ERIC ED370227: Charter Schools Update. Policy Briefs. Report 2.

13 Pages·1994·0.35 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
EA 025 863
ED 370 227
Charter Schools Update. Policy Briefs. Report 2.
TITLE
North Central Regional Educational Lab., Oak Brook,
INSTITUTION
IL.
Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED),
SPONS AGENCY
Washington, DC.
94
PUB DATE
RP91002007
CONTRACT
NOTE
13p.
North Central Regional Educational Lab., 1900 Spring
AVAILABLE FROM
Road, Suite 300, Oak Brook, IL 60521-1480.
Reports - Evaluative/Feasibility (142)
PUB TYPE
MFOI/PC01 Plus PoslIge.
EDRS PRICE
Educational Vouchex4 Elementary Secondary Education;
DESCRIPTORS
Nontraditional Education; Parent Attitudes; *School
Restructuring; *State Action; *State Legislation;
Student Attitudes
*Charter Schools
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This policy brief presents updated information on
ch:rter schools, particularly on developments in the North Central
Rcgional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) region. Contents include a
,etter from Toivola-Meadowlands Charter School students and
interviews with two parents from the Toivola-Meadowlands, Minnesota,
Charter Schools. The parents report that the implementation process
is strenuous, but is offset by a decrease in bureaucracy, increased
teaching.
parent and student involvement, and more innovations in
Proposed and recent legislation regarding charter schools is
described for the following states: Illinois, Michigan, California,
Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. (LMI)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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Educational Laboratory
A Publication of the North Central Regional
Charter Schools Update
Policy Briefs
Editor's Note: NCREL's special issue of Policy Briefs on "Charter
are reports on
Report 2,
Schools: A New Breed of Public Schools" (Special Policy
United States
the status of
1993), has been distributed widely throughout the
developed
since its publication in August. This Policy Update was
current issues
further information on the
to respond to numerous requests for
in education
Charter
topic and to follow up on recent developments concerning
from a national
Schools, particularly in the NCREL region. It cannot possibly
perspective,
information
be as inclusive as the original report, but provides
descriptions of
published.
that was not available when the original report was
reflect
actions and
The opinions expressed in this update do not necessarily
hope
the views of the NGREL staff or board of directors. We
agendas in the
useful.
you find the information
NCREL region,
commentaries
by experts from
Other Points of View on Charter Schools
We received letters from Senators David Durenberger (R-MN)
their particular
and Paul David Wellstone (DFL-MN) requesting that we publish
point of view,
the views of students and parents from the Toivola-Meadowlands,
Minnesota, Charter Schools. The students wrote a "Letter to the
and resources
Editor" in response to the original report on Charter Schools,
and we interviewed for this update two parents who have been
for further
14)
involved in the school.
information.
.k
2
These options make the school run
Unedited Letter to the Editor from
more smoothly and efficiently. As a
Toivola-Meadowlands Charter
matter of fact, TMCS recently elected a
School Students
new board of directors on October 27,
1993. We had an excellent turn out of
November 5, 1993
65% of all parents/guardians and staff
Dear Editor,
members of the voting membership.
We, the students of Toivola-Meadowlands
Many people do not understand charters,
Charter School, would like to respond to
and it's hard to explain how one works
the interview given by Daniel Mobilia
without inviting a person to see one in
concerning our school. Mr. Mobilia was
operation. Charters allow students to
not updated on the events occurring
be creative and to have more responsi-
within TMCS at the time of the interview,
bility in their education. Students here
and we would like to take this opportu-
have the chance to explore interests in
nity to make some corrections. It is
a style that makes it very educational
true that Charter Schools are exempted
and fun. Charters also give the students
from some requirements to allow them
actual experiences of dealing with the
to be innovative, but the examples given
business world. Right now we have stu-
in that article are not true. Mr. Mobilia
dents who have started their own busi-
stated that charters are exempt from
nesses within the school, such as piano
hiring certified teachers. That is not
lessons and wood crafts. By starting
the case in Minnesota. The Minnesota
their own business the students learn a
law requires charters to have certified
number of things. Communication skills,
teachers, and that includes the Toivola-
organization, problem solving, budgeting,
Meadowlands Charter. Also expressed
and responsibility are just a few. Other
in the interview was the exemption of
students are involved in the coordination
having principals. Charters have that
of activities for the school. Organizing a
exemption, but so do all other independent
rock climbing trip to UMD or skiing at
school districts in Minnesota. Under the
Giants Ridge are some examples. And
Laws of Minnesota for 1993 amended
unlike many other schools, we encourage
from the Minnesota [Statutes of] 1992
our students to do community service.
under Sec. 15 it states that each public
This can involve the examples above
school building in an independent
plus anything from janitorial to working
school district may be under the super-
in a day care center to doing projects in
vision of a principal who is assigned to
the community.
that responsibility by the board of edu-
cation for that school district upon rec-
Charter schools are definitely a jump
ommendation of the superintendent of
from traditional schools, but if not
that school district. The word "may"
given the chance to succeed, we will
gives the choice to the TMCS to take an
never know what they can accomplish.
alternative plan of a board of directors
The TMCS Speech Drama Class
and a site base management team
instead of a traditional principal.
3
page 2
for 1994. The Illinois State Board of
Illinois Update
Education is discussing. "Principles for
Legislation on Charter Schools has been
Evaluation of Legislative Proposals on
introduced by Lee Daniels (R-Elmhurst).
Charter Schools." Seven principles
Governor Jim Edgar, in his ''State of
intended to be safeguards in governing
the State Address" in January, praised
the formation of Charter Schools are
Charter Schools as an innovation in
under discussion. However, no agreement
education for Illinois that he would pro-
the
on the support of Charter Schools or
Park)
pose. Patrick O'Malley (R-Palos
principles has been made at this time.
has sponsored the Governor's Charter
The Illinois PTA convention recently
School legislation. The legislation is now
adopted the "Illinois PTA postion on
pending in the Illinois General Assembly.
Charter Schools."
Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago has
made Charter Schools one of his goals
Proposed Illinois State Charter Legislation
Sponsored By Representative Lee Daniels
would amend the School Code, authoriz-
Legislation proposed by Rep. Lee Daniels (R-Elmhurst)
districts. It would establish a seven-member
ing the creation of Charter Schools in all school
Charter Schools Law and provide that
Illinois Charter Schools Commission to administer the
staggered four-year terms by the Governor.
members of the Commission are to be appointed to
university or public community college,
If the governing body of a Charter School is a college or
of Higher Education must approve
the proposed legislation provides that the Illinois Board
legislation also adds provisions concerning the
the charter before it takes effect. The proposed
School contract, material contract revision, and release of a
'Timmer of approval of a Charter
that a Charter School shall be:
charter school from state laws and regulations. It provides
I a public school accountable to its sponsor
operated in a nonsectarian, nonreligious, non-home-based manner
discrimination
subject to statutory and constitutional prohibitions against
prohibited from charging tuition
charter
administered by a governing body in a manner provided by the
negotiate for the use, operation, and
The proposed legislation authorizes Charter Schools to
with colleges, universities, and
maintenance of school buildings and grounds on a rent-free basis
required to be included in a Charter
other entities. It also prescribes certain terms that are
established by converting an
School application and contract. If the Charter School is to be
have the approval by a majority
existing public school to Charter School status, this move must
and guardians of pupils
of the certified teachers at the school, by a majority of the parents
before an application may be
enrolled in the school, and (in Chicago) by the local school council
school as a Charter School.
submitted or received for consideration to establish the designated
and renewals,
Finally, the proposed legislation adds provisions relative to charter terms
employee options, financing, evaluation, and reporting.
page 3
and the school management alliance,
Excerpt from the Illinois State
testified in support of the measure.
of the State Address to the 88th
General Assembly by Governor
Statewide labor groups, including both
Jim Edgar
statewide teachers' unions, registered
opposition to the legislation, primarily on
January 12, 1994
the basis that all of the personnel mandates
This year, I will propose legislation to
embedded throughout the school code
create at least a dozen Charter Schools
(notably collective bargaining, tenure,
throughout Illinois. Schools that are
teacher certification) and curricular
organized from the bottom up, schools
mandates would not be required for
where principals, teachers, parents and,
Charter Schools.
yes, even students can act to make
edu-
A previous Springfield Scene stated
cation more responsive, more relevant,
that Charter Schools should have maxi-
and more exciting without having to
mum freedom to devise programs that
answer to layers of bureaucracy and
allow their students to demonstrate the
being shackled by overly restrictive
highest level of competencies in given topic
mandates.
areas. By reducing the number of state-
Indeed, Illinois is ready, I believe, to
mandated processes, the school board
experiment with having the private
and the charter applicant can focus
sector manage our schools as has
programs on performance.
occurred in Baltimore and Minneapolis.
The Illinois Chamber is working with
Some reforms will work. Others may not.
Senator O'Malley and the Governor's
But we're not going to know the answers
office to draft an amendment that clarifies
unless we try, and we do know right
several provisions of the bill. This
now that the status quo is not working
amendment will be considered by the
in many schools throughout the state.
Education Committee this spring.
So let us be innovativelet us help
Illinois PTA Legislation Position
pioneer Charter Schools.
Statement
Excerpt from Springfield Scene
Position on Charter Schools
(The Illinois Chamber)
It is the position of the Illinois PTA that
April 4, 1994
charter schools could be a viable part of
"Charter schools proposal advances"
the reform initiative. They could provide
The Governor's Charter School legislation,
a vehicle for change and innovation by
S.B. 1716, sponsored by Senator Patrick
creating new kinds of schools within
O'Malley (R-Palos Park), advanced out of
the public school structure. The Illinois
the Senate Education Committee on a
PTA also considers charter schools to be
6-2-1 vote. It will receive a second read-
only a small piece of school reform. They
ing in the Senate. The Illinois Chamber,
should not be viewe as a means of
with its fellow statewide business groups
5
page 4
7. A charter school must be accountable
improving the overall quality of educa-
to the local board of education of the
tion in Illinois, nor as a means of solving
district in which it is located.
the school funding issue. Charter schools
are but one option in a continuum of
8. In order to insure the highest standards
educational reform.
of teaching, teachers must be certified.
The Illinois PTA will support legislation
creating charter schJols that meets the
Michigan Update
following specific conditions:
Michigan Legislation on Public
1. Charter schools must not be operated for
School Academies
non-public
a profit; nor affiliated with a
sectarian, religious or home-based
Michigan passed Public Act 363 late in
school. (Public funds must not be used
1993 that allows the creation of Public
for private schools. An Illinois PTA
School AcademiesMichigan's version
Continuing Position)
of the Charter School concept. Accord-
ing to the legislation, "A public school
2. Charter schools must be open to all
academy is a body corporate and is a
students regardless of sex, race, religion,
governmental agency." The Governor
national origin, ancestry, pregnancy,
strongly supports the concept.
marital or parental status, sexual orien-
tation, or physical, mental, emotional,
The following are major features of
or learning disability.
Michigan Public School Academies:
3. Chafter schools must not charge tuition
1. Any individual or organization (except a
or fees which might preclude attendance
religious group), such as governing
and full participation by economically
boards of any local school district, inter-
disadvantaged students.
mediate school district, community col-
lege governing board, or the governing
4. There must not be any negative impact
board of a public state university, may
on currently existing schools.
propose and be authorized to run a
5. New monies must be made available to
public school academy.
fund charter schools; and the state must
2. No numerical limit is placed upon the
work to improve funding for existing
number of public school academies
elementary and secondary schools until
established.
it provides the primary cost of public
education.
California has 45 Charter Schools.
6. Charter schools must be subject to all
The state does not offer start-up monies
federal and state laws which deal with
to get the schools going, so progress
health and safety, and prohibit discrimi-
in numbers has been slow compared
nation; and must be subject to the Free-
to states where start-up monies are
dom of Information and Open Meetings
available, such as Massachusetts.
Acts.
page 5
School proposal alone. Both bills have
California and Arizona Updates
created a stand-off. The most contentious
As mentioned in the original issue of
disagreements have been over the voucher
Policy Brieft on Charter Schools, California's
issue, which has brought to the surface
general election ballot in November 1993
"wars" not necessarily related to vouchers.
included a referendum (Proposition
Both the Governor and the Republican
174) that would have allowed parents
majorities in the House and Senate sup-
to use vouchers to pay for private
port vouchers and Charter Schools as
schooling. This referendum was viewed
an essential part of their education
by many as a threat to the future of Cali-
reform package. Vouchers, however,
fornia's Charter Schools. In California, as
have not turned out to be a partisan
in Oregon and Colorado, the voucher
issue; there is some support for vouchers
referendum was defeated by a margin
on both sides. Democrats had expected
of at least two to one. Colorado voucher
a division along party lines, but it did
proponents have begun a new campaign
not occur. It appears that Arizona will
the
on the issue, hoping to put it on
see a long struggle to decide these issues.
ballot in 1994. Why the referendum in
Californiawhich was very popular
Massachusetts Update
when first proposedwas so strongly
defeated is being discussed widely. If
Massachusetts has given initial approval
nothing else, it is obvious that if such
to 15 applications for Charter Schools.
referendums are to pass, they must
The Massachusetts charters will be run
appeal to middle-of-the-road as well
by teachers, parents, and community
as conservative voters.
groups, but also by private management
for-profit groups, such as the Edison
California has 45 Charter Schools. The
Project, created by Whittle Communica-
state does not offer start-up monies to
tions Corporation. The Edison Project
get the schools going, so progress in
won charters in three cities.
numbers has been slow compared to
states where start-up monies are avail-
Minnesota Update
able, such as Massachusetts.
New Charters
Today, people are looking to Arizona,
where the voucher issue is very alive if
Three Charter School applications were
not altogether well. Both Charter Schools
submitted to the Minnesota State Board
and a pilot voucher program are included
of E ducati on ( MSBE ) for approval ,
in education reform bills. House Bill
according to Bill Allen, who coordinates
(HB) 2585 includes the voucher program;
Charter School proposals for the
Charter Schools are included in both
Minnesota Department of Education.
HB 2585 and Senate Bill (SB) 1375.
Both bills have been discussed by the
The following application was approved:
education committees in their respective
New Country School in LeSueur
houses and referred to the appropriations
will be a secondary school with a "com-
committees. SB 1375 has tied signifi-
puter-infused curriculum" and appren-
cantly more monies to the Charter
7
page 6
of school districts and clarify areas of
ticeships and activities in the community.
uncertainty and confusion in the law.
It will receive support from the Commu-
The proposals have been included in
nity Learning Centers project that has
the governor's review bill, which will
grant money from the New American
be addressed by the state legislature.
Schools Development Corporation. The
project was approved by the LeSueur
In brief, according to an analysis by the
Board of Education.
Legislative Reference Bureau, the pro-
posed bill includes the following changes
The following applications are still
in the provisions for governing Charter
pending:
Schools:
Emily Community School in Emily
1. The requirement that all Charter School
is a K-12 program already open with
employ es remain school district
private funding, serving about 75 students.
employees is deleted; but private Charter
The Crosby-Ironton School Board voted
School employees would not participate
3-3 on the proposal, meaning that tie
in the Wisconsin Retirement S3 stem
decision rests with the MSBE.
(WRS).
Sudbury School in Roseville is
2. The contract between the school board
based on a Massachusetts model that
and the Charter School is allowed to
organizes the school as if it ATE ".'e a
specify which provisiuns in the laws
small town. It has some elements of
that govern public schools will apply to
the Summerhill model. The Roseville
the Charter School.
Board voted against the proposal 3-2.
Board members indicated that their
3. The proposed bill directs the state super-
reluctance was based on the inability
intendent to establish requirements for
of the district to provide adequate
licensure as a Charter School instruc-
performance assessment.
tional staff member. To teach in a
Charter School, an individual must hold
Wisconsin Update
teach, a
a regular license or permit to
Charter School instructional staff license,
The issue of Policy Briefs on Charter
staff
or a Charter School instructional
Schools featured new legislation in
permit from the state superintendent.
Wisconsin to create Charter Schools.
In the months following enactment of
4. Eliminated is the provision that prohibits
Wisconsin's Charter School law, it
the school board from spending on aver-
became apparent that some provisions
age more per pupil enrolled in a Charter
in the 1993 legislation would cause
School than it spends on average per
difficulties for ten participating districts
pupil enrolled in public schools. But it
in their efforts to create Charter Schools.
will require the petition or contract
In a cooperative effort to correct the
that establishes a Charter School to
situation, the school districts, the
specify the anticipated average amount
Department of Public Instruction, and
that the Charter School will spend per
the Governor's Office developed legisla-
pupil enrolled in the Charter School in
tive proposals to increase the flexibility
page 7
Parent Cannot Envision the
the first year of the contract. Other
Community Without a Charter School
explanations, justifications for spending,
and reporting procedures also are
Interview with Dick Raich,
specified on fmances.
Parent, Meadowlands, Minnesota
5. The school board will be allowed to enter
by Aurelio Huertas, Jr., NCREL
a contract on behalf of the Charter
School with other governmental units
In less than one year, student enrollment
for services or joint power or duty
at Toivola-Meadowlands Charter
required or authorized by law.
School has increased from 162 students
to 197, a 22-percent student increase,
6. The bill allows a pupil to attend a Charter
says Dick Raich, parent and board
School located outside of his or her
member of this recently established
school residence district, as allowed for
Charter School in Minnesota. He
any public school outside the residential
attributes the increase to the school's
district.
"flexibility" and its ability to bring local
7. The requirement to give preference in
businesses and community expertise
awarding contracts for the operation of
into the school. "I think under the pre-
Charter Schools to those that serve at
sent structure of education, this is one
risk children is eliminated.
thing where small school districts fail.
They don't have this type of flexibility
8. Exemption from civil liability is extended
to move within the structured system."
to include Charter School employees.
According to Raich, Charter Schools
9. The names of Charter School employees
allow in-house decision-making, which
charged with or convicted of certain
eliminates "all of the bureaucracy of
crimes or dismissal because of immoral
getting things done" and leads to better
conduct are to be reported to the state
communication among parents, students,
superintendent.
and teachers. Decisions are made by
the teaching staff, paraprofessionals,
According to Raich, Charter Schools
community members working in the
allow in-house decision-making, which
schools, and licensed educators, who
eliminates "all of the bureaucracy of
meet several times during the week.
"If a problem arises and you want to
getting things done" and leads to
change something or bring in some-
better communication among parents,
thing new, you can do it right away,"
students, and teachers. Decisions are
Raich says.
made by the teaching staff, parapro-
fessionals, community members
The Toivola-Meadowlands Charter
working in the schools, and licensed
School's open-door policy encourages
educators, who meet several times
parents to become more involved in
during the week.
their children's education, which Raich
says was not the case several years ago.
9
pageB
.
Charter Schools: "I would like to
Today, teachers at the school promote
option
see every district have the
awl solicit parental involvement as
to do this."
much as possible. "Teachers welcome
parents in. They welcome ideas. They
Interview of Tim Robinson,
want to exchange ideas. The one thing
Parent, Meadowlands, Minnesota
they have worked on so much is commu-
nication within the community." Not
by Aurelio Huertas, Jr., NCREL
surprisingly, Raich attributes much of
the school's success to the community.
Imagine a school where all members of
the school community share a common
However, Raich is careful to point out
vision for the school and are involved in
that Charter Schools are not right for
decisions affecting curriculum, school
every community. "Why would you
structure, and instruction techniques.
want to change something in a commu-
Now, stop imagining. Such a school
nity where education is acceptable?
really exists: Toivola-Meadowlands Char-
They have the outcomes they want.
ter School in Meadowlands, Minnesota.
They see what they want coming out of
the public schools."
Tim Robinson, who is one of the school's
board members and has three children
Moreover, Raich warns that the process
attending the school, says that commu-
of setting up a Charter School is very
nity feedback on Charter Schools has
strenuous. He believes that the biggest
been "very positive" since the decision
problem is meeting the legal requirements
School.
was made to establish a Charter
for establishing a Charter School. "It
"Parents like the thought of having pro-
takes a long time to set this up. Your
learning in
grams that are centered on
letters of intent and the contracts
the community, teaching real world
these sorts of things can be made easier."
applications, and in which their children
He points to the experiences of other
what
go out in the community to see
districts that are in the process of setting
they learned."
up Charter Schools: "I know of several
other schools that have been working
The Charter School represents a unique
They
on this for two and three years.
partnership between the local school
are having a heck of a time."
district and the Meadowlands community.
The school seeks to revitalize education
The Toivola-Meadowlands community
by involving the whole community.
has adapted so well to its Charter School
Parents are more involved in the educa-
that Raich finds it difficult to imagine
tional process. Students have regained
not having a Charter School. "If Charter
Teachers are
an interest in learning.
Schools fail, I really don't know how we
experimenting with innovative techniques.
are going to adapt back to the public
education in the sense that it was before.
Education at Toivola-Meadowlands
Once the programs are set up, they have
Charter School extends far beyond pen-
a track record, and everyone is comfortable
cils, paper, and textbooks. Students
with the direction, it can really take off."
have input into what they believe they
f)
page 9