Charter Schools vs. Public Schools
A Critical Analysis

Options for Families

Diversity

Opportunities for Innovation

Competition

Fiscal Inefficiency

High Turnover of the Teachers

Control & Accountability

The given research paper is an attempt to evaluate the merits and demerits of charter schools and public schools in the pursuit of identifying the better schooling system. The document comprises of literature review which helps in identifying the degree of effectiveness of charter schools and also answers of criticisms that have been made on these schools so far. For a beginning teacher, it is important to establish an understanding of differences between charter schools and public schools. Furthermore, in order to be an effective educator, this understanding is of fundamental importance. The research sheds lights on factors diversity, competition, innovation, fiscal viability, control and authority.

Introduction

"Charter schools vs. public schools" is an old debate in the American education system. There are two separate schools of thoughts on the subject matter each advocating one…...

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References

Alburger, S. (2012), Charter Vs. Public, Retrieved 8 October, 2012 http://techtips.salon.com/charter-vs.-public-20693.html.

Betts, J. & Hill, P.T. (2006), Key issues in studying charter schools and achievement: a review and suggestions for national guidelines, National Charter School Research Project, Retrieved from  http://www.econ.ucsd.edu/~jbetts/Pub/A53%20NCSRP_AchievementWhitePaper2006_web.pdf 

Booker, K., Gilpatric, S., Gronbor, T. & Jansen, D. (2005). The effect of charter schools on traditional public school students in Texas: are children who stay behind left behind?, Retrieved from  http://ncspe.org/publications_files/OP104.pdf 

Chen, G.(2009), Charter vs. public schools: Which one is underperforming., Retrieved 8 October, 2012  http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/123

Charter Schools and Minorities
An Examination of the Effectiveness of the Charter School Concept to Date

The nation's public schools are struggling to meet the challenges presented by the No Child Left Behind mandates, and charter schools have been suggested as one approach that holds the promise of providing public schools with the tools they need to succeed. According to one authority, "The Charter School concept has the potential to utterly transform public education" (n.p.). Unfortunately, this potential has not been realized to any appreciable degree in many such charter schools to date (Schmerler, 2002). To this end, this paper will provide a review of the relevant and peer-reviewed literature to determine how well charter schools are actually serving and meeting the needs of urban students of color. A comparison of the performance of the charter schools with the performance of public schools in educating students of color will be followed by…...

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References

Anderson, L., Adelman, N, Finnigan, K., Cotton, L., Donnelly, M.B., & Price, T. (2002). A

decade of public charter schools: Evaluation of the public charter schools program:

2000 -- 2001 evaluation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.

Anderson, L., & Wohlstetter, P. (1994). What can U.S. charter schools learn from England's grant-maintained schools? Phi Delta Kappan, 75(6), 486.

Charter Schools
Case Study eview and Development of Questionnaire

There is in existence a plethora of research that has been conducted on the long-term effectiveness of charter schools. Much of the research shines negatively on charter schools and their ability in retaining students on a long-term basis. It appears that these alternatives to public education are, at best, average, however, their performance over the long-term decreases exponentially. This work will review the research that has been completed in relation to charter schools and synthesize the findings in the form of a questionnaire that can be used to gather information from parents, educators, administrators, and community members related to the charter school in Tennessee. This work will present the questions posed in this study and explain the rationale for the development of the specific questions. Finally this work will make provision of methodologies that are used in the research.

A number of possibilities exist…...

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References

National Academy of Science Report on best practices in reading instruction.

Bracey, G.W. (2005). Checking up on charters. Phi Delta Kappan, 86, 7, 554-555

Cooper, H., & Hedges, L.V. (1994). The handbook of research synthesis. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Snow, C.E., Burns, S.M., & Griffin, P. (Eds.). (1998). Preventing reading difficulties in young children. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

One of them is that these schools are not aimed at average children, but at specifically high risk children, who may either be disabled, or may be juvenile delinquents. This means that researchers would not be able to draw fair conclusions form their studies, because the performance levels of these children would be significantly lower than that of other children. (Apples to Apples: An Evaluation of Charter Schools Serving General Student Populations)
However, one method can be used to solve this problem, and this is that of using as a comparison base the test scores of students from a similar background from both the schools. Therefore, in a study conducted to measure the performance levels of students from both public as well as from charter schools, while taking similar populations of students for the study, it was found that, over a one year period form the time of the implementation…...

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References

Apples to Apples: An Evaluation of Charter Schools Serving General Student Populations.

Education Working Paper. No: 1.July, 2003. Retrieved From   Accessed 21 October, 2005http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/ewp_01.htm 

Charter school laws and partnerships, expanding opportunities and resources. April, 2004.

Retrieved From http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/51/12/5112.doc

ithout trying to single out Islamic schools, one can not ignore the madrassas many times are funded by Islamic fundamentalists who are exclusively promoting the narrow ahabist agenda ("Analysis: madrasas," 2010). A Minnesota Charter school is now at the center of a controversy that even has concerned the ACLU about its composition and intolerance. In addition, to make matters worse, issues of teacher accreditation have come up that threaten to compromise the excellence that have made charter schools the alternative choice for many parents ("Madrassa masquerading as," 2009).
In the opinion of this author, it is time to get back to the basics in terms of the charter school movement and return to the core of the H-B oodlawn model. hile a "hippie high" may not be acceptable to conservatives, they need to look at what may be lurking on the sidelines. hile today it might be Islamic fundamentalists, it…...

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Works Cited:

Analysis: madrasas. (2010). Retrieved from  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saudi/analyses 

Charter connection. (2009). Retrieved from  http://www.edreform.com/Issues/Charter_Connection 

H-b woodlawn. (2010). Retrieved from  http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/H -

B_Woodlawn

Aloe holds these conferences in two specific ways. The one is open to all teachers and students, though it is generally instigated by observing a specific need. In this fashion, she will observe a problem (such as a class in which the teacher is over-riding the interests and intelligence of the students, or a class in which the students are not inspired to pursue their self-directed work) and then determine if it is very limited in scope -- in which case she would confront a specific teacher -- or if it may be indicative of a larger problem. In that latter case, she announces a conference to be held at some upcoming time, and specifically invites those she feels need to attend. The conference then proceeds with her explaining what she has observed and her concern regarding it. The remainder of the conference consists of dialog among those who have…...

Charter Schools 2000: Fourth Year Report
This study makes the powerful assumption that the student/teacher ratio in a school correlates to the quality of education enjoyed by the students. Specifically, the lower the student/teacher ratio, the stronger the school is. The study finds the following data:

First, in 1998-99, most charter schools had a slightly lower teacher to student ratio than did all public schools in the 27 charter states (in 1997-98). The median student/teacher ratio for charter schools was 16.0 as compared to 17.2 for all public schools. (Fourth Year, 1)

The disparity between charter and all public schools in the median teacher to student teacher ratio was about two students per teacher at the primary, K-12, and "other" grade levels. The gap was less than one at the elementary, K-8, middle, middle-high, and high school levels. (ibid)

The most extreme disparity between the charter school and the all public school median…...

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Bibliography

"Fourth-Year Report: 2000." (January 2000) U.S. Government Website.

Retrieved 10 Jan 2005 at  http://www.ed.gov/pubs/charter4thyear/b3.html#4 

Harvard University. (2004) "Harvard University and National Bureau of Economic

Research: Achievement in Charter Schools and Regular Public Schools in The United States: December 2004. Charter Schools Website. Retrieved 10

This means the schools may not be so different from their public counterparts. The author suggest, for further research, a randomized comparison of charter and public school students in terms of standardized state test performance to provide better insight into the question of what is 'better,' overall, for students.
However, the researchers seem to be asking the wrong question: if small charter schools are specifically designed to address the needs of underserved students, why not conduct a less randomized, more specific study to see if identified at-risk or gifted students benefit more from charter schools than their counterparts in public schools? Charter schools, even if expanded, are unlikely to replace public institutions. They are a specific solution designed to address unique student needs and should be judged by specific criteria. It is not surprising that smaller schools with more individualized attention, and a need for teachers to prove their school's…...

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Reference

Greene, Jay P., Greg Foster, & Marcus Winters. (2003, July). Apples to apples:

An evaluation of charter schools serving general student populations. Center for Civic Innovation at the Manhattan Institute. Education Working Paper. Retrieved May 22, 2010 at  http://www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/ewp_01.pdf

leadership experience involving an ambitious goal.
I have committed a great deal of time and energy increasing parent involvement in the Title 1 school where I currently work. Located in a low-income community, the majority of the school's students and parents suffer from situational poverty. Many parents have a tendency to resist support interventions from the school because, despite socio-economic issues in the community, they wish to retain a feeling of independence and self-reliance.

Our goal focused on increasing parent involvement through experiential methods. We developed a parent resource center which houses computers and reference materials specifically for parents. Individuals and couples can use the center to search for employment. Typically, families are also able to access a variety of online resources that provide them with housing support, medical care, and basic family needs.

Our parent resource center also provides workshops and parenting classes. We focus on adolescent social-emotional development and high…...

Pro Bono esources
How Pro Bono resources can increase proficiency levels in D.C. Charter Schools

Pro-bona volunteer services are classified as the community's help and services provided by the professionals to civil society. According to hode (2008) lawyers are renowned for providing legal aid to the improvised communities. The model for pro-bona volunteers includes donations of financial and services in nature. The professionals dedicate their time, expertise, and resources to facilitate the community development. It is also noted that various large organizations encourage their employees to take part in the pro-bona services. The individual professionals from neighborhood also help the institutions and schools that are not capable of hiring their services on commercial basis.

The availability of the resources and service from various professionals as pro-bona volunteers for public charter schools in DC has also enabled to increase the proficiency of these schools. The professionals have provided required help to the public charter…...

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References:

Cummings, S., & Rhode, D. (2010). Managing Pro Bono: Doing Well by Doing Better. Fordham law review, 78, 10-05.

Duhart, W.L. (2007). A call to the village: retooling public schools. USA: Rowman & Littlefield Education.

Lowe, A., & Lin, M. (2006, October). Steadying the three-legged stool: Authorizers, charter schools, and education service providers. Retrieved from  http://www.qualitycharters.org/assets/files/images/stories/publications/Issue_Briefs/IssueBriefNo12_Three-Legged_Stool.pdf?q=images/stories/publications/Issue_Briefs/IssueBriefNo12_Three-Legged_Stool.pdf 

Raise DC. (2012). Developing a cradle-to-career partnership. Retrieved from Government of Washington D.C. website: DC - Partnership Summary FINAL.pdfhttp://dc.gov/DC/DME/Programs/Raise

Choice of Schooling
I think it is important to have a choice of schooling especially, as Bill Moyers points out, the nation lurches towards an oligarchy in which the country’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, while decisions are shaped and made by a small handful of powerful elites. If these people control everything, their agenda will very likely inform the type of schooling that is provided to young people. If parents do not want their children to be educated according to the agenda of the oligarchy, they should have the option of providing alternative schooling, such as homeschooling, charter schools, and so on.

I would personally favor homeschooling because I like to be in control of education myself, but having time for it can be difficult if you are already working full time, so charter schools would be another option. Finding a school that is safe where the…...

Data collection tools that will prove especially useful in the research will include online electronic database search features and both online and hardcopy items published as a matter of public record by the City of Richmond. Analysis of the data retrieved will take place on a qualitative basis, with specific policy features correlated to institutional changes based on past evidence as well as ongoing scholarship and hypotheses.
Methodological Literature

ryamn, A.; ell, E. & Teevan, J. (2009). Social research methods. New York: Oxford University Press.

Cohen, L.; Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education. New York: Routledge.

Yin, R. (2009). Case study research: design and methods.…...

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Bryamn, A.; Bell, E. & Teevan, J. (2009). Social research methods. New York: Oxford University Press.

Cohen, L.; Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education. New York: Routledge.

Yin, R. (2009). Case study research: design and methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

School Choice
Throughout the nation the American public has clamored for school change and reform. One of the alternatives that has moved to the forefront of the arena is the ability of parents to choose the public school that their children will attend without geographic boundaries and mandates.

Experts continue to debate whether or not school choice ability will force the hand of the public school system to make the desired changes. Some believe that parents having the ability to move their children to the school of their choice will force all schools to improve to compete, while others think it will harm the economically disadvantaged schools with little benefit to the then overcrowded wealthy schools. This paper presents a research proposal that addresses the question of school choice. This might include the choice to choose a different public school, choose to home school, and choose private school or another choice.

The paper…...

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References

CHESTER E. FINN, JR. & REBECCA L. GAU, New ways of education. Vol. no130, The Public Interest, 01-15-1998.

Gail Russell Chaddock, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor, Public schools enter a new world of competition., The Christian Science Monitor, 03-30-1999, pp FEATURES,.

Author not available, As home schooling rises, districts fail to meet needs., USA Today, 08-21-2002, pp 09A.

Author not available, What's so liberal about keeping children in dreadful schools?., The Washington Post, 02-23-2003, pp B08.

Schools in the 21st century are very different from the one-room schoolhouses that once dotted the American landscape. Today a single school can house thousands of students at various grade levels and many schools integrate the latest technologies into their curriculums. With this being understood, it will be interesting to see how school curriculum will change in the future. The purpose of this discussion is to examine how schools will change in the future as it pertains to technology. The discussion will also focus on the introduction of schools as social anchors, that are both moral and purposeful.
Schools of the future

Indeed technology will continue to play a large role in schools of the future. Educators will continue to incorporate technology into the curriculum. According to Caldwell and Hayward (1998) "schooling at the upper secondary level will become more complex and diverse, with multiple providers; combined with advances made possible by…...

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Bibliography

Briefing paper on Emerging Issues and Best Practices -- Introduction. Retrieved April 19, 2005 from;  http://www.arc.org/gripp/publicEducation/grippPublicEducPg06.html 

Florida Virtual School: The Future of Learning? A Forum Brief -- October 18, 2002. American Youth Policy Forum. Retrieved April 19, 2005 from;  http://www.aypf.org/forumbriefs/2002/fb101802.htm 

Caldwell, B.J., & Hayward, D.K. (1998). The Future of Schools: Lessons from the Reform of Public Education. London: Falmer Press.

Huskey, B.L., & Wiley, R. (1993, August). Using Public Education Campaigns to Build Community Partnerships. Corrections Today, 55, 154+.

The case snowballed and grew until the nation viewed Zelmanv Simmons-Harris as the test case to try the legal boundary between church and state. It was also looked to for the purpose of redefining the meaning and scope of public education in America.

Enacted by the Ohio legislature in 1995, the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program allows 4,000 low-income children to attend private religious and secular schools with up to $2,250 in public support (Vitteritti, 2002). Participating schools must cap their tuition at $2,500 a year; the state pays up to 90% of whatever the school charges, depending on family income (Vitteritti, 2002). Following a high-profile legal battle, the program was upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court in 1999, prompting opponents to take their case into federal court (Vitteritti, 2002). On the day before school was to open that year, federal district court judge Solomon Oliver struck down the program, ruling…...

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References

Text of U.S. Supreme Court decision: Zelman, superintendent of Public Instruction of Ohio, et al. v. Simmons-Harris et al. (Features). Journal of Church and State | Date: June 22, 2002 | More results for: Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris No. 00-1751 536 U.S. -- (2002) Argued February 20, 2002 Decided June 27, 2002

Vouchers on trail: will the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Zelman end the voucher debate? (Feature).(Statistical Data Included) Education Next | Date: June 22, 2002 | Author: Viteritti, Joseph P. | More results for: Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris

Zelman: the court gets it right. (Opinion).(school voucher case)

First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life | Date: January 1, 2003 | Author: Uhlmann, Michael M. | More results for: Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris

Persuasive Essay Topic Suggestions

Education

The benefits of early childhood education outweigh the costs.
Standardized testing is an effective measure of student achievement.
The role of technology in education should be expanded.
Charter schools should receive equal funding to public schools.
School choice should be expanded to include private schools.

Healthcare

Universal healthcare would improve the health of Americans.
Mental health should be treated with the same urgency as physical health.
Vaccination mandates are necessary to protect public health.
The Affordable Care Act should be repealed.
The government should regulate the cost of prescription drugs.

Environment

Climate change is an urgent threat that....