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charter schools

charter schools questions and answers

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Q: Charter schools?
What are charter schools? What advantages and disadvantages do they have vs. regular public schools?

A: A charter school is a school run by a private group that gets its funding from the local school district. The school district must approve its operation in order for it to get funding. The school district does not provide the charters with a building, they must provide their own, which can be a benefit to the school board in a growing area. Some charter schools are set up for a specific purpose like magnet schools. Public school students still must apply to attend much like a private school. Charter schools, therefore, may not have as many behavioral problems as a regular public school. Many charter schools have smaller classes than a normal public school, which can be a plus. They may focus on one area, like the arts, technology, special education, etc. Some people believe that charter schools are better than public schools. From what I have seen in comparing the state test scores, they are no better nor worse than the public schools. If you are interested in attending a charter school, you need to do your homework to see if its curriculum focus is right for you and what test scores it has earned for the past several years and compare that to your current public school.

Q: What organization or company opens charter schools in different states?
I am looking for organization that operates charter schools in different states. Any information would be helpfull.

A: K12, Inc. and Calvert (Connections Academy) http://www.k12.com http://www.connectionsacademy.com/ They are the curriculum providers and have different managing relations with school districts. A school district usually is the one to "open" the school and it has to be allowed by the state board of education.

Q: Are there any good charter schools in san antonio?
i want to become a dermatologist, and the charter schools must get you prepared for medical school.

A: See if this site helps? http://www.charterstexas.org/

Q: Do you think charter schools and / or school choice vouchers are good alternatives to public schools?
If public schools are "failing" do you think students in that school or district should have the choice to attend a private school (with state funding) or a charter school? (A charter school is part of the district, gets state funding, but is run by a non-profit or for-profit corporation)

A: yes, competition would force schools to improve. Good schools would get more students and more funding, while bad/failing schools would lose students and funding and eventually be closed. competition always provides better results than a noncompetitive monopoly (which the public school system currently has, considering that most American families can't afford to send their kids to private school while being taxed to death to pay for public school).

Q: What is the difference between charter schools and traditional homeschooling?
I'm interested in home schooling my children my oldest is 6years old. He attended kindergarten this year and I might pull him out to homeschool him. I don't know what is best right now. It's a big responsibility. His current school has a charter school. I don't know what that is or what my options are living in Modesto CA.

A: Hello! I home school in California too and there are a ton of resources here to help us, right on line: http://californiahomeschool.net/default.htm http://www.hsc.org/about/contact.php http://www.homeschool.com/ I used the last link when I got started. For a small fee they sent a video and a book talking about the benefits of homeschooling, the different methods (charter school, unschooling, etc.) and how kids can excel in social and academic areas and homeschool. As I understand it, the charter schools still are very involved with a curriculum that you need to follow and criteria that must be met and they treat you like a regular school child, you just do your lessons at home with a teacher assigned to help out. Many people I know do the unschooling method for little ones (where education is largely child driven - we study whatever they are interested in) and then sometimes switch to a charter school as the subjects get more difficult or they find their child needs more structure. We are using the holidays this year to introduce new lessons (planting for spring, cutting and pasting for holiday decorations, etc.) and I also use a lot of web sites with my kids - as programmers it's a natural for our family - and both of my kids (3 & 7 years old - the older is special needs) can read (thanks to starfall.com largely) and are starting math concepts (addition and subtraction, patterns, sorting) from sites we found on line. I have had so much success with this that I put together a tutorial for my local mother's club, which includes step by step how I got my kids comfortable on the computer and helped the develop their skills along with skill appropriate sites for examples - and literally 50 links to various fun and educational web sites that I have found. Here's the link: http://www.sonomamothersclub.org/kids_links.htm#online_games Peace!

Q: What is the difference between charter schools & private schools?
Which one has a more accelerated academic curriculum? Has any parents here sent their children to a charter and/or private school? Has anybody attended either one of those? Please, any experienced insights would be greatly appreciated. I am just thinking about which one would be the best educational path for my daughter.

A: Well, I'm pretty sure that the best educational path would be that to charter school. It would mean consistent immersion in an educational setting. However sending a child to a charter school would mean some deprivation from learning and growing in a typical home. It depends on what the parent thinks is best. It also somewhat depends on how a child best learns. (From reading, hearing, writing, seeing, etc. etc.)

Q: Is there enough money in Charter schools to provide for things such as books?
My son will be starting kindergarten in August. I am wondering if charter schools have enough money to provide books, supplies, etc. for the children in their programs. I have been told that they don't and I want to find out what people know. IF not how do I know before I chose a school for him to go to. Do they get less money/funds then do public schools?

A: I don't know the answers to your questions except that my daughter is in the first grade at a charter school..they have books. I think (but I'm not sure) they are funded the same as other public schools. The charter she goes to is great in my opinion. Her class only has 15 kids in it, compared to 25 in a regular public school. All children in this school are tested for talented and gifted program. I would suggest calling the school and ask them your questions so that you get an accurate answer.

Q: Are Charter Schools bad because they take money away from the public school system, insert religion in schools?
and break the back of the teachers union, the only good jobs left? Whats so good about them? Both candidates say they are for Charter Schools.

A: To put it nicely: charter schools are bad because they take away funding from the public schools without being held to anything close to the same standard of accountability. Maybe I heard it wrong, but I think the candidates were in favor of vouchers, not necessarily charter schools.

Q: What charter schools are available in Redlands, CA? If none, how can I start one?
We moved, and my son has been in two kindergarten classes and now one first grade class since August. We moved him from the best school I've ever seen to 'okay" schools in this area. The school district here is inefficient and his intra-district transfer was denied due to lack of space. This would mean four classes in a year's time. He's a bright kid and wants to learn, but if he's bouncing all over, his motivation will drop and school will be a challenge. I'm looking for a charter school, besides the one that's already out here and works mainly with homeschoolers, and am willing to start one, if I can get other parents to help me. I don't know where to start.

A: You know this is the Home schooling section don't you? It sounds like your child is a perfect candidate for Home schooling though, maybe start a co-op instead! Blessings

Q: How are Charter Schools different from regurlar schools?
do you get to choose what time you start i know at this 0ne charter school you get to choose to go from . 9-1 . 1-5. 5-9.

A: The biggest difference is in the difficulty of classes, but Charter or Magnet schools also offer courses that traditional schools do not. A charter school is an autonomous public school created by a group obtaining a written contract (the charter) from the state or local government to operate a school. Charter schools are funded with tax monies, mostly from a state’s education budget. The group applying for the charter must present its purpose and goals and a plan to accomplish them. The government then decides whether to grant the charter for a limited time. If the school is unable to meet its goals, the charter can be revoked. Charter schools are subject to the same No Child Left Behind testing standards as other schools and are expected to make “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) as projected by the state in which they are located. But most charter schools are funded at a lower per-student rate than the regular public schools and must raise additional funding from foundation grants, corporate donations and in-kind contributions from parents and the community. This includes such things as cleaning and maintenance.

Q: What do parents/students/teachers think of charter schools?
I teach in a charter school in Chicago. I would like to open this forum to anyone who sends/teaches/goes to a charter school. I've taught in regular public, Catholic, and charter schools. I find that charter school have a dynamic team who busts their butts each day. Any comments/questions are welcomed~

A: I'm a future teacher and as I have seen in the charter schools in Florida the schools have done fairly well. Overall, the parent/teacher relations were much better and the students seemed happier than in public schools. I think that can be related to the fact that here, charter schools do not fall under many state regulations. Standardized testing does not have to be the same as public schools, and so on. I find that teachers at charter schools seem more relaxed and much happier in these positions, because they aren't being forced into teaching certain things. Since they have more freedom, they work harder.

Q: Anyone know of any Cyber Charter schools in the Pennsylvania area?
Im 18 and i have an 8 month old daughter and im looking to start in a cyber charter school to finish my education.. with my fiance working and my 8 month old needing me here.. its hard to go to regular school..

A: Hey! I'm in PA and I do cyber school! I used to do k12 cyber school. But now I am in agora cyber school. It is the same as k12, like the same books and stuff, except it does not have all that extra work. It is great! Here's the links! I would recommend agora, though. It's not as hard! GOOD LUCK!! ~maddie

Q: How come Democrats always vote against school vouchers and charter schools when it would benefit Blacks?
Black children are overwhelmingly trapped in the worst performing schools. So why do Democrats always vote against school vouchers and charter schools when these things would help their most loyal voters, Blacks?

A: Because school vouchers are bad for teacher's unions, which is one of the biggest constituencies of the Democratic party.

Q: In Texas, do charter schools have to follow the TEKS and State guidelines for curriculum?
Do the teachers need to be certified by SBEC? They are not getting state monies, the particular school I am wondering about is funded by Bill Gates.

A: Most charter schools are considered public schools and must follow all state guidelines. I would be surprised if Bill Gates supplied ALL of the money needed to run the school. His foundation is generous, but not that generous. Private schools are not as regulated.

Q: google search applications for charter schools in brooklyn?
I would like to know how can a receive applications for charter schools in Brooklyn.

A: look here