Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - [Homestead] Education, whatever works, whatever format

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Tvoivozhd <tvoivozd AT infionline.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] Education, whatever works, whatever format
  • Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 07:24:48 -0700

Some studies reveal charters receive a couple thousand dollars more than public schools, some that they are less effective, this one that there are side benefits in stimulating change to all schools. All right by me, there should be no impediment to improving anything, especially if it affects all schools.

Think Tank Finds New York Charter Schools Have Succeeded as 'seeds of Change'
The Associated Press
Published: Sep 21, 2004

Advertisement


NEW YORK (AP) - Charter schools in New York state have succeeded in providing an alternative to traditional public schools and should receive more resources, according to a report released Tuesday.

The charter schools, publicly funded but run by private organizations, were studied by the Progressive Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

The institute, affiliated with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, had particularly high praise for the charter schools in New York City, the nation's largest public school system with 1.1 million pupils.

Democrats in the New York legislature along with the teachers' union had opposed the state law, which was passed in 1998. Today, there is no organized opposition to the state's 50 charter schools, most of which are in Buffalo, Rochester and New York City.

"Beyond improving student learning in individual schools, New York City charter schools act as 'seeds of change' for the entire school system in a variety of ways, some planned by school officials and some unexpected," the report said.

For example, the report said, charter school accountability requirements "push schools to analyze student achievement data to expose weaknesses in instruction and governance."

Even the decision this past year by the State University of New York to close a charter school in Harlem can be seen in a positive light because it sent a message that charter schools must meet high standards, the report said.

But the report found that in New York, as in many other states, charter schools receive less state funding than other public schools.

On average, New York City charter schools receive $8,452 per pupil annually - with no funding to pay for facilities - compared with a non-charter average of $9,057 per pupil, with facilities provided.

The sources of the disparity are complex, having to do with charter schools' ineligibility for state categorical funds and special education funds, the report said, citing a New York University study.

The report's authors recommended New York state "level the financial playing field" through legislative and regulatory changes that would allow charter schools to receive more funding.

---

On the Net:

Progressive Policy Institute: http://www.ppionline.org/.

AP-ES-09-21-04 0446EDT







  • [Homestead] Education, whatever works, whatever format, Tvoivozhd, 09/21/2004

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page