Charter Schools==Choices

Charter Schools Choices

Generationafter
Generation aftergeneration
generationthe
thecountry
countryhas
haschanged,
changed,yet
yeteducation
educationremains
remainsstagnant
stagnantacross
acrossmany
many Things
states. states. Things have
have been beenone
done done
wayone way
and, and, despite
despite current current research,
research, many districts
many school school districts
remain
remain resistant
resistant to change.to change.

Theintroduction
The introductionofofpublic
publiccharter
charterschools
schoolshas
hasgarnered
garneredsupport
supportfrom
frommany
manyparents
parentsand
andeducators,
educators, while creating hostility for others. As parents, we want what is best for
while creating hostility for others. As parents, we want what is best for our children at allour children
times. at
all times.
The abilityThe abilitybetween
to choose to choose between tuition-free
tuition-free schools
schools means means
parents gainparents gain back
back control overcontrol
their
children’s future. Public charter schools give students and parents the freedom of choice, aof
over their children’s future. Public charter schools give students and parents the freedom right
choice,
we’ve allaearned.
right we’ve all earned.

Whilepublic
While publiccharter
charterschools
schoolsare
arestill
stillpart
partofofthe
thepublic
publicschool
schoolsystem,
system,and
andtherefore
thereforefollow
followthe
the
sameeducational
same educationalstandards,
standards,they
theyare
areheld
heldtotoaahigher
higherstandard
standardoverall.
overall.AApublic
publiccharter
charterschool
school
mustnot
must notonly
onlymeet
meetthe
thestandards
standardsissued
issuedby byeach
eachstate,
state,they
theymust
mustalso
alsoprove
provetheir
theirmethods
methods
successful.Unlike
successful. Unliketheir
theircounterparts,
counterparts,public
publiccharter
charterschools
schoolscan
canbe
beclosed
closedfor
forunderachievement.
underachievement.
Thispressure
This pressuretotohelp
helpstudents
studentssucceed
succeedacademically
academicallymeansmeanseducators
educatorscancanuse
useany
anyappropriate
appropriate
meansnecessary
means necessarytotoexploit
exploitevery
everychild’s
child’spotential.
potential.

Innovationisisthe
Innovation thesecret
secrettotocharter
charterschool
schoolsuccess.
success.Administrators
Administratorsand andteachers
teachersareareoffered
offeredmore
more
flexibilityand
flexibility andcreativity
creativityininwhat
whatisistaught
taughtand
andhowhowititisistaught.
taught.This
Thisability
abilitytototake
takeinto
intoaccount
accountaa
varietyofoflearning
variety learningstyles
stylesand
andtreat
treateach
eachchild
childasasan
anindividual
individualisiskeykeyininhelping
helpingallallchildren
children
succeed.InInareas
succeed. areaswhere
wherethere
thereare
aremany
manycharter
charterschool
schooloptions,
options,parents
parentsarearefree
freetotochoose
chooseanan
educationalinstitution
educational institutionthat
thatbest
bestfits
fitsthe
thestrengths
strengthsandandgoals
goalsofoftheir
theirchild.
child.InIncontrast,
contrast,aatypical
typical
publicschool’s
public school’sconstraints
constraintsmake
makeititimpossible
impossibletototruly
trulyindividualize
individualizeeducation.
education.

Studiesshow
Studies showthat
thatpublic
publiccharter
charterschools
schoolsare
areclosing
closingthe
theachievement
achievementgap
gapbybyembracing
embracing
individuality. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools reports that in
individuality. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools reports that in 15 15out
outofof16
16
independentstudies,
independent studies,charter
charterschool
schoolstudents
studentsdid
didbetter
betteracademically
academicallythan
thanthose
thoseininaatraditional
traditional
public school.
public school.

Whatmakes
What makespublic
publiccharter
charterschools
schoolsmost
mostcontroversial
controversialisisthe
thefinancial
financialaspect.
aspect.Public
Publiccharter
charter
schoolsutilize
schools utilizethe
thesame
samefunds
fundsasastraditional
traditionalpublic
publicschools.
schools.Some
Somewould
wouldsay
sayaastudent
studentmoving
moving
fromthe
from thetraditional
traditionalschool
schooltotothe
thecharter
charterschool
schoolisistaking
takingmoney
moneyaway
awayfrom
fromtraditional
traditionalschools.
schools.
Thisisisan
This anaccurate
accurateassessment
assessmentofofhow howpublic
publiccharter
charterschools
schoolsare
arefinanced,
financed,but
butwhy
whyisisthat
thataa
problem?IfIfpublic
problem? publicfunds
fundsare
arebeing usedtotoprovide
beingused provideeducation,
education,shouldn’t
shouldn’tparents
parentshave
haveaachoice
choiceinin
where they are allocated?
where they are allocated?

InInaaworld
worldwhere
whereindividuality
individualityisisbeing
beingapplauded
applaudedandandembraced,
embraced,public
publiccharter
charterschools
schoolsare
arethe
the
only
onlyoption
optionininpublic
publicschooling
schoolingthat
thatdoes
doesthe
thesame.
same.Our
Ourchildren
childrendeserve
deservetotosee
seetheir
theirown
ownpotential
achieved
potentialand for many
achieved andinforthe middle
many andmiddle
in the lower and
classes,
lowerpublic charter
classes, schools
public areschools
charter the only
arelogical
the
choice.
only logical choice.