The state just passed the legislation last year that would allow municipalities to create their own charters starting with 3 towns in Mecklenburg as mentioned above. Cornelius, Matthews, and maybe Huntersville.
NCHSAA adopts more inclusive language for transgender, home school students
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I'm hoping as charters increase there is a distinction between for profit and non for profit charter schools when it comes to over site and future legislation. If the NCSHAA has been told to lay off charter schools that is something I have not heard until now. If true, this is unfortunate because they could advocate bylaws or amendments to address the admin numbers in schools due to charters. As far as the other political aspects of charters, as long as raw numbers show they succeed academically over the public alternative and the general public can attend. I have no rebuttal to that.
Good answer, btango.
Last year, I believe Thomasville had three students who attended the Davidson County charter school. But as they add grades, and if they provide transportation, we’ll lose more. The Point in High Point already runs buses into Thomasville and is expanding their facilities. It’s closer for most families in Thomasville and is more established.
Lexington, however, lost about ten percent of its students. They had to forecast the number who would leave, and missed their prediction badly. The system had to return almost a million dollars in funds because there were far more students attending the charter than anticipated. Adding a grade per year will likely increase the number.
Not sure of the exact dollars per student, but I think it’s a lot more than $1200. Based on what I’ve read, probably more like $5000 per student. I’ll verify the numbers this week.
I will always believe that not one penny of taxpayer dollars should go to for profit charters. As for non-profits, have at it. But with the removal of the cap, and now “virtual” charter schools that can take kids statewide, it is the resegregation, and eventual destruction of public schools. There is no level academic playing field, and therefore, no valid comparison between regular and charter public schools. They were intended to be a testing ground for academic innovation that regular public schools could benefit from. When’s the last time you heard of your local school being able to implement those “innovations”?
We need to get the legislators out of the education business and leave it to professionals.
I agree, if transportation is added and if a solution can be had on low income families receiving free and reduced lunch in charters the public school system is going to be in big trouble. This was the issue in Bertie county. Without those 2 programs it didn't seem it was ready to truly help low income families.
As far as innovations go, charters have shown that being a licensed teacher does not equate to better student results, which shocked many. On average charter school teachers are paid even less than regular public school teachers. Also with each charter school having it's own board it has shown to be more in touch with the communities they serve and how funds are appropriated to help tend to the needs of students in the community. I may be alone on this forum here, but those sound like pretty shocking revelations to me.
I'm not sure what you mean by professionals, but one could argue if the professionals had more success in the public schools, charters would have never existed. I personally love my public high schools and support them when I have the chance. At this point, you have to look at the reasons parents/kids enroll and stay at charter schools.My youngest son is a junior and attends a public high school. My oldest gratuated from early college this past year and will be a junior enrolled at ECU right out of early college with no where near the debt. If my kids were younger I too would have looked at charters as an option.
Public schools are going to have to compete unfortunately to stay open, the options are there for parents.
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An early college is usually ran by a traditional public school district in conjunction with a local community college. Students that attend an early college have to apply to go and have to usually meet certain academic, behavioral and attendance requirements. There is no lottery system like with a charter or the my dad works for company X. Company X helps fund charter school Y. Because of this and state legislation company X is allowed a certain percentage of enrollment. Students at an early college complete regular coursework required by the state on top of college coursework. They earn an associates degree on top of a high school diploma. The one's I am aware of are 5 year programs. Graduate transfer to a 4 year college and have a bachelors by 21 years old. It's a great way to go if a student can get accepted.
This is correct, the only thing I would add is that you are limited in what associate degree you can get. In my sons case it was either science or fine arts. This was fine because it was prerequisite to the degree he needs. He wants to be a sports radio broadcaster. He already works for the local sports radio station as a producer and a color commentator for the sports show that covers high school, college, and pro sports. He is on the payroll. He is living his dream at 19 years old and it was only possible through the early college and the avenues it provided him at an early age.
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With the cost of college tuition what it is today, the ec program sounds like a great benefit to those who attend
Still doesnt help our high school sports situation.lol. In my case, my oldest knew what he wanted early in life and I felt he would be committed. My youngest loves football so he chose the path best for him and it's worked out so far.
OC, I had seen a listing last year of what each school district paid per student from local monies but not including state and federal.
Shows Lexington, Thomasville, and Davidson County within $30 of one another.
200 charter schools now in NC from K-12.
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/charterschools/applications/20-21/local-appropriations.pdf
Shows Lexington, Thomasville, and Davidson County within $30 of one another.
200 charter schools now in NC from K-12.
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/charterschools/applications/20-21/local-appropriations.pdf
EC is a great savings for students and their families. It enables students to enter the workforce will much lass college debt. It does have one draw back. All N.C. supported colleges and universities must accept their credits, however private schools and out of state schools do not. It is up to their admin to decide and the majority only except AP classes.
One other problem I have seen arise a couple of times is that some of the EC classes do not prepare students at a proficiency level to be prepared to take higher level classes. The few instances I have seen are usually involving the medical and technology fields.
One other problem I have seen arise a couple of times is that some of the EC classes do not prepare students at a proficiency level to be prepared to take higher level classes. The few instances I have seen are usually involving the medical and technology fields.
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200 charter schools? Seems like their are more than enough charter schools now to have their own playoff bracket in all sports.
Not all have high school classes. Most are elementary. Just a few have football.
I think moving only the charters is short sighted. Need to look much more in-depth at the other “non traditional” and “traditional” 1A schools that do not have “normal” district borders or allow non district residents to play sports.
I completely respect the right of parents to explore all available options for their children’s education. The two issues I have involve taxpayer dollars, and the ways different schools’ success is measured.
When I say “professionals”, I mean educators. If you think about the genesis of charter schools, it largely occurred in the wake of “No Child Left Behind.” As well meaning as that was, the law began a series of missteps on the state and federal level that have had unintended consequences. Even the power struggle between the appointed and elected heads of education in North Carolina has been fraught with nasty partisan politics. The takeover of the state’s university system by partisan politicians has been the same.
I work a lot with state legislators, and while I like and have voted for several, they seem to all have one thing in common. From the day they get elected, they invariably seem to believe they have become experts in education and healthcare. And even when they know better, voting along party lines (on both sides) seems to be more important than doing what’s right. The major deciding factor seems to be money. If it makes a buck, it must be good.
I’d feel much better about the likely outcomes of public education if elected officials would bow out and let seasoned educators make decisions. Or, at the very least, listen to those educators when making decisions. As it is now, it’s all partisan and money driven. And I believe our kids are suffering for it. Certainly, parental involvement or lack of the same is also a major factor. But, until we measure the outcomes of charters versus traditional schools in the same way and allow them the same latitude, there can be no valid comparison of the results.
Well if we are following tax dollars, only 7.3% of total public school enrollment is charters. That's a pretty low amount of taxes compared to the nc education budget if we are talking capital per child. When you say educators do you mean the teachers union? That's about as partisan as partisan gets. I disagree with the genesis of charter schools. Charter schools came about because legislators with a "D" after their name wanted to stop the "R's" from allowing private school vouchers and the "D's" used charters as a way to block that. But that's beside the point, charters didn't see their BIG BOOM till the last presidential administration incorporated common core education. No, I'm not talking about the program where kids play with tinker toys and build robots. Im talking common core education where 2+2 doesnt equal 4 and public school teachers telling our kids we live in the 20th century instead of the 21st and negatively affecting their grade if the kids know the common sense correct answer. That my friends is when communities and elected officials started to move hard on advocating charters as an alternative. I experienced this common core education first hand within my own family and I can assure you there was outrage in many communities. That's when parents and the public started talking and options were looked at. I do agree, parental involvement is a major issue. I'm not talking about showing up and joining the PTA, I'm talking about holding behavior accountable and talking to kids about setting goals and parents lending/sending help for the child when needed. Also being active and getting involved in the community. This is a strong emphasis in charter schools from what I have observed. I'll give Tarboro charter as an example. I've seen those kids painting buildings downtown and at the local nursing home lending their time and hands to community projects. State legislation has no effect on Charter school outcomes. Its outcomes come from the Charter School board and the community it serves. If you want state politicians out of public schools then get your seasoned educators, start a charter board, apply for a charter application and make it happen. What you described above is exactly what a charter school is.
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There are charter schools that are very successful and there are others that fail. It really comes down to leadership which includes planning, budgeting, hiring, managing, educating, et al.
That same take can be said about public schools. They are successful ones and there are some that fail/failing. All of the qualities you listed to make charter schools successful are also needed to make public schools successful. It's a two way street.
I think that is any field. One difference I have seen in the charter school I am familiar with is that they seem to have the ability to remove a student much easier while the publics in the area do not have as much leeway or autonomy. Simply put the charters run by a different set of rules. It is somewhat like, "hey, we are a charter school, you play by our rules and meet our expectations or you can go back to your home district school."
I see what you are saying, in the end those topics and choices are now discussions that many NC families are having around kitchen tables.The hard reality is the future is now with charters and what public schools will look like in years to come. I dont agree with alot of it but I think it's more productive to look at the real reasons charter schools are popping up and stop living in denial using skewed demographics to support whatever side of the issue you are on. Not saying anyone here is doing that. I do like seeing what other opinions people have.