Jan Resseger: Eight Essential Facts About Charter Schools
The Charter Industry has led a sterling marketing campaign to persuade the public that they are public schools, that they are far better than “traditional” public schools, and that they are hotbeds of innovation.
None of this is true. They are privately managed schools. They receive public money but they are not public schools. Other than those that select their students, they do not get higher test scores than real public schools, and many are far worse. The only “innovation” that charters can claim is “no excuses” discipline, which looks like schools of a century ago.
Here are Jan’s facts you should know:
If you value the role of public schools—locally governed, publicly owned and operated—whose mission is to serve the needs and protect the rights of every child, you can be more supportive if you know the facts about charter schools. The public schools across the United States enroll 50 million students, 90 percent. Charter schools suck money out of state budgets and public school districts while they enroll only 6 percent of American students. We all need to be actively refuting the myths and calling politicians on their errors when they betray their ignorance about the problems posed by the privatization of public education.
Here are eight facts to keep in mind:
- While their promoters try to brand them as “public charter schools,” charter schools are a form of school privatization. Charter schools are private contractors whose expenses are paid with tax dollars. Their boards operate privately—very often without transparency.
- For-profit charter schools are permitted in only two states—Arizona and Wisconsin. In the 43 other states whose laws permit CONTINUE READING: Jan Resseger: Eight Essential Facts About Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog