Charter+Schools+Affect+Traditional+Public+Schools

Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. The "charter" establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. The length of time for which charters are granted varies, but most are granted for 3-5 years. At the end of the term, the entity granting the charter may renew the school's contract. 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. They are accountable for both academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: the sponsor that grants them, the parents who choose them, and the public that funds them. []
 * ​What is a charter school?**


 * How do charter schools affect traditional public schools? (pros and cons)**
 * Traditional schools have a decrease in enrollment, therefore receiving less funding.
 * Create choice for parents and students within the public school system. This, theoretically, will cause the traditional schools to work harder to keep students and parents invested in the school so that they will not want to transfer.
 * Encourage innovative teaching practices and create new professional opportunities for teachers.
 * Traditional schools may lose highly motivated teachers to these schools because they will have freedom to teach in ways that are new and exciting.


 * Are charter schools held accountable for student achievement?** Generally there are four types of entities allowed to authorize charter schools: the local school board, state universities, community colleges, and the state board of education. The charter school must meet requirements set forth in the charter and students must take state standardized tests.
 * //Student performance//: Is the academic program a success? Do students demonstrate satisfactory achievement on state or district tests and other measures? Are students making academic gains?
 * //Goals in the charter//: Is the school faithful to the terms of its contract, including its mission, goals, and objectives?
 * //Operations//: Is the school a viable, well-managed organization? Is it responsibly using public funds? Is it in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (such as public health and civil rights) not waived for charter schools?
 * //Continuous improvement//: Does the school recognize clearly where growth is most essential, and is the total program committed to discovering areas of self-improvement?
 * What special education laws govern charter schools?**
 * Although public charter schools have some level of exemption from local and state laws, they must follow all federal laws and regulations. These laws include IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and ADA.
 * Although public charter schools have some level of exemption from local and state laws, they must follow all federal laws and regulations. These laws include IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and ADA.

better teachers, collect data on student performance and fix failing schools. The department gives preference to states that lift caps on the number of charter schools, adopt national standards for achievement and tie teacher pay to test scores."
 * What is the Obama administration's //Race to the Top// incentive?**
 * A program designed to transform U.S. education with $4.35 billion in federal grants
 * "The grants reward school systems for finding ways to strengthen standards, recruit

The following states did NOT apply for funding for phase two of Race to the Top: (applications were due June, 2010)

Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming

For more information regarding the Race to the Top program, visit:

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