Michael Atherton > Prospect Park> > Charter schools have always been a "movement" and charter > schools in Minnesota have nothing to do with the privatization > of the public schools (even if there were such a conspiracy). > According to Minnesota law charter schools ARE public schools, > there's nothing private or exclusive about them. > > > The charter school movement is about "choice." My family would > like to be able to choose a quality Math/Science school within > the MPS, but none exists. My family would like to choice a > school for gifted children, but none exists. The charter school > movement might provide us with a public school choice that the > Minneapolis public schools have not. I find it patently absurd > that I would have to send my children to private schools in order > for them to receive a decent education in math and science. > > > Jeanne Massey:
I agree with many of Michael's points, as I have written previously in the forum: Charter schools serve kids who may be falling between the cracks of our education system. Moreover, charter schools, by law, do not charge tuition, have no religious affiliation, nor have selective student admissions. In these ways, they are distinct from private schools. They are also accountable in theory to their sponsoring district for educational outcomes. As such, while they divert funding, on a per pupil basis, from the sponsoring district, they seem to serve a purpose in the public system. Essentially, they are are an adjunct to the public school system and serve a public purpose. I'm not a proponent of vouchers for private schools, but can support public funds for charter schools IF these schools are held accountable to the public for outcomes, as they are required to do. Those that are not meeting the educational needs of the students they serve should no longer receive sponsorship (i.e., funding) from the District. In this way, I have argued before that while charter schools are not a magical fix, some work and to the extent they serve a share of our student population better than non charter schools, I think we should view them as part of the solution. HOWEVER, I also think we need to be cognizant of the "privatizing" agenda charter schools increasingly serve and in the shifting of public moneys to less than accountable schools. There are very justifiable concerns about accountability and the quality and viability of charter schools, and these should be primary concerns of the Mpls District. These issues may require changes in the way charter school are established and operate. Should charter schools, if they receive per pupil funding, be more accountability to our district (as Representative Entenza advocates) and pay teachers prevailing wages in the district? Should charter schools be more closely linked to the district they serve (or remain directly a part of it) without jeopardizing their purpose - providing smaller settings, and more specialized curriculum and community involvement than larger schools traditionally do? Should teachers be hired from and remain part of the District's teacher pool? Jeanne Massey Kingfield > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
