Charter School vs Public School Education - Essay Example

Charter School vs. Public School Education Charter schools differ from public schools in that they are formed by members of the community. They are controlled and held accountable by educators and parents. This practice theoretically leads to a superior learning environment. Studies have shown this is largely the case although it must be taken into account that charter schools are a relatively new concept therefore the evidence should be considered somewhat less than conclusive. Before becoming operational, charter schools must formerly agree to abide by the academic standards set by the state which is usually monitored by the closest school district. If they do not meet those standards, the school will be forced to close by the state. The charter school must also meet the requirements set forth in the charter [contract] made between the educators and those in the community that authorized the school or be forced to close (Brewer & Wohlstetter, 2005). Charter schools can be either built from the ground up or within a converted public school. Parents and teachers enjoy much more control over the varieties of education offered in a charter school because it is they who authorize how the funds are allocated. The school’s charter outlines the method by which the school will be governed as well as the level of performance students are expected to achieve within a given period of time. The charter’s duration is generally for three to five years after which its performance is evaluated by the group that authorized it. If those performance goals are met, the charter is renewed as are efforts for funding. The ‘theory of action’ upon which charter schools are founded is the concept that school accountability leads to a better education for students. The theory proposes that “if schools are empowered to make their own decisions through school site autonomy and deregulation and they are schools of choice that must attract educators to work in them and families to attend, then the schools will work to innovate, to improve teaching and learning and the result will be increased parent satisfaction and improved student achievement” (Brewer & Wohlstetter, 2005). A comprehensive study conducted by Harvard University compared fourth grade charter school students’ math and reading skills to that of the closest public school. Nationally, the charter school students averaged a five percent higher reading proficiency and three percent higher in mathematics (Hoxby, 2004). A study conducted of charter schools in Philadelphia demonstrated that this approach was effective. School attendance was higher and more students passed their classes in the charter schools (Hoxby, 2004). These charter schools were contained within the same buildings as the public schools thereby giving the comparisons greater accessibility, accuracy and therefore credibility. 71 percent of charter high school aged students passed English class compared to 62 percent of public school students. 65 percent of charter students passed their math class compared to 60 percent of public school students. “Charter schools clearly offer important lessons for school reformers and policymakers” (Sautter, 2004). In New York City, eighth grade charter school students have a higher likelihood to be reading and writing at an appropriate grade level than are eighth grade public school students according to tests performed for a New York Times analysis (Finder, 2003). 50 percent of middle school students enrolled in the six city charter schools performed at or above their grade level as measured by the state’s English exam. By contrast, less than a third of similar aged public school students performed at grade level. Positive results in charter schools resulted in a boost of one and a half percent attendance rate in 2003 while enrollment in New York’s public schools declined by close to three percent the same year. New York City charter school fourth grade students performed at about the same level in reading comprehension as public school students of the same grade level. Both gained significantly as compared to the previous year. 60 percent of public school fourth graders read at grade level in 2003 which was a 10 percent increase over 2002 (Finder, 2003). Fourth graders in charter schools also gained significantly from the previous year. “The number reading and writing at grade level improved this year by 13.8 percentage points” (Finder, 2003). In terms of overall performance, fourth graders in New York City’s 16 elementary charter schools performed at only somewhat higher levels than their counterparts in the city’s public schools. Performance levels begin to favor the charter school students as the groups progress from fourth to eighth grade. The charter school study completed for the Times produced similar results as the study conducted by the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence (Finder, 2003). According to this study, a higher percentage of fourth grade and eighth grade students performed at their respective grade levels than did fourth or eighth grade students in the nearby public schools. It is suggested by the studies that charter schools have better performance outcomes because they have greater flexibility to change strategies of teaching such as allowing for more instruction time or by extending school hours. In addition, parents’ higher level of input in the daily curriculum and choice of instructors are seen to have a beneficial effect. “Among the reasons for the strong performance of charter school students are the schools’ flexibility on scheduling and instruction, their ability to hire and fire staff based on performance and a relentless focus on student outcomes” (Finder, 2003). Studies in Philadelphia examined charter school students that attended public school classrooms finding similar results (Brewer & Wohlstetter, 2005). A comprehensive study in California discovered that, on average, charter schools based in public school classrooms outperformed conventional public schools. However, charter schools based outside of traditional classrooms do not perform as well as public schools. Another study released a few years later found that California’s charter schools “significantly outperformed regular public schools” and that an appreciably larger number of charter schools attained their performance goals as compared to public schools” (Brewer & Wohlstetter, 2005). The consensus researchers have reached is that students received a better quality education when parents, educators and the students themselves are involved in decisions involving the educational process. A consensus of studies indicates that, for this reason, charter schools consistently out-perform the conventional public schools. Charter schools have steadily increased in number and varieties of educational experiences offered. The method through which charter schools are formed, which brings members of the community together in a single effort, gives them the potential to create better students and better communities. Works Cited Brewer, D & Wohlstetter, P. “Charter Schools Come of Age.” USC Urban Ed. Los Angeles, CA: Rossier School of Education, (Fall/Winter 2005). November 24, 2006 Finder, Alan. “Charter School 8th Graders Outdo City Public School Pupils, Data Shows.” New York Times. (May 27, 2005). November 24, 2006 Hoxby, Caroline M. A Straightforward Comparison of Charter Schools and Regular Public Schools in the United States. (September 2004). Harvard University and the National Bureau of Economic Research. November 24, 2006 Sautter, R. Craig. “Charter Schools: A New Breed of Public Schools.” School of New Learning, De Paul University; North Central Regional Educational Laboratory Naperville, Illinois, (2004). November 24, 2006 Letter to the Editor: In an effort to upgrade the educational system of the U.S. which consistently lags behind other developed countries, the implementation of charter schools is a sensible step in the right direction. Studies conducted across the nation such as in New York, Philadelphia and California show that students enrolled in charter schools perform at higher levels and attend classes at higher rates than do public school students. Charter schools are not private schools. They must adhere to the same academic standards as do public schools. Furthermore, they must attain the goals set by the founders of the school which includes both parents and educators. They have incentive to maintain these standards because they will not continue to operate otherwise. Charter schools have proven to be more successful than public schools because of the strength of community involvement. When those who are the most interested in creating a better learning environment are involved in the decision making, students are the beneficiary. Read More