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
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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.