Charter schools are independent public schools that have the freedom to provide education programs and services beyond the conventional curriculum of traditional public schools. Traditional public schools have a specific curriculum to follow, while charter schools are not bound to any and can design a unique set of programs and services exclusive to the school. Charter schools can focus on delivering high quality educational programs based on unique missions. One of the best things of charter school is its ability to offer a different kind of approach to education over the regular public schools.
It is probably fair to say that innovation is conspicuous by its absence in traditional public schools. However, charter schools on the other hand are frequently improving and enhancing their educational programs to make it more diverse and practical. Because of this unique flexibility, charter schools transform education in different states all over the country.
As we know, teachers are a school’s greatest asset and potentially its greatest liability. Charter schools have the freedom to hire and fire teachers that do not meet the standards. Public schools on the other hand, are often burdened with tenured yet incompetent teachers. Imagine if you were obliged to keep an inept heart surgeon on staff! The ability to retain or part ways with teachers based upon performance is one of the greatest advantages of charter schools compared to traditional public schools.
Charter schools aren’t also tied with the bureaucracy that traditional schools have. are not obliged to follow the regulations covering regular public schools, so they can run the school in a businesslike manner hence minimizing the problems that come with traditional public school bureaucracies. This affords charters schools to have more creativity when it comes to taking control over school operations, increasing likelihood of innovation and efficiency in the process.
Despite all the freedom, public charter schools are accountable. Charter schools must abide by the tenets outlined in their charter contract between the school and the chartering authority, which states projected student achievement outcomes as well as penalties for failing to make these gains. If a charter school fails to uphold what’s in the contract, the parents can either “vote with their feet” or the school loses its charter altogether.
Charter schools are not private schools, they do not have tuition and are not sectarian schools. Most likely, an excellent charter school will have a long queue of interested applicants. Many parents are highly dissatisfied with their local public school and often have no alternative unless a charter school is available. Charter schools offering an excellent, free education are in high demand throughout the country.
Charter schools greatly help in improving education and achievement for millions of students in the US. In fact, you can many success stories of increased student achievement. Statistics show that charter schools have a positive outcome for academic achievement. As more and more charter schools become available to the public, improving education becomes more achievable.
Get advise on opening a charter school from an experienced school consulting firm.