Jane Doee
ENG 106
May 26, 2009

Charter Schools Why charter schools? Public, Private, Magnet, and Charter schools all have one thing in common, that is a place where students can learn, jobs for educators, and a location with a purpose where parents feel safe to let their children go to learn and interact with others in the community. Charter schools have a unique way of teaching students. Charter schools are not only created to teach the basic reading, writing, and math, but, to bring originality and flexibility to advance student’s achievements. Charter schools are not nation wide as of yet because the population in the community does not know how beneficial they can be towards the community. Charter schools are privately run and publicly financed departments run by parents, educators, and companies. The state and federal tax dollars are based on enrollment, just like public schools are. There is no tuition to attend a charter school, and it is freely available to any student who wishes to enroll. Charter schools are legally obligated to state and federal academic standards. Charter schools can make a difference in the community by having an arranged schedule for students, parents, and educators to follow. Parents, who work during school hours and have no one to pick up their children from school, can have their children attend evening, or weekend classes to make up for lost time in school. Students who are struggling with their academics can take weekend, or summer school classes to enhance their learning abilities. With evening, weekend, and summer school classes, teachers can have more time to grade papers, create lesson plans, and receive more pay. Osborne says in his article that “These changes in charter schools are constructive for everyone”. (Osborne, D 2012). Ninety percent of people today chose public school for their children to attend than any other schools because public school is what parents can afford. Parents feel comfortable with their children attending public school because there is no fee, free breakfast and lunch for students, and a learning environment that will help children physically, mentally, and spiritually. The best way to learn communication skills is through the public school system. Public schools are run by the cities, the Board of Education. Charter schools are run independently by community leaders, colleges, parents, and teachers, but are regulated by the state or city depending on the district. Lazarin writes “Charter schools are most likely to comprise a significant portion of the market share in big cities like New York, Detroit, St. Louis, Washington D.C, and New Orleans”. ( Lazarin, M 2011). Charter schools will cost more money to build in a community because it is not owned by the state. The community (tax payers) has to put their money together to create charter schools. Public schools are own by the state, so their problem is not building a place for students to get a better education. The charter school outlook is hysterically different today compared to when the federal government first made an attempt into the field in 1994. In 1994 the federal government established charter school programs as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Charter school programs was settled at a time when only seven states had charter school laws on the books and sixty charter schools were in operation. Lazarin writes “Today, there are more than 5,000 charter schools in 40 states and the Districts of Columbia, and the long waiting list indicates that there is a demand for many more charters”. ( Lazarin, M 2011). In 1991-1992 the communities, state, and government had arguments for and against charter schools. The point of these arguments was to prevent creating charter schools in different community districts. According to Frankenburg “ This analysis of recent data finds that charter schools are more racially isolated than traditional public schooling virtually every state and large metropolitan are in the nation” (Frankenberg, E 2011). The people who are against charter schools are the political and federal government. According to Lazarin “The politicians who were against charter schools said charter schools are being racist to students so there would not be any more charter schools created and parents would have no choice but to allow their children to attend public school if they want their child to have an education”.( Lazarin, M 2011). People who are for charter schools are the people who are looking for change. Parents, students, teachers, and tax payers do not mind new change in their community by having charter schools part of it. Blazer says “Because there is such wide variation from state to state in charter schools mission, funding, student population, size, grade level coverage, and independence from regulations and teachers contracts, there may never be a single definitive study that determines better learning opportunities”.(Blazer, C 2010). Opening charter schools as change to the community can lead to more in the future. Charter schools approach to education is a change for students and teachers.

References
Blazer , C., & Miami-Dade County Public Schools, R. (2010). Research Comparing Charter Schools and Traditional Public Schools. Literature Review. Research Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Finn, J. E., Manno, B. V., & Vanourek, G. (2001). 7: THE CASE AGAINST CHARTER SCHOOLS: A TEN-COUNT INDICTMENT. In, Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education (pp. 151-168).Princeton University Press.

Frankenberg, E., Siegel-Hawley, G., & Wang, J. (2011). Choice without Equity: Charter School Segregation. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 19(1).

Lazarin, M., & Center for American, P. (2011). Federal Investment in Charter Schools: A Proposal for Reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Center For American Progress.

Osborne, D., & Progressive Policy, I. (2012). Improving Charter School Accountability: The Challenge of Closing Failing Schools. Progressive Policy Institute.