Alternative Education: A Look at Charter Schools

According to Wikipedia.com, Alternative Education describes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than traditional schools. As mentioned in the previous entry, this blog will provide research information on specific areas of Alternative Education. These include charter schools, home-based learning, alternative schools, and independent schools.This entry will specifically focus on Charter Schools

According to USCharterSchools.org, Chartering is a radical educational innovation that is moving states beyond reforming existing schools to creating something entirely new. Chartering allows schools to run independently of the traditional public school system and to tailor their programs to community needs.

Charter schools are accountable to their sponsor-- usually a state or local school board-- to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept of charter schools is that they exercise increased autonomy in return for this accountability.

This means that if the school is not producing the expected grades and meeting specific standards, the school could lose its charter.

The Intention of Most Charter Schools is to...
Provide opportunities for learning and access to quality education for all students
Allow parents and students choices within the public school system
Provide a system of accountability for results in public education
Implement new teaching practices and techniques
Give teachers another outlet for educating
Encourage community and parent involvement in public education

Why Choose Charter Schools?
Parents choose to send their children to charter schools for a number of reasons. These may include to desire have a smaller class size, a more strucured environment, or the interest to pursue a different educational philosophy. USCharterSchools.org also suggest that because of the smaller school population size, parents may associate this will more safety.

Overall Charter Schools work within the public school system by providing students a separate outlet other than the schools within one's own district. These schools are privately ran under charters and because of this, it creates a certain level of standards to be upheld in order for the school to maintain itself.

Information was provided by the official US Charter School site and Wikipedia.com