Hosted by The Center for
Education Reform
Hosted by The Center for
Education Reform
HELP CHARTER SCHOOLS TO FLOURISH; A BOLD STEP ON ROAD TO EDUCATIONAL REFORM
by Arne H. Carlson
Star Tribune, February 16, 1997
Are Minnesota charter schools working? An evaluation of Minnesota's charter schools just completed by researchers at the University of Minnesota says yes, and reports that Minnesota's charter schools are doing well despite formidable challenges. The findings were particularly exciting considering that charter schools operate on about 20 percent less revenue than other public schools and serve a disproportionately high number of students with special needs.
The report should cause us to stop and ponder the intent of charter schools and consider how we can help them grow and flourish.
Charter schools are a relatively new idea in Minnesota and in the United States. In 1991, I signed the first charter school legislation in the country, which was intended to allow groups of motivated parents and teachers to create their own innovative, results-driven schools that would be free from some of the regulations to which other schools must adhere. Charter schools can offer families a range of new options that they may not get otherwise. They represent a bold step on a long road to educational reform.
Most of our 19 schools are only in their third year of operation, and are showing early signs of success. According to the report, parent involvement is high and more than half of all charter school parents report that their child is more motivated, confident, responsible and is studying more with improved academic performance compared to experiences with previous schools. Eighty-one percent of charter school staff members report being satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, in part due to a low student-staff ratio of 12 to 1. The charter school suspension rate is lower than that of other public schools.
The study revealed that school districts themselves pose some obstacles to success for charter schools and their students. In most cases, local school boards are responsible for approving the plans for new charter schools within their districts.
The research reveals that the role of the sponsoring school district consistently emerges as a source of confusion and concern for charter schools, saying that, "larger districts, in particular, view charter schools as a vehicle for serving difficult subpopulations of students who are potentially much more expensive to serve." As sponsors, districts are also expected to provide assistance to schools and measure their academic progress, yet most districts have not developed criteria to determine how success will be measured.
It seems that many districts are quick to incubate charter schools, as long as they do not gain the horsepower to compete with their other public schools. This is unfortunate. Local school boards and superintendents should put the needs of students and parents first, and should support charter schools to serve all students, including those who excel academically. Nothing could be better for a school district than a dose of spirited competition among schools.
To help new charter schools untangle themselves from any potential conflict of interest, I have proposed to make it easy for new charter schools to apply directly to the State Board of Education for sponsorship.
Topping their list of concerns, charter schools cite funding, specifically a lack of start-up money to get a fledgling school off the ground and money to lease facilities. Compared with other public schools, new charter schools are at an extreme disadvantage on both of those fronts. Our budget proposal includes more help for charters in the form of start-up loans and grants, and financial assistance to lease space. We have also asked the Legislature to direct more operating funds to charter schools - to put them on more equal footing with other public schools.
If we are smart, we will learn from this report. Seven more proposals for charter schools have just been approved. These schools have tremendous untapped potential to help their own students, but also to challenge all our schools to do better. The evaluation tells us we are on the right track, but can do more to remove barriers and improve our charter schools and the laws under which they operate. Let's agree to provide these schools with more flexibility and resources, and in turn expect measurable success.
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Arne H. Carlson is governor of Minnesota.