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Charter Schools vs. Traditional School

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Charter Schools vs. Traditional School
Charter Schools vs. Traditional School Charter schools are defined by the U.S. Department of Education (as cited in Marshall, Gibbs, Greene, Nelson and Schofield, 2001) as “public schools that are under contract from some public agency” (p. 129). ? Charter schools fit in a niche between private and public schools. They are funded with public money (except for their facilities) and they are an alternative to regular public schools systems. A private group of people can submit and get approved a charter to run their own school. Charter schools receive waivers from public school districts in exchange for promising better academic results. Charters are usually given for 3-5 years, where an eye is kept on academic performance. If academic performance lags behind comparable public schools, then the “charter” is pulled and the school is closed. Therefore, the reasons for and mission of charter schools may differ by school. State boards of education have remained open to varying philosophies of educational approaches. In many states a charter can be obtained by submitting an acceptable proposal to the state board of education. If the board sees the proposal as a benefit to the current public school system, then it will most likely grant the charter (Marshall, et. al., 2001). The first charter school law was enacted in Minnesota in 1991 and had the purpose of giving educators the chance to found schools that would operate as non-profit organizations (Wronkovich, 2000). A survey of directors and founders of charter schools (as cited by Fusarelli, 2002) listed several major motives for the establishment of charter schools, including: (a)autonomy in educational programming,(b) a desire to serve a special student population, (c) realization of an educational vision, (d) a desire to provide a better teaching and learning environment, (e) instructional innovation, (f) a desire to involve parents, and (g) the autonomy to develop nontraditional relationships


References: Abowitz, K.W. (2008). From public education to educating publics. The Clearing House, 76 (1), 34-38. Retrieved March 16, 2011, from H.W. Wilson database (Education Full Text). Adler, M.J.; On Behalf of the Members of the Paideia Group (1982). The Paideia Proposal: An Educational Manifesto. New York: Simon & Schuster. Estes, M.B. (2000). Charter schools and students with special needs: How well do they mix? Education and Treatment of Children 23 (3), 369-380. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from Academic Search Elite. Estes, M.B. (2004). Choice for all? Charter schools and students with special needs. Journal of Special Education 37 (4), 257-265. Retrieved March 3, 2011, from Academic Search Elite Fusarelli, L.D Good, T.L. & Braden, J.S. (2000). The Great School Debate: Choice, Vouchers, and Charters. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Harris, S.L. (2002). Children with special needs and school choice: Five stories. Preventing School Failure 46 (2), 75-78. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from H.W. Wilson database (Education Full Text). Hassel, B.C. (1999). The Charter School Challenge: Avoiding the Pitfalls, Fulfilling the Promise. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. Marshall, P.L., Gibbs, D.C., Greene, T.M., Nelson, W.C. & Schofield, J.R. (2001). Teachers reflect on charter schools. Kappa Delta Pi Record 37 (3), 129-132. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from H.W. Wilson database (Education Full Text). Nathan, J. (1996). Charter Schools: Creating Hope and Opportunity for American Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Swanson, E.A. (2004). Special education services in charter schools. The Educational Forum 69 (1), 34-43. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from H.W. Wilson database (Education Full Text). Wronkovich, M. (2000). Will charter schools lead to a systemic reform of public education? American Secondary Education 28 (4), 3-8. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from H.W. Wilson database (Education Full Text).
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