Posted on 08/27/2006 10:29:48 PM PDT by Jacob Kell
Edited on 08/27/2006 10:34:36 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
A federal study showing that fourth graders in charter schools score worse in reading and math than their public school counterparts should cause some soul-searching in Congress.
Too many lawmakers seem to believe that the only thing wrong with American education is the public school system, and that converting lagging schools to charter schools would cause them to magically improve.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Is a NY Times Alert the same as a barf alert?
Charter school students score lower in reading and math
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1688247/posts
Here's another similar thread that was posted 8/22/06.
Meaningless unless you know where the charter schools are located and the demographics.
We are looking into a charter school for next year that will be starting up in 2007. We are hoping to get in but there may be too many families applying. There's one established charter school not too far from us that has fantastic numbers as far as their students' achievement in reading and math.
As long as the National Assessment of Educational Progress test is fair, then the way to go is to publish the results in EACH school district and let the chips fall where they may.
I have seen several charter schools fail in Phoenix and several flourish. The difference between charter schools and public is that the public schools can't fail and therefore, won't go away when they don't do the job.
It would be interesting to see the public school scores for an area where charter schools are employed. Specifically, the public school scores compared to their scores after the charter schools went in.
I also believe that some charter schools have been taking on students who did not do well in the public schools. Perhaps they are working with the problem kids.
There is more to this than just a head-to-head comparison of charter to public schools. I am always suspicious of the simplistic use of statistics.
Another charter school thread.
Hard to say with the NY Times. They lying again? Who knows?
What do I think??? We obviously need more federal intervention and control. Locals just don't have a clue how to educate budding socialists.
A few thoughts:
1. If it was previously assumed that charter schools performed better, I'm sure the authors didn't see that as a reason to act against traditional public schools, so they can't very well yell for a rope now.
2. Since it's a "federal study" a certain amount of bias in favor of a government controlled "solution" is probably to be assumed.
3. Can we see the study? How do we know this isn't the only result out of ten in the study that favors govt. schools, and so the only one receiving any air time?
4. Since the public schools are doing so great, I assume we can tear up all their applications for more money.
If a school district takes federal money, then they have to dance to the Fed tune. Many, many school districts can't survive without Federal money without raising property taxes.
fourth graders in charter schools score worse in reading and math than their public school counterparts
I don't believe it for a moment.
By design I suspect. The number I've heard but haven't verify is that public shools on average receive about 8% of their funds from the feral gummint. That's not much, but apparently enough to make the locals toe the line. To the detriment of schooling generally, I submit.
I daresay I went to schools that didn't receive a dime of feral monies. This was of course a long time ago. Regardless, the federal leviathian has been usurping state and local constitutionally guaranteed authority almost since the beginning. One of the ways to pull that off is by confiscating taxes from our paychecks and spreading it around to agreeable parties. Those that would fill our future generations' heads with mush never sleep.
Wealthy school districts see little if any federal funds. Any school district that wants is free to go it alone.
It's not a great argument to go hat in hand to DC and then complain when the money comes with strings attached.
My daughter started Kindergarten at a charter school and she has learned a lot. She is now in 7th grade. I work at her school and may be able to help you with your questions.
The pro's of a charter school are a tight knit school community, a lot of parental involvement, a school willing to listen to your concerns, the staff will know you and your child, and having a choice in your child's education.
Some cons: More involvement is expected of the parents, younger and less experienced teachers in the beginning, less money, and fewer class and activity choices at the middle school level. There are quite a number of charter schools in Colorado. Look for one that you think will fit your children. Also, if you don't mind driving a little further, look at the charters in other districts. There are many out there, some good, some not so good. Since you're looking at a new charter school, they won't have a track record on testing. Find what programs they will be using. Research them. Ask questions specific to the curriculum and how it will fit your child. If he is ahead or behind how will they accomodate his needs. One other thing, any school that you would remotely consider sending your child to, get his name on the list now. Some use a lottery system and some do first come, first served.
bump
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