Charter schools have been tried across the country for 20 years. They are no magic bullet. They are just an alternative way of organizing schools that runs the risk of reducing oversight, and especially local oversight, of the expenditure of public funds.
In 2009, Stanford University published the only comprehensive assessment of the performance of charter schools. The study, Multiple Choice: Charter School Performance in 16 States, encompassed more than 70 percent of the charter school students in the United States.
The study found that 37 percent of all charters had significantly worse academic outcomes than traditional public schools, and 46 percent, or nearly half, did no better than a traditional public school with similar demographics. In other words, there was an 83 percent chance that a randomly selected charter school would either do significantly worse or no better than a traditional public school.
The study did find that 17 percent of charter schools provided "superior educational opportunities," but this is also true of the best-run public schools. Quoting the Stanford report, "this study reveals in unmistakable terms that, in the aggregate, charter students are not faring as well as their TPS (traditional public school) counterparts. Further, tremendous variation in academic quality among charters is the norm, not the exception.
The problem of quality is the most pressing issue that charter schools and their supporters face." Why would we want to go there?
-- William Pennell, Pasco
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Fast Focus: Look beyond propaganda
Fast Focus: Look beyond propaganda
As we consider charter schools for our state we must ask ourselves what is the purpose of charter schools and take a hard look at research on charter schools.
If the purpose of charter schools is to increase the academic performance of our students, the broad research on the academic performance of charter schools compared to traditional public schools is mixed at best.
There is no agreement among researchers that charter schools outperform public schools.
Fast Focus: Meet the Lemmings
Fast Focus: Meet the Lemmings
Louie Lemming stopped to pluck a berry. "Hurry up, Louie!" cousin Larry shouted. "We are behind and we have to catch up."
"Where are we going?"
"Not sure, but hurry."
Fast Focus: Giving charters low grades
Fast Focus: Giving charters low grades
Washington voters have rejected charter schools three times for good reason.
In a 16-state study of 2,403 charter schools conducted by Stanford University, charter schools performed no better than typical public schools (credo.stanford.edu). Also, the researchers state, "failing charter schools often have powerful and persuasive supporters in their communities who feel strongly that shutting down this school does not serve the best interests of currently enrolled students."
Parents Across America (parentsacrossamerica.org) reports on problems with charter schools, including a lack of transparency and accountability, discriminatory policies and practices, enrolling fewer English language learners, discipline policies that are unduly punitive, low-performing students who are encouraged to leave and charging burdensome fees and penalties. It is reasonable to assume that not all charter schools display these problems, but they are all too common.
It's time to take a look at charter schools (again)
It's time to take a look at charter schools (again)
Washington voters have rejected charter schools three times but things are different now.
Today, we are one of only eight states that don't allow charter schools. It's not always a good idea to follow the herd, but when everyone else is on a different path, it's prudent to find out why.
In any case, there is an advantage to being one of the last to join the party. Other states already have broken ground, leaving a smooth path for those that follow.
New legislative session holds uncertainties for schools
New legislative session holds uncertainties for schools
State lawmakers start the year with a fresh demerit on their permanent records from the state Supreme Court, and with an assignment from the justices to fully fund schools.
That won't happen in these strapped budget times. But the court's decision Thursday that the Legislature has neglected basic education could shape the debate over where to cut the state spending that is outpacing revenue by nearly $1 billion.
The decision makes it less likely that lawmakers will shorten the school year. Gov. Chris Gregoire called for trimming four days and inviting voters to restore the full year by raising their sales taxes.
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