalism
In this new book, author David Whitman takes readers inside six highly effective urban secondary schools where disadvantaged teens make enormous gains in academic achievement. Whitman focuses on six schools that represent different forms of what he terms a paternalistic approach -- programs designed to teach young people how to act according to traditional, middle-class values, to set and enforce exacting academic standards, and to closely supervise student behavior. Readers will learn about what works inside several schools, including: the American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland, California; the Amistad Academy in New Haven, Connecticut; the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, Illinois; the KIPP Academy in New York's South Bronx; the District of Columbia's SEED Public Charter School; and the University Park Campus School in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Charter School Growth Fund
The Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF), a social venture investment fund that provides proven education entrepreneurs with the financial resources and strategic expertise to support the development of self-sufficient, scalable networks of high-performing schools, is now accepting applications for its 2009 Business Planning Program. Applicants will need to demonstrate that they have run one or more exemplary schools, sustained strong achievement gains with underserved youth, and possess the dedication and capability to expand a network of schools in their target communities. CSGF accepts and evaluates applications on a year-round basis, and will be processing this year’s initial applications received by September 5th. Public charter operators selected through the application process will work with CSGF to create or update strategic plans which will be considered for a multi-year grant and loan package.
Success Measured: Four Fundamental Elements of Student-Level Growth
The Arizona Charter Schools Association just released a first-of-its-kind report that examines year-to-year progress of public charter school students' performance on state assessments. The report tracks individual scores over time and examines which school efforts work well for students. The association is using the study to develop a set of policies and school-based training programs to help public charter operators raise the quality of their schools.
Calculating the Demand for Charter Schools
This report is the first to compile a Texas-specific waiting list for public charter school enrollment. Students around the state are waiting in line to attend a public charter school as evidenced by at least 16,810 students on school waiting lists. Public charter schools currently have a two percent market share in Texas. A waiting list as substantial as that demonstrates a sizable demand for more public charter school options. The authors suggest that policymakers in the state can help these students attend a public charter school by eliminating the legislative cap, lowering barriers to expansion, and reducing unnecessary regulations.
Florida Charter School Conference, Orlando (November 20-21)
The Twelfth Annual Florida Charter School Conference, hosted by the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, will take place November 20-21 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Orlando. The theme is "Charters: Providing Choice, Creating Change.”
National Green Charter Schools Conference, Madison, WI (November 7-9)
The Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin and the Green Charter Schools Network invite the public charter school community to learn about environment-focused public charter schools at the first national Green Charter Schools Conference on November 7-9, 2008 in Madison, Wisconsin. Conference goals include professional development for educators, opportunities for collaboration among environmental scientists and green school operators, and information on public charter school-based environmental education that supports high levels of academic achievement for all students and fosters citizenship and stewardship.
Arizona Charter Schools Conference, Carefree (November 10-11)
At its 2008 conference,“Excellence by Design,” the Arizona Charter Schools Association is hosting more than 40 educational sessions led by state and national experts tailored to the needs of public charter leaders, administrators, business managers, teachers and board members. Attendees are encouraged to join round-table discussions, build peer-to-peer networks, and share best practices. The conference features Entrepreneurial Leadership Specialist Gregg Vanourek, Director of School Leadership Development for the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence Glenn Liebeck, Rebecca Gau of the Arizona Charter Schools Association and Dr. Yvonne Chan, who has consistently pushed the limits of education for nearly 40 years as an educator, school leader, and the founder of the first conversion charter school in the nation.
Michigan Charter Public Schools Conference, Detroit (November 3-4)
Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) will host the 11th annual Michigan Charter Public Schools Conference on November 3-4, 2008 at Cobo Hall in Detroit under the theme "The Call for Greatness." The two-day event is geared for educators, school board members, parents and potential public charter school founders. More than 100 speakers will cover topics for all levels through seminars, breakout sessions and table talks. Plus, vendors will be on hand to provide resources and new educational tools.
National Association of Charter School Authorizers Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN (October 27-28)
NACSA’s 8th Annual Conference, themed "Setting the Pace," will take place on October 27-28, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis. It will feature practice-oriented workshops focused on public charter school authorizing, as well as policy, research and strategy sessions.
Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools' Annual Conference, Columbus (October 14-15)
The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools Annual Conference will be held October 14-15 at the Crowne Plaza Columbus - North. The conference, themed “Charting the Course to Quality,” features educator Dr. Rita Pierson, Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, and National Alliance for Public Charters Schools President and CEO Nelson Smith. In "Success Against the Odds," Pierson will kick-off the conference on Tuesday, October 14, addressing how the social and academic needs of students facing overwhelming social circumstances can be met (without sacrificing teacher sanity in the process). On Wednesday, October 15, Smith and Husted will team up for a "State of the Movement," progress report covering important issues on the state and national level. Registration is available online.
Annual Survey of America’s Charter Schools, 2008
This document reports on the results of a survey that examines the management and environment of public charter schools around the nation. The survey, which was sent to approximately 4,100 schools (with a 20% response rate), harvested statistics and information related to size, scope, demographics, operations, and management of public charter schools. The authors report that in the 2007-08 school year, there were 4,128 public charter schools serving over 1.24 million students in 40 states and Washington, D.C. Responding public charter schools were small, enrolling on average 348 students, (nearly 35% less than traditional public schools). Fifty-nine percent of schools that responded to the survey said they have significant waiting lists, averaging 198 students in length. Nationally, the majority of public charter school students are minority (52%), at-risk (50%) and low-income (54%).
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