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Charter schools are publicly funded elementary or
secondary schools in the United States which have been freed from
some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other
public schools, in exchange for some type of accountability for
producing certain results, which are set forth in each charter
school's charter.[1]
The charter school movement in the United States began in
1988, when
Albert Shanker, President of the
American Federation of Teachers, called for the reform of the
public schools by establishing "charter schools". As originally
conceived, the ideal model of a charter school as a legally and
financially autonomous
public school (no tuition, religious affiliation, or selective
student admissions) that would operate much like a private business
– free from many state laws and district regulations, and
accountable more for student outcomes rather than for processes or
inputs (such as Carnegie Units and teacher certification
requirements).[2]
However, opponents of charter schools suggest that this
accountability is rarely exercised, and that the more lax
requirements for charter schools result in fewer qualified teachers
than at their traditional public counterparts.[3]
Minnesota was the first state to pass a charter school law, in
1991.
California was second, in
1992. By 1995 there were 19 states with charter school laws.
There are two principles which guide charter schools. First that
they will operate as autonomous public schools. This is effected by
gaining waivers from many of the procedural requirements of public
schools. Second, that they will use innovative pedagogy. To justify
their waivers and autonomy, they are supposed to produce results
superior to non-charter schools. Studies have shown that charter
schools are rarely closed for poor academic performance.[3]
The rules and structure of charter schools depend on state
authorizing legislation, and differ from state to state. A charter
school is authorized to function once it has received a
charter, a statutorily defined performance
contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals,
students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success.
The length of time for which charters are granted varies, but most
are granted for 3-5 years. Charter schools are meant to be held
accountable to their sponsor—a local
school board, state education agency, university, or other
entity—to produce positive
academic results and adhere to the charter contract.
Chartering authorities, authorities which may legally issue such
charters, differ from state to state, as do bodies legally entitled
to operate under such charters. Often it is the State Board of
Education which authorizes charters, as is the case in the State of
Arkansas. In other states, local school district may be authorized
to issue charters, such as in the State of Colorado. Charter
initiating bodies, which intend to operate charter schools, may
include local school districts, institutions of higher education,
non-profit corporations, and for profit corporations. The States of
Michigan and California allow for-profit corporations to operate
charter schools. Some educators are concerned that for-profit
charter schools are inherently flawed, as they divert part of the
funding that in a traditional public school would be spent entirely
on education to maintain profits. For-profit charter schools rarely
outperform traditional public schools, even when the charter
receives higher funding.[4]
Charter school funding is dictated by the state. In many states,
charter schools are funded by transfering per-pupil state aid from
the school district where the charter school student resides. The
Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Part B, Sections 502
- 511 also authorize funding grants for charter schools.
Additionally, charter schools may receive funding from private
donors or foundations.
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