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  • Essay / A Unique Approach: Education in Public and Charter Schools...

    A Unique Approach: Education in Public and Charter SchoolsSchool choice: two words that together describe a multitude of educational options for today's students. Among them are charter schools and public schools; public schools stand the test of time and charter schools are at the forefront of a revolution in educational change. Surprisingly, these two educational institutions have more in common than one might think, but retain their differences. The main differences between charter schools and public schools include approach to education, funding, level of government involvement, and enrollment practices. Despite these differences, charter and public schools share the following characteristics: tuition-free for students, a requirement to demonstrate adequate annual progress on state standardized tests, and status as a public institution. Charter schools are educational institutions that share common characteristics with public schools and at the same time have key differences that make them unique. Charter schools and public schools share a definition as public educational institutions; however, there remain key differences in this explanation. Charter schools are independent public educational institutions that have the freedom to operate in a specific educational area, such as math and science or agricultural science. (WestEd, 2010) In the context of this specific educational orientation; Charter schools tailor curriculum, assessments, program goals, and achievement measures to the students served by their charter. (WestEd, 2010) Unlike charter schools, public schools are educational institutions that operate under the direction of a school board as well as the state and federal government whose rules and laws sanction their daily operation...... middle of paper .... .. and the federal government on a per student enrollment basis, however, do not have the luxury of collecting taxes as public schools do. Finally, charter schools are independent of the geographic limits a district imposes on public schools. Works Cited MN Association of Charter Schools. (November 8, 2010). Facts and Stats about MN Charter Schools. Retrieved November 5, 2010 from the MN Association of Charter Schools: http://www.mncharterschools.org/page/1/facts.jspMN Charter School Resource Center. (August 29, 2007). What is a charter school center for school change. Retrieved November 8, 2010 from the Minnesota Charter School Resource Center: http://www.centerforschoolchange.org/index2.php?...WestEd. (November 8, 2010). Answers to frequently asked questions. Retrieved November 8, 2010 from American Charter Schools: http://www.uscharterschools.org/lpt/uscs_docs/171