Are Charter Schools The Solution For America’s Academic Problems?

As shown by so many national and international statistics, American schools are not living up to their requirements in many cases. At stake here is the future of our nation and new, creative ideas need to be considered. Are Charter Schools the way to go?

Hi, I’m Steve Beaman and welcome to the Intellectual Path. We all hear the statistics, American student’s rate low in their academic performance compared to other countries. The causes behind this are plentiful and there’s certainly enough blame to go around. Parents too busy to be engaged in their children’s lives, schools overwhelmed with the mass of children, many of whom aren’t performing up to their grade level, administrators who deal with collective bargaining agreements they can’t afford, and governments all too often pandering to unions and special interests rather than the interest of the children.

Are Charter Schools one of the solutions? From the information I’ve read, I think so. Charter Schools aren’t familiar to most people and so this SBG Cast is designed to give you a primary understanding of these alternatives and help begin a civil dialogue that can move forward the issue facing our nation.

The basic concept of a charter school is that it’s a privately run, publically funded school. Charter Schools exist all over the country but some states, like Louisiana following Katrina, have broadly embraced this notion. The advantages of the Charter schools are numerous. They are excluded from many of the bureaucracies facing the traditional public school sector. For example, they are exempt from the collective bargaining of teachers unions so they have much greater flexibility in hiring and firing decisions. Further, they tend to have much smaller school sizes, and classroom sizes which generally correlate to better learning environments. And, as is the case with most private enterprises, they tend to be run more efficiently than their public counterparts. But, there is some dispute about results. The American Federation of Teachers for example published a report that concluded students did not improve test scores through the Charter Schools, but research by Caroline Hoaxby of the Hoover Institute concluded the opposite. I think here, common sense goes a long way. There is no PERFECT solution, and not all Charter Schools will be run better than their public counterparts. We can be sure of that.

But the Charter School system has received some very special attention by groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundations. These powerhouse foundations funded by the wealthiest Americans, have found that Charter Schools do represent a concept that is part of the solution to educating the nation’s children.

I find it interesting by the way that applying for a “charter” isn’t all that restrictive. Each state has its’ own requirements, but generally, a Charter can be applied for by anyone, or any enterprise. The operators must show the ability to meet the educational standards set forth in the charter, and meet the fiduciary standards over the money, but they can, and are being set up all over the country.

Tampa Schools

Children throughout Tampa wake up each Monday through Friday and head out to school, lunch and books in hand. While they may bemoan another day filled with reading, writing and arithmetic, they are receiving their education from one of the highest ranked school districts in the state.

Hillsborough County School District has a policy of offering a dynamic cross-section of schooling options because they understand that a “one size fits all” education doesn’t coalesce with their community. These include Walton Academy of the Performing Arts and two teen parent schools. Among the public schooling options are magnet and charter schools.

Magnet Schools

Magnet schools offer students a more exploratory education. Students must show a strong interest in the field of study of their chosen magnet school in order to be considered for enrollment. Even though magnet schools educate studies concentrated in a specific field, they are funded by the state and school district and must adhere to the performance standards just like traditional public schools. Most students of magnet schools go on to complete post-secondary education in their field of study. Magnet schools, listed with their field of study, in the New Tampa area include:

Cahoon Elementary, Animal Science

Dunbar Elementary, Math/Science/Technology

Lee Elementary, World Studies

Lincoln Elementary, International Studies/International Baccalaureate

Lockhart Elementary, Foreign Language & Global Studies; Visual/Performing/Communication Arts

Lomax Elementary, Math/Science/Technology

MacFarlane International Studies/International Baccalaureate

Muller Elementary, Environmental Studies; Visual/Performing/Communication Arts

Philip Shore Elementary, Visual/Performing/Communication Arts

Rampello Kindergarten through 8, Cultural Arts & Humanities

Charter Schools

While magnet schools offer highly concentrated curriculums, charter schools offer highly specialized teaching styles. Charter schools are owned and operated privately with subsidization through Hillsborough County School District and the State of Florida. They are just as accountable as traditional and magnet public schools through FCAT testing (more on this under “Standards”, below.) Charter schools often require parents to commit to a number of hours of volunteer work throughout the school year. They also require that parents understand their particular charter, or contract. Examples of charter school options include those that teach in Montessori style, Core Curriculum or Independent Study (distance learning.)

Any student that qualifies for public education in Hillsborough County may apply to attend a charter school, regardless of how far or close the student lives from the school.

Standards

The Sunshine State Standards, or SSS, are the uniform educational criteria for each grade level from Kindergarten through graduation. All public and most private schools in Florida have adopted these standards and teach material so that students will meet or exceed them. In 1998, the State of Florida began testing students based on the criteria to gauge the effectiveness of the SSS. A consortium of educators and instructional professionals from around the United States came up with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT.

Students are tested annually from third grade through eleventh. Reading and math tests are given each year. Writing is assessed in all grades except fifth and eleventh grades. Science knowledge is tested in fifth, eighth and tenth.

Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, students are required to successfully pass the tenth grade test to qualify for a regular high school diploma upon graduation. Students scoring less than a passing grade on any of the subjects tested are offered subsequent testing opportunities during their eleventh and twelfth grade years.

According to 2005 testing scores, Florida students scored at or above the national average in fourth grade reading, fourth and eighth grade writing, fourth grade science and fourth grade mathematics. All other grade levels and areas of study that were compared showed Floridian students were close to national averages and gaining ground.

Gorrie Elementary, located just a mile from the University of Tampa in West Tampa, scored highest of all elementary schools in fourth grade reading and mathematics among all Hillsborough schools tested in 2006. Roosevelt Elementary, located in the Palma Ceia area, scored highest for fourth grade writing skills of all Hillsborough County schools during 2006.

Terrace Community Middle School, a charter school located just south of New Tampa, scored highest among all eight graders tested in 2006 in Hillsborough County middle schools for math and science. Wilson Middle, located in the Davis Island community, scored highest among eighth graders in reading and writing.

Palma Ceia area’s Plant High School scored highest among all Hillsborough County tenth graders for math, reading and writing in 2006.

New Tampa schools showed remarkable staying power and above average scores for each of their six elementary, two middle and two high schools. Each school scored 300 or more in all subjects tested in 2006, for grades four, eight and ten.

Private Schools in Tampa

Some families in the New Tampa area prefer a religious or college preparatory private school for their children to receive their education. While the list of private education options is copious, below is a list of a few of the most prominent private schools in the area, as well as their particular specialty. Berkeley Preparatory School operates to create well-rounded, college bound students. They provide education from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The teachers and staff strive to educate students beyond reading, writing and arithmetic; they offer competitive sports and arts as well as numerous clubs and community service projects.

The Academy of Holy Names is one of the oldest private schools in the Tampa area, having been founded in 1881. Their pre-kindergarten through eighth grade offers excellence in education to both boys and girls. Ninth through twelfth grade classes are restricted to an all-female student body. The school’s teaching are based on the Catholic faith. Students are not required to be of the Catholic faith to attend, though nearly three-quarters are.

The Jesuit School is an all-boy school with a reputation for turning out high-achieving graduates. This school was founded 18 years after the Academy of Holy Names. Jesuit School education includes numerous missionary and community service opportunities for its students. Students are not required to be members of the Jesuit Church.

In 2002, a three-decade old school began unpacking boxes in their new, state of the art facility across from Tampa its former home at the University of Tampa. Tampa Preparatory School serves students and their family from sixth grade through twelfth. Tampa Prep doesn’t offer remedial classes, their program was designed to offer challenging coursework in core subjects as well as a wide diversity of other subjects – fine art, computer technology, music, dance, theater, golf, track, swimming, volleyball, soccer, baseball, basketball and wrestling.

Co-ed students at Tampa Catholic High School receive their education in the three R’s as well as the three purposes set forth by the Catholic faith – teaching the Message of God as revealed in Christ and through His Church; building Community through fellowship in the life of the Holy Spirit; and providing opportunities for Service to the community. After school, students continue their education by taking part in some of the nearly two dozen clubs and extra-curricular activities. Tampa Catholic’s philosophy is to educate the entire student- mind, body, and spirit.

Excelling Arizona Schools Named for 2004-2005 School Year

As with many school systems across the United States, Arizona Schools have several measurement and accountability programs in place to improve student scholastic achievement. One accountability program for the Arizona schools is the AZ LEARNS achievement program. AZ LEARNS holds all Arizona schools accountable for the performance of their students and teachers, measuring performance over several years versus a snapshot one-year measurement. The AZ LEARNS evaluation is based upon four established measurements already required by the Arizona schools. They are:

o AIMS Scores — Measures reading, language arts and mathematics for elementary schools; and reading, writing and mathematics for high schools.

o MAP — Measure of Academic Progress for schools, where students scores for AIMS and SATs are compared to the state average.

o Graduation/Dropout Rates — Used for the high schools.

o AYP — Adequate Yearly Progress measures student proficiency in the state’s academic standards of reading and mathematics over time.

The AZ LEARNS program for the Arizona schools categorizes schools on a graded scale as either:

o Failing to meet academic standards,

o Underperforming,

o Performing,

o Highly Performing, or

o Excelling.

The Arizona schools for the 2004-2005 school year that were named Excelling are (listed by district/charter and school):

Arizona schools’ Academy of Tucson, Inc. Academy of Tucson Middle School

Arizona schools’ Alhambra Elementary District Alhambra Traditional School

Arizona schools’ Allen-Cochran Enterprises, Inc. Center for Educational Excellence

Arizona schools’ Amphitheater Unified District Canyon Del Oro High School

Richard B. Wilson Jr. School

Winifred Harelson Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Arizona School for the Arts Arizona School for the Arts — both

elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ BASIS School, Inc. BASIS Tucson — both elementary &

high school

Arizona schools’ Basis School, Inc. — Scottsdale Basis Scottsdale

Arizona schools’ Benchmark School, Inc. Benchmark School

Arizona schools’ Benjamin Franklin Charter School Benjamin Franklin Charter School in

both Gilbert and Mesa

Arizona schools’ Bright Beginnings School, Inc. Bright Beginnings School #1

Arizona schools’ CASY Country Day School CASY Country Day School #1

Arizona schools’ Catalina Foothills Unified District Canyon View Elementary School

Catalina Foothills High School

Esperero Canyon Middle School

Manzanita School

Orange Grove Middle School

Sunrise Drive Elementary School

Ventana Vista Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Cave Creek Unified District Cactus Shadows High School/PSH

Desert Arroyo Middle School

Desert Sun Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Challenge School, Inc. Challenge Charter School

Arizona schools’ Chandler Unified District Anna Marie Jacobson Elementary

School

Basha Elementary

Basha High School

Chandler High School

Chandler Traditional Academy –

Liberty Campus

Hamilton High School

Jane D. Hull Elementary

John M. Andersen Elementary School

Robert and Danell Tarwater

Elementary

Sanborn Elementary School

Santan K-8

Shumway Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Crane Elementary District Ronald Reagan Fundamental School

Arizona schools’ D.W. Higgins Institute D.W. Higgins Institute

Arizona schools’ Daisy Education Corporation Sonoran Science Academy — both elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ Deer Valley Unified District Arrowhead Elementary School

Cooper Creek Elementary

Desert Sage Elementary School

Greenbrier Elementary School

Hillcrest Middle School

Legend Springs Elementary

Mountain Ridge High School

Sierra Verde Elementary

Arizona schools’ East Valley Academy East Valley Academy

Arizona schools’ Edu-Prize, Inc. Edu-Prize

Arizona schools’ Flagstaff Junior Academy Flagstaff Junior Academy

Arizona schools’ Flagstaff Unified District Charles W. Sechrist Elementary School

Flagstaff Middle School

Manuel DeMiguel Elementary School

Thomas M. Knoles Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Foothills Academy Foothills Academy — both elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ Fort Huachuca Accommodation District Colonel Smith Middle School

Arizona schools’ Fountain Hills Unified District McDowell Mountain Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Franklin Phonetic Primary School, Inc. Franklin Phonetic Primary School

Arizona schools’ Gilbert Unified District Ashland Elementary

Carol Rae Ranch Elementary

Desert Ridge High

Finley Farms Elementary

Gilbert High School

GPS Traditional Academy

Greenfield Junior High School

Highland High School

Highland Junior High School

Islands Elementary School

Patterson Elementary School

Playa del Rey Elementary School

Sonoma Ranch Elementary School

Spectrum Elementary

Technology and Leadership Academy

Towne Meadows Elementary School

Val Vista Lakes Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Glendale Union High School District Sunnyslope High School

Arizona schools’ Heritage Academy, Inc. Heritage Academy — both elementary

& high school

Arizona schools’ Hermosa Montessori Center Hermosa Montessori Charter

Arizona schools’ Horizon Community Learning Center, Inc. Horizon Community Learning Center

Arizona schools’ Humanities and Sciences Academy of the US, Inc. Humanities and Sciences High School

Arizona schools’ Ideabanc, Inc. AmeriSchools College Preparatory

Academy — Tucson

Arizona schools’ James Madison Preparatory School James Madison Preparatory School –

both elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ Joseph City Unified District Joseph City Junior/Senior High School

Arizona schools’ Keystone Montessori Charter School, Inc. Keystone Montessori Charter School

Arizona schools’ Khalsa Family Services Khalsa School

Arizona schools’ Khalsa Montessori Elementary Schools Khalsa Montessori Elementary School

– Phoenix

Arizona schools’ Kyrene Elementary District C. I. Waggoner School

Kyrene Akimel A-Al Middle School

Kyrene Altadena Middle School

Kyrene Aprende Middle School

Kyrene Centennial Middle School

Kyrene de la Colina School

Kyrene de la Esperanza School

Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary

School

Kyrene de la Mariposa School

Kyrene de la Mirada School

Kyrene de la Paloma School

Kyrene de la Sierra School

Kyrene de las Brisas School

Kyrene de las Manitas School

Kyrene de los Cerritos School

Kyrene del Cielo School

Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School

Kyrene Middle School

Kyrene Monte Vista School

Arizona schools’ Lifelong Learning Research Institute, Inc. Lifelong Learning Academy

Arizona schools’ Litchfield Elementary District Litchfield Elementary School

Palm Valley Elementary

Arizona schools’ Madison Elementary District Madison Heights School

Madison Meadows School

Madison Park School

Madison Richard Simis School

Arizona schools’ Marana Unified District Coyote Trail Elementary School

Quail Run Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Mary Ellen Halvorson Educational Foundation Tri-City Prep High School

Arizona schools’ Mesa Unified District Barbara Bush Elementary School

Entz Elementary School

Falcon Hill Elementary School

Franklin Elementary School

Franklin Northeast School

Franklin South

Franklin West Elementary

George Smith

Hale Elementary School

Hermosa Vista Elementary School

Ishikawa Elementary School

Las Sendas Elementary School

Mountain View High School

Poston Junior High School

Red Mountain High School

Sunridge Learning Center

Arizona schools’ Miami Unified District Las Lomas Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Mission Montessori Academy Mission Montessori Academy

Arizona schools’ Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff, Inc. Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff

– Campus

Arizona schools’ Montessori Schoolhouse of Tucson, Inc. Montessori Schoolhouse

Arizona schools’ Nogales Unified District Vasquez De Coronado Francisco

School

Arizona schools’ Northland Preparatory Academy Northland Preparatory Academy –

both elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ Palominas Elementary District Coronado Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Paradise Valley Unified District Boulder Creek Elementary School

Copper Canyon Elementary School

Desert Shadows Middle School

Desert Springs Elementary School

Desert Trails Elementary School

Grayhawk Elementary School

Horizon High School

Larkspur Elementary School

Liberty Elementary School

Mercury Mine Elementary School

Mountain Trail Middle School

North Ranch Elementary School

Pinnacle High School

Pinnacle Peak Elementary

Quail Run Elementary School

Sandpiper Elementary School

Sonoran Sky Elementary School

Sunrise Middle School

Arizona schools’ Peoria Unified School District Apache Elementary School

Canyon Elementary School

Centennial High School

Copperwood School

Ironwood High School

Oakwood Elementary School

Paseo Verde Elementary School

Sunrise Mountain High School

Arizona schools’ Prescott Unified District Abia Judd Elementary School
Pescott High School

Arizona schools’ Queen Creek Unified District Jack Barnes Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Scottsdale Unified District Anasazi Elementary

Arcadia High School

Aztec Elementary School

Chaparral High School

Cherokee Elementary School

Cheyenne Traditional Elementary

School

Cochise Elementary School

Cocopah Middle School

Copper Ridge Elementary School

Copper Ridge Middle School

Desert Canyon Elementary

Desert Canyon Middle School

Desert Mountain High School

Hopi Elementary School

Kiva Elementary School

Laguna Elementary School

Mountainside Middle School

Pima Elementary School

Saguaro High School

Sequoya Elementary School

Zuni Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Sedona-Oak Creek Joint Unified District Big Park Community School

Arizona schools’ Self Development Charter School Self Development Charter School

Arizona schools’ Show Low Unified District Linden Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Skyview School, Inc. Skyview School

Arizona schools’ Sonoita Elementary District Elgin Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Tanque Verde Unified District Agua Caliente School

Emily Gray Junior High School

Tanque Verde Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Tempe Elementary District Rover Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Tempe Preparatory Academy Tempe Preparatory Academy — both

elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ Tempe Union High School District Corona Del Sol High School

Desert Vista High School

Mountain Pointe High School

Arizona schools’ Tucson Unified District Fruchthendler Elementary School

Gale Elementary School

Ida Flood Dodge Traditional Middle

Magnet School

Miles-Exploratory Learning Center

Sabino High School

Sahuaro High School

University High School

Arizona schools’ Vail Unified District Cottonwood Elementary School

Desert Sky Middle School

Desert Willow Elementary School

Mesquite Elementary School

Arizona schools’ Valley Academy, Inc. Valley Academy

Arizona schools’ Veritas Preparatory Academy Veritas Preparatory Academy — both

elementary & high school

Arizona schools’ Washington Elementary District Abraham Lincoln Traditional School

Lookout Mountain School

Arizona schools’ West Gilbert Charter Elementary School, Inc. West Gilbert Charter Elementary

School

Arizona schools’ Young Elementary District Young Teaching High School

In addition to the Excelling schools, Arizona schools named 255 schools across the state as Highly Performing schools.