Should Douglas County Become a Charter School System?

[Lessons Learned]

Consider this......

Positive Lessons from Charter Schools in Georgia

By Andrew Broy

Georgia's 71 charter schools are outperforming traditional public schools and are serving a more diverse and economically disadvantaged population, according to the Georgia Department of Education's most recent Annual Report on Charter Schools.

The findings, based on 2007 data, correct many of the misperceptions that surround the state's charter schools and are particularly significant in light of the increased attention charter schools have received from legislative leadership over the past two years.

In 2007, the General Assembly enacted a law that allows entire districts - not just individual schools - to apply for a charter. Districts promise improved student achievement in exchange for freedom from certain state and local rules. This session, the Legislature is considering the creation of a new statewide authorizing commission that would have the power to establish new charter schools.

Charter-related initiatives frequently generate controversy. The annual report helps those involved in the discussion differentiate between the facts and the fallacies and provides concrete data that policy-makers should consider when passing on charter policy. Most important, as education reforms generate increasingly rancorous debate, the report provides compelling evidence that charter schools in Georgia deserve serious consideration as a school improvement strategy and option for parents and students.

READ MORE HERE>>>>>
http://www.gppf.org/article.asp...

[Charles Farley]

We can't hope to aim for this until we consolidate our massive census of under-performing students into a specialized remedial program. This will require many to accept that their child needs help instead of insisting they be promoted in grade for social reasons. This county shorts both ends more than the middle, but all of the students in the county suffer the effects of social engineering being given a higher priority than actual education. It will take at least 4 years to even entertain the county charter issue IF some changes go into effect NOW (unlikely). Maybe we can get a seatbelt factory to open up here. Maybe a fiberglass plant. Too bad there's a finite need for quarry workers. Charter status when one of our "better" schools has 48% of their 8th graders flunking math on the CRCT is almost laughable if it wasn't so pathetic. FM

[Kelly Cadman]

I work for a state charter agency, so I've been watching and hearing news about the charter system initiative for some time now. Just to put some context around it for those weighing in, in the very near future (by 2013), following Governor Perdue's Educational Excellence legislation (IE2), systems will have 3 options:

1. Remain "as is" (status quo)
2. Fall under IE2 (pronounced I-E squared), which is basically a contract between the state and the systems (grants greater local board autonomy in exchange for accountability...those failing to achieve against their accountability measures will be turned into charters anyway)
3. Become "charter systems" (contract for local district autonomy in exchange for accountability)

I am a proponent of the reform efforts (either under IE2 or charter) for allowing local control in exchange for accountabiliy - I think that part of the reason REAL educational reform isn't taking place in public education is because the districts are hamstrung by state mandates, rules, and regs that impact their ability to actually get creative like they'd like. I am certain that all school districts would love the opportunity to implement new plans if they only could.

If you look at options 2 and 3 (who wants to be considered "status quo?"), there are some things to note:

Those systems not meeting their contractual performance obligations will be turned into "charter systems" anyway. This concerns me on a number of levels and makes little sense to me. The only "up side" of this I see is that there will be greater requirement for REAL local input by school advisory boards if they do turn charter. I think that the amount of flexibility will be limited some (seems like I read that only class size will be allowed, but I can't recall for certain).

Systems choosing to go "charter system" get the benefit of a federal implementation grant, which is several hundred thousand dollars. This is, of course, attractive. It also makes them eligible for other state grants (i.e. facility). Also, the charter environment allows for greater flexibility than perhaps IE2 will allow. I see both of these as benefits as the districts consider their options. My concern with districts selecting the charter system option is that charter systems don't actually follow any definition of charter. A "true" charter has school-level autonomy over many things (budget and personnel being primary) and is governed by a school-level governing board comprised of the school's stakeholders and the community. I think having system charters muddies the waters for the charter movement as a whole and makes it hard to confirm whether the charter reform movement works...it's just very hard to tease out the data. Something to note is that the feds who give out the implementation grant have noticed that some charters (i.e. system charters, conversions, etc.) do not follow the true definition or intent of charters. I would anticipate (and have heard some talk) that they will soon make it harder for systems and conversions to access the money without demonstrating true local (i.e. school level) control over things like budget and personnel.

Just my thoughts. Thanks for bringing up the topic for folks to discuss! I'll be interested to read others' perspectives on the matter.

[Lessons Learned]

Thanks for the info Kelly! I hear so many complaints about fed/state mandates and passing the buck on edu. The more I read about charter the more I like it.

[Lessons Learned]

Here is a good article that helps to explain the process....

http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-c-2009-02...

[Another Brighten Parent]

I'm not sure that a system wide charter would work. In my mind, part of what makes a charter work is the feeling of investment by all the stakeholders. Brighten, for e.g., is a choice. We choose to be there and we want for it to succeed as do the teachers, administration and board members. And everyone there does what they can to make it successful by doing things like giving money, donating materials, volunteering in the classroom, etc.(The list of ways people contribute is endless.)

When the whole system becomes a charter system, it seems to me that there would be little choice involved. I think it has the potential to become disempowering. People (teachers, students, families, etc.) need to have a sense of ownership/investment for it to work.

Perhaps I don't have a handle on what a system- wide charter model really looks like. Regardless of whether a school is a charter or not, I do think schools and teachers need more flexibility and less emphasis on testing. As a community, we also need parents to be engaged in their children's education. And perhaps the schools need to engage the parents a little more.

[Mike]

Part of the advantage of a charter system is the tendency of charter schools to pick up students (and parents) who want to acheive. Since the system will have some who have no intention of acheiving, and are only in school because law mandates it, seems a system wide charter would be counterproductive. Seems like if Douglas County became a charter system, the slackers, who are required by law to attend, and required by law and rules to attend in their residence county, would be attending these chartered schools and drag down the system, just like they do now. The end result would be reducing the level of education which would be otherwise available in a charter school.

Am I misunderstanding something?

[FAT BABY farT]

Mike wrote:

Part of the advantage of a charter system is the tendency of charter schools to pick up students (and parents) who want to acheive. Since the system will have some who have no intention of acheiving, and are only in school because law mandates it, seems a system wide charter would be counterproductive. Seems like if Douglas County became a charter system, the slackers, who are required by law to attend, and required by law and rules to attend in their residence county, would be attending these chartered schools and drag down the system, just like they do now. The end result would be reducing the level of education which would be otherwise available in a charter school.
Am I misunderstanding something?

I HAVE never seen anyone in douglasville who even WANTEd to achieve anything other than a 12 pack and a bag of weed

[Kelly Cadman]

Charter is about parental choice in public education, so I think you've got a great point 'Another Brighten Parent.'

Mike, I think in any school (charters included) you're going to have unmotivated kids that you'll have to continue to try to motivate. A true charter environment does have the benefit of stronger parental participation in the educational process (because it's often required as part of the charter), so unmotivated kids usually turn around with the school and parent on them to improve. I don't know if system charters will be able to require parental involvement and thus, increase student achievement on that front - what would be their recourse if parents weren't involved? Just not sure. Anyone have thoughts or know? I do understand the point you've made though.

[Kelly Cadman]

Another Brighten Parent wrote:

I do think schools and teachers need more flexibility and less emphasis on testing. As a community, we also need parents to be engaged in their children's education. And perhaps the schools need to engage the parents a little more.

AMEN!:)