Many
parents may think that only private schools offer students more
individualized instruction. However, public education is changing. With
the increasing availability of charter schools, public students have
greater access to academic opportunities that may better suit their
individual learning needs and improve their educational success.
Parents seeking education options certainly should consider charter
schools, which could be the perfect fit for families as concerned with
a school’s educational philosophy as its accessibility and
affordability.
According to Imagine Schools, an
organization that establishes and operates charter schools nationwide
(four in Metro Atlanta), charter schools are “independently operated
public schools.” There is no tuition fee, and, like traditional public
schools, charter schools must meet the state curriculum, the Georgia
Performance Standards. However, charter schools can supplement this
curriculum with programs designed for their own students and
communities.
“Although we are ultimately accountable to Cobb County School Board,”
says Roxane Stevenson of the Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy,
“we also have our own board made up of parents and community members
elected by our parents. Concerns regarding education and finances along
with a host of other matters are communicated to the board at monthly
meetings. Since we are self managed, we determine how best to direct
the school within the guidelines of our charter.”
The schools operate according to an agreement or “charter” that has
been approved by the local and state boards of education. This charter
gives the school “flexibility to make local decisions,” says Christy
Tureta, principal of Marietta Charter School. The higher level of
accountability means that the schools are more accountable to parents.
“For example teachers and parents were concerned that the math series
we were using wasn’t meeting all the students’ needs,” says Tureta. “A
committee looked at all different programs and decided that Singapore
Math was a good fit for our students. Over the last two years we have
seen huge gains in our math scores in third, fourth, and fifth grade.”
Parents generally pledge to be highly involved with the school. For
example, parents at Marietta Charter School are encouraged to volunteer
for at least 20 hours each school year. At the Neighborhood Charter
School in Grant Park during 2008-2009, families spent more than 9,330
hours volunteering.
“I think because of this commitment we get families that are more
vested in their child’s education, resulting in more educational follow
through in the home and success academically,” says Stevenson, whose
Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy, also requires families to
complete 20 volunteer hours per school year to insure their child’s
spot for the next year.
There are different types of charter schools, including start-up
charter schools, or schools that did not exist prior to an approved
charter, and conversion charter schools, or existing public schools
that become charter schools. Typically, start-up charter schools are
the result of parents looking to bring innovation and change to public
education. By either going through an organization like Imagine Schools
or creating a petition and getting it approved by local and state
boards of education (it took the Neighborhood Charter School about five
years to complete the process), parents in a community typically
envision and direct these start-up charter schools.
Although charter schools do not have admission requirements (students
need only live in the allowable area to attend), they do have an
educational focus or philosophy, which is a benefit, according to Jill
Kaechele, principal and executive director of the Neighborhood Charter
School. By looking at a school’s philosophy, parents can get a good
idea of the cally designed to facilitate the innovative Project CHILD
learning method, where students have the same three teachers for three
consecutive years, so teachers really get to know students and their
learning styles. Imagine Wesley International Academy, another Imagine
School in Atlanta, follows the International Baccalaureate program in a
single-gender setting. Essentially, charter schools provide parents
with greater choice in public education. “There are as many different
charter schools as there are charter school philosophies,” says
Kaechele. “Each charter has a different approach to teaching and
learning.” However, Kaechele says that all charter schools are
student-centered.
In general, charter schools have a “small school and family
environment,” explains Tureta. “Presently, we have 232 students
enrolled for next year.” Class sizes are smaller and learning plans are
individualized, which is typical of charter schools. The Neighborhood
Charter School boasts small classes, too, with only 15 students in each
kindergarten class and 20 in grades one through five, with two teachers
in each classroom.
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“Many
of our staff know student names and educational setting a charter
school provides before enrolling their children. The Neighborhood
Charter School is centered around four main themes: constructivist
education, family involvement, community and diversity, and educational
partnerships with organizations, including Zoo Atlanta and Hands on
Atlanta, which provide the school with additional resources and
opportunities for learning. Marietta Charter School, an Imagine School,
was specifically designed to facilitate the innovative Project CHILD
learning method, where students have the same three teachers for three
consecutive years, so teachers really get to know students and their
learning styles. Imagine Wesley International Academy, another Imagine
School in Atlanta, follows the International Baccalaureate program in a
single-gender setting. Essentially, charter schools provide parents
with greater choice in public education. “There are as many different
charter schools as there are charter school philosophies,” says
Kaechele. “Each charter has a different approach to teaching and
learning.” However, Kaechele says that all charter schools are
student-centered. In general, charter schools have a “small school and
family environment,” explains Tureta. “Presently, we have 232 students
enrolled for next year.” Class sizes are smaller and learning plans are
individualized, which is typical of charter schools. The Neighborhood
Charter School boasts small classes, too, with only 15 students in each
kindergarten class and 20 in grades one through five, with two teachers
in each classroom. “Many of our staff know student names and
personalities well beyond their own classrooms with such manageable
numbers,” reports Stevenson. “This ensures more personal
responsibility/accountability for their actions.”
Another difference between traditional public schools and charter
schools is that when a charter school reaches capacity, no additional
students are admitted, and thus, class sizes remain smaller. Many
charter schools have an admissions lottery when space is scarce.
A great way to find area charter schools is to contact local school
systems. Organizations that operate several charter schools (e.g.,
Imagine) can be a good resource as well. Many charter schools are also
members of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. But be sure to look
into charter education. Offering greater choice in public education, a
charter school could be the right learning environment for your child.
