Charter Schools and School Finance

By: Jennifer HolmanApril 11, 2011

EDAD 684: School Finance and Ethics

What is a Charter School?

Publicly Funded

Nonreligious

No Tuition

Autonomy for Accountability

References #6 and 8

What do the advocates say? “Laboratories of Innovation”

Healthy competition

Best fit for students

Quality education

Community involvement

Alternatives for low income familiesReferences #6, 7, and 8

What do the opponents say?

Take away resources

Require long hours

Pull in the strongest studentsReference #6

How long have Charter Schools been around?

Reference #8

How strong are the Charter School laws and populations?

References #9 and 10

What do Charter Schools look like in South Carolina?

Districts with Charter Schools: 14

Number of Charter Schools: 44

Number of students enrolled: 12, 570

Traditional school setting and virtual schools

No capReferences #1 and 2

What are some of the missions of the Charter Schools in South Carolina?

Aiken Performing Arts Academy

Carolina School for Inquiry

Children’s Attention Home

Legacy Charter School

Youth Academy Charter SchoolReference #2

What are EMOs?

Education Management Organizations

Sometimes the solution

For-profit companiesReference #5

Why use an EMOs?

Expertise and systems

Economics of scale

Capital

Incentive and capacity to cultivate leaders

Incentive and capacity to sustain schools over time

Reference #5

What are Civil Entrepreneurs?

Build vibrant community institutions

Give and volunteer

Philanthropic strategy of a long term investment

Solve problems in their own community

Insist that community projects remain accountable and achieve results

Reference #3

Why use Civil Entrepreneurs?

Direct support

Create financing authority

Donate or lease property

Supply technical assistance

Donate services

Support ongoing professional developmentReference #1

What are CMOs?

Charter School Management Organizations

Non-profit

Private funding

Create high quality schools

Student achievement is the driving force for the organization

Reference #4

Reference #4

What can we learn from Charter Schools?

PARTNERSHIPS can change everything!› Organizational benefits

› Political benefits

› Financial benefits

› Enrich curriculums

› Broaden teaching expertise

› Help at-risk studentsReferences # 10 and 11

References:1) Charter Schools. (n.d.). Chapter 40. Retrieved April 10, 2011,

from http://ed.sc.gov

2) Charter Schools. (n.d.). South Carolina Charter Schools (Composite) 2010-2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://ed.sc.gov

3) Finn, C. E., & Manno, B. V. (1998). Support your local charter school. Policy Review 91, 18+. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A21161681)

4) Hall, K., & Lake, S. (2011). The $500 million question: Can charter management organizations deliver quality education at scale? Education Next, 11(1), 64-73. Retrieved from

Educator’s Reference Complete (A252635309)

References Continued:5) Hassel, B. C. (2003). Friendly competition: Sleek education management

firms are a vital component of the charter school movement, but innovation is more likely from visionaries who create unique, grassroots charters. Education Next, 3(1), 8+. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A94893895)

6) Hicks, R., Ohle, A., & Valant, J. (2008). A tale of two charter schools: Creating better and more responsible charter schools. Kennedy School Review, 8, 10-13. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A192590959)

7) Howell, W. G., & Martin R. W. (2009). Educating the public: how information affects Americans' support for school spending and charter schools. Education Next, 9(3), 40+. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A225449547)

8) Levy, T. (2010). Charter schools legislation and the element of race. The Western Journal of Black Studies, 34(1), 43+. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A220468031)

References Continued:9) Stoddard, C., & Corcoran S. P. (2008). Charter politics: Why some

places have more students in charter schools and others have fewer. Education Next, 8(2), 72+. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A177556509)

10) Toch, T. (2010). Reflections on the charter school movement. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(8), 70-71. Retrieved from Educator’s

Reference Complete (A227073348)

11) Wohlstetter, P., & Smith, J. (2006). Improving schools through partnerships: Learning from charter schools. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(6), 464. Retrieved from Educator’s Reference Complete (A142967361)