-
Essay / Charter Schools - 1050
Charter Schools Since President Clinton signed HR 2616, the Charter School Expansion Act of 1998 into law, charter schools have provided an alternative for parents of public school students (Lin , Q., 2001, p.2). To date, charter schools serve more than 500,000 students (Fusarelli, 2002, p. 1). Charter schools have been supportive because it is believed that they can offer a way to improve student outcomes by serving students underserved by public schools (Fusarelli, 2002). Some believe that by creating a competitive education system, public schools will undergo significant reforms in response to the threat (Franklin, 2002). Because parents of charter school students have chosen for their children to attend a charter school, it is believed that parents will become more involved in their child's education (Hammer, 2003). In many states, charter schools are “exempt from many state mandates” (Fusarelli, 2002, p. 2). With these exemptions, charter schools also have greater flexibility for administrators when hiring teachers and running a school. They are able to offer higher salaries to teachers working in hard-to-fill positions (Finn, Kanstoroom, 2002). On the other hand, charter schools are doomed to failure due to lack of funding and limited resources, leading to poor planning. Charter schools are often thought to be run by self-appointed leaders who are accused of lacking the skills necessary to create quality charter schools (Self, 2002). Due to their novelty in the educational field, little is known about their long-term effectiveness (Lubienski, 2003). Charter schools are independent public schools of choice. Finn (1996) writes that researchers find that the best charter schools enjoy almost complete independence in deciding what and how to teach, who to hire and how to use their resources, their hours of operation, and how best to meet needs students. One would assume that many charter schools enjoy the flexibility and success that comes with operating a school of their own choosing. However, charters are also held accountable in ways that regular public schools are not. When a charter school experiences serious problems, it usually faces serious consequences. To date, more than 200 bankrupt or bankrupt charter schools have been closed for fiscal, educational and organizational reasons...... middle of paper ......a, district schools have lost a public funding equivalent to 57% per student. for every student transferred from the district to charter schools. This is a major concern, especially considering the other significant cuts the government has imposed on schools. Maranto (Wint 2001) argues that, as a result, public schools are in competition with charter schools. In conclusion, many frustrated teachers, parents and other stakeholders believe that government is unable to provide solutions to improve education because traditional government structures and mandates, in their view, constitute much of the problem. problem (Chubb & Moe, 1990). A real solution, they propose, is to reinvent the system by which we provide and manage public education; a reinvented system of choice, flexibility, and accountability that includes the creation of charter schools. Communities are encouraged to create new public schools with high levels of autonomy to innovate in ways that may or may not embrace traditional educational structures. These schools are invited to..