Foundations and Assessment of Education/Edition 1/Foundations Table of Contents/Chapter 6/6.2.2

Charter and Magnet Schools

Learning Targets The reader should be able to: 1. Understand exactly what charter and magnet schools are, as well as identify their differences and similarities. 2. Identify how advocates and opponents feel about these alternative schools. 3. Know the names of several charter and magnet schools located in Virginia.

A Brief History

Charter and magnet schools have been around for about thirty years. They offer choices to parents who are looking for something a bit different from public schools but who can't afford to send their children to expensive private schools.

Charter schools are defined as non-sectarian public schools that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools (WestEd, 2000). It is said that the term "charter" may have originated in the 1970's when a New England educator suggested that small groups of teachers be given contracts or charters by their local school boards to explore new approaches to teaching. The idea was then publicized and in 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass charter school laws. Today, charter schools exist in 39 states.

Magnet schools are defined as public schools that provide specialized curriculums and instructional approaches to attract students from a variety of neighborhoods (ECS, 2009). Magnet schools pride themselves on being racially diverse; they employ lottery systems, first-come-first-serve methods, and application processes to ensure that everyone has an equal chance. They aim to end minority group isolation.

Pro's and Con's of Chartering

There are many drawbacks and benefits to charter schools. Some of the benefits include:

1. They create choices for parents and students within the public school system (WestEd, 2000).

2. They provide a system of accountability for results in public education (...).

3. They encourage innovative teaching practices (...).

4. The competition provided by charter schools forces school districts to improve the performance of their schools in order to attract and retain students and dollars (Education Commission of the States, 2009).

5. Encourage community and parental involvement in public education (WestEd, 2000)

You may be asking yourself, what does this all mean? Well, because charter schools are still considered public schools, anyone can attend. They offer alternatives to parents and students who may be dissatisfied with their local public school systems. They are also an alternative to expensive private schools. The system of accountability means that these schools have to produce results that their students are learning and that the school is meeting academic standards set out in the charter agreement or risk closure. Most charters are granted for three to five years, if the school has shown positive results then the charters are usually renewed. Teachers are also granted a bit more freedom with regards to teaching practices. They do not have to adhere to such a strict curriculum, like many public schools do. This fact alone attracts many teachers to charter schools.

There are also many opponents to charter schools. They make many valid and interesting points.

1. Because charter schools operate as a business, as well as a learning institution, they are subject to market forces that may eventually force them to close, depriving students of a continuous education (ECS, 2009).

2. Charter schools sometimes segregate students along racial and class lines and fail to adequately serve students with disabilities or limited English proficiency (...).

3. They are bad schools (Maranto, 2007).

It is true that charter schools can be opened by organizations, corporations, or just some people with some money to spend. (They do have to adhere to the guidelines laid out in the charter contracts.) I can understand how this fact can lead people to believe that their child's educations will be based on whatever these businesses think the students should be learning. This problem can be solved by simple research. Before sending your child to a charter school be sure to check up on the school, teachers, and administrators to insure that the school really has your childs' education in mind. Also because the charters are not subject to the same rules and regulations as regular public schools, there can be instances of racial and social class segregation and discrimination. While this is highly unlikely, research should still be done to ensure there will be no discrimination. Some schools just fail, whether public or private, magnet or charter. Sometimes there is a lack of funding, lack of attendance, lack of staff, or just a lack of performance. The only reason it looks worse when charter schools fail is that they are forced to close, while regular public schools remain opened. This fact forces charter schools to try their best to produce positive results.

List of Charter Schools in Virginia [1]

Pro's and Con's of Magnets

Some benefits of magnet schools include:

1. They offer specialized programs that emphasize a consistent theme or method of teaching, they encourage student and teacher commitment (ECS, 2009).

2. They create alternatives for students who have specific interests or needs.

3. Because students who attend magnet schools are often from outside neighborhoods, they are introduced to new people and can form new relationships (ECS, 2009.

Magnet schools are also public schools. They offer specialized approaches for students who are somewhat advanced. Because magnets are sometimes specialized (arts, science, mathematics, etc.) they are chosen by students who have an interest in these things. Students and parents alike choose magnets because of the personalization of learning programs. They base their curriculums on students needs. Students that attend magnets are often from different neighborhoods around the school itself, this opens up new doors for these students. They meet new friends, teachers, and administrators who may have a significant impact on their lives. They wouldn't have met any of these people if they stayed in public school and only attended schools in their district.

Some oppositions to magnet schools are:

1. The admissions criteria for magnets are selective and sometimes students with poor grades or behavioral problems are not chosen to attend.

2. Low-income and ESL students are underrepresented (ECS 2009).

3. They draw scarce energy and resources away from improving neighborhood schools (ECS, 2009).

It is true that magnet schools do have criteria for selecting their students, usually it is the more advanced children that attend. A child who has had poor grades in the past or who has had repeated behavioral problems may not be selected. This can lead to those children who are not selected feeling left out. Also studies have shown that children from low-income and English as a second language families tend to be underrepresented in magnet schools (ECS, 2009) . Also, if all of these children are bussed out of their public school districts, it takes away from those public schools. If attendance is down for that public school then the school boards are less likely to give them extra funding and resources. They put more energy into the public schools that have a large student body, so the children at these under-funded public schools could possibly suffer.

List of Magnet Schools in Virginia [2]

Quiz

1. What is a charter school?

a. A school that you send children with severe behavioral problems to.

b. A school for incredibly gifted children.

c. A non-sectarian public school that operates without all of the rules and regulations of a traditional public school.

d. A school that prepares young children for the grueling tasks presented in college.

2. What is a magnet school?

a. A school where you learn all about magnets and what makes them so attractive.

b. A public school that provides a specialized curriculums and instructional approaches.

c. A schools that prepares children who plan on attending law school.

d. A non-sectarian public school that operates without all of the rules and regulations of a traditional public school.

3. Little Johnny is in third grade and he is a math whiz. He is far more advanced than the others in his class. He gets straight A's on every report card, and always finishes his assignments before any of the other students. Lately his teacher notices that he is restless and acting out. She knows that Johnny doesn't have any behavioral problems but thinks he is not receiving enough challenge from her assignments. What should little Johnny's teacher do?

a. Make him do the other students classwork when he finishes early.

b. Nothing, it is normal for children to be bored in class.

c. Recommend to his parents and the principal that he be considered for the local magnet school program.

d. Send him to the principals office.

4. If I, as a parent, was dissatisfied with my local public school system, what should I do?

a. Demand that you be allowed to sit in on your child's class and correct the teacher every time you think he/she is wrong.

b. Look into the option of charter and/or magnet schools on your area.

c. Noting, it isn't your fault if your child grows up without a proper education.

d.Take your child out of school and buy him/her a computer, they can learn everything from the internet.

References

Education Commission of the States (2007). Charter Schools. Retrieved February 1, 2009, from http://www.ecs.org/html/IssueSection.asp?issueid=20&s=Pros+%26+Cons.

Education Commission of the States (2007). Magnet/Specialized Schools. Retrieved February 2, 2009 from http://www.ecs.org/html/IssueSection.asp?issueid=80&s=Pros+%26+Cons.

Magnet Schools of America (2007). Retrieved February 5, 2009, from http://www.magnet.edu/modules/content/index.php?id=1

Maranto, r. (2007, March 5) Charter schools are the future. The Philadelphia Inquirer, p. B02.

Virginia Department of Education. n/d. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/OCP/charterschools.html.

Virginia Magnet Schools (2003-2009). Retrieved February 4, 2009, from http://www.publicschoolreview.com/state_magnets/stateid/VA.

WestEd (2000, August). Steps to Starting a Charter School [Online]. Available: http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/ta/steps.htm.

Quiz Answers

1.c

2.b

3.c

4.b

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