The Pros And Cons Of Charter Schools

Introduction
Depending where schools receive their funding can affect how the school runs, what population it draws in and what approach it will take to teaching. Charter schools were introduced in the United States in 1991. They receive state funding, although less than public schools, and private funding through private donors, businesses, and federal grants or loans. This allows the charter school to run independently from the public school system. (“Fast Facts: Charter Schools,” n.d.). This paper will analyze the neoliberal, social liberal and social democratic paradigms in light of the charter school debate of whether the United States school system should be predominately based on public schools, charter schools or private schools.
Charter School Pros Since charter schools receive private funding they are absolved of following state and federal laws of the public education system. Charter schools create their own curriculum and approach to teaching methodologies. They can focus on various themes such as the arts, humanities, or technology while public schools have stricter guidelines to follow. This provides students the opportunity to explore a particular interest area and have an education
In this way each school can dictate their own curriculum and not have to follow governmental based regulations which some advocate are too stringent. This promotes competition amongst schools incentivizing higher performance levels. Proponents also argue that taxpayers who are contributing to the educations system should dictate what kind of school and education is best for their child instead of sending them to the school that they are assigned to in their district. The belief is that schools are most effective when legislation do not bind them to rules and regulations. (“Charters: Both Sides of the Argument,”