Charter Schools Issues: Where Do You Stand?
COLUMBUS, Ohio —During a primetime national address Monday, President Barack Obama made a comment about his support of charter schools, saying in part, “we should experiment with things like charter schools that are innovating in the classroom.“
With 332 charter schools providing education for approximately 82,000 Ohio students, Gov. Ted Strickland addressed charter schools in his 2009 budget.
Under the proposed budget, charter schools would take a nearly 20 percent decrease in funding from the state.
In his state of the state address, Gov. Strickland said, “I support charter schools that meet the same high standards we demand of traditional public schools. Charter schools that hire quality teachers, show fiscal and academic accountability, are regulated by the Department of Education, and are not run by for-profit management services have a place in my plan.“
What do you think of the differences between what President Obama and Gov. Strickland are saying?
Where do you stand on the idea of charter schools? We want to know.
Tell us your thoughts by posting a comment below.
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I find the Governor’s proposed funding of Charter schools in direct contrast to the proposed idea of using charter schools to provide innovative educational choices for families. My children are enrolled in Ohio Virtual Academy. They receive an outstanding education through a partnership of parents, state certified teachers, and administrators. A school board makes decisions on how the school will run just as in any other public school district. Our school is held accountable by the same, sometimes higher, standards as all other public schools in Ohio. They employ a company, K12, to provide curriculum and management support. K12 does not “run” the school. Yes, K12 makes a profit. So do the textbook companies, food service providers, transportation providers, and other support services employed by other public schools. The Governor’s proposal would cut OHVA’s budget by about 75% making it impossible for it to continue providing the amazing individualized education that my boys now enjoy. The elementary school at OHVA is currently educating about 5,000 students statewide making it the largest elementary school in our nation. It seems obvious to us that many Ohio families want this school choice to continue!
*mousetb* You are so right about the Graham school. Our daughter went there on the advice of my sister in law. I was apprehensive at first about the students using teachers first names, thought that it was slightly disrespectful, but that was no longer a concern after meeting some of the staff and teachers of that excellent school. The kids cared about the school, the teachers, each other. It was a great experience for our daughter and for us.
After 3 years at the most mismanaged school I have ever encountered, Medina Middle School, I was done with the City schools. There was excessive violence at that school daily, and the office staff was…I can think of no other word than incompetent and complacent. Because of the violence level and failing grades, I decided to enroll my daughter in a Charter school. My daughter has never been happier, the classes are smaller so the teachers catch students immediately if they start to lag. The school has to get a lot of funding from local businesses and from families, they cannot afford any sports, band, etc., but it’s worth the extra work because the school has been making a difference in my daughter’s drive to learn, as a result she makes excellent grades now. The teachers honestly care, they share email addresses, home and cell phone numbers with parents, the kids have a say in school policy, and it’s a tight community within the school in which everyone knows everyone, and you have to be involved in the process of education. One of the best things about this school is that it makes the kids do community service at least 2 days a week, every week, so the school gives back to the very community that supports it, and the work experience gained is priceless for the kids, everyone wins in this school. I wholeheartedly believe that this school has benefited my daughter more educationally in the few months she has been attending, than Medina Middle School could do in three years, thank goodness for The Graham School.
The irrefutable fact is that Charter Schools are MORE accountable than Traditional Public Schools. Charters report the same student, staff, testing, and FISCAL records to the state as traditional schools, and they recieve the same Local Report Cards - all of which are posted on the Dept. of Ed website. Further, Charters report their enrollment MONTHLY so they are only paid for students they actually have, rather than traditional schools that get paid based on one headcount in October. Charters will be closed for poor academic perfomance, as written in State Law, and this has been enacted. Further, Charters are audited by the State Auditors office, and can be closed for fiscal reasons as well. Many traditional districts are in fiscal trouble, and not one traditional district school has been closed due to poor academic scores. Charter school boards can be “ousted” by the state department, as well. Accountability for charters is in place. The argument that they are not accountable is inaccurate.
Some Charter Schools are great, but others are purely for-profit ventures that have made David Brennan a millonaire, allowing him to pump more money into republican campaign coffers, who repay him by legislating that his charter school empire isn’t accountable to basic educational standards.
For those of you whose kids have gone to strong charter schools and gotten a great education, fabulous. Strickland isn’t trying to take that away. The problem is that right now our tax dollars are going to a private corporation that is not accountable to the voters and is not held to any performance standards.
When our public schools fail, there is a chain of accountability, there are elected school board members and other elected officials who can be ousted, etc. This is as it should be when there are tax dollars involved.
Many government entities rely on corporations for goods and services. But those corporations have to meet certain standards to keep getting that money. Right now the only standard David Brennan and his ilk are being held to is that they are expected to continue to contribute to republican campaigns.
I am so pleased with the charter schools in our area. My children both go and I can see a huge difference in my son’s self esteem and confidence. They are learning not only the basics but spanish now and higher physical education that they didn’t in the SWCS system. EVERY teacher knows them by name, most know us by name..it isn’t just a school, it is a community. The difference is-charter school parents-WANT their children there, they care about their children being there…in the public school system, some send them because it is required. Charter schools have to make up days when off-no calamity days are given. We make up every single day off of school, can you say that about your public school system. Bullying is not tolerated, belittling teachers is not tolerated. Go to a charter school before you pass judgement, you will be glad you did.
PROUD PARENT OF A KINDERGARTENER AND FOURTH GRADER AT HARRISBURG PIKE!!
Stop the bullying is right! Both our kids were assaulted repeatedly in Columbus Public schools and the admin would do NOTHING. The final straw was when our daughter had her shirt yanked at in front by some young thug who asked “What ya got there, babe?“. The principal at Clinton Junior High told us that “she needs to get thicker skin”. (he told us that on more than one occasion, the “blame the victim” mentality) I asked if he would prefer it if I taught my daughter how to use a knife, he didn’t like that much. We took both our kids out of Columbus crappy schools; both graduated from Charter schools and both are happy and far better off. The teachers in the Charter School are far more interested in helping kids learn, and I thank them for that. I wouldn’t send my DOG to Columbus Public schools.
Charter schools ARE public schools, which many people don’t realize. They should be funded at the same level as other schools because they are held accountable to the same standards. The NCLB law made ALL public schools accountable—including charters. Strickland is trying to satisfy teacher’s unions who, of course, are opposed to charters because they challenge their monopoly. Having choices is the American way.
Charter Schools are not inherently better nor worse than Public Schools but there are more loopholes for them to escape accountability. The real need is for schools which are equally supported (rather than the distinction between haves/have nots), equally accountable, and, I would personally support yearlong school terms - even if the breaks were different to maintain the current “days in school” standard. I would like to see the schools get rid of the three month “dumbing down and forget everything” school year.
I would hope that the on line schoolS (such as ECOT) will reamin in tact. I had 3 grand kids graduate form there.
It is a much needed school alternative until the school systems stop the bullying. (ECOT is wonderful about getting the students into extra programs & get togethers)
As to the the brick & morter charter schools…the monies should be put into the public school systems so ALL childen can receive equal education.
I also beleive that Ohio schools shouls be standardized so that a child is not penalized if the family moves from one district to another. (this happens within the local systems, also.
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