On Thursday, August 19, 2004, at 08:56 AM, Michael Atherton wrote:
Jeanne Massey wrote:
Charter schools are accountable, not just in theory, but in reality. The MPS can withdraw a charter that it grants, as it has done in the past (although not necessarily in a fair and prudent manner).
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.
Here's that word again, "privatization." Please explain how PUBLIC charter schools serve this hypothetical agenda. How are charter schools less accountable than other public schools?
While it is true charter schools are public schools, nevertheless a subtle difference is inherent which in practice can widen to leave parents, teachers, and students with less accountability.
The term "charter" implies contract rather than mandate. Normally a document conveying legal status from a state empowered to grant such status, charter schools may be 501(c)(3) organizations and thus regulated by the nonprofit laws of the state and if tax exempt, by the regulatory powers of the Internal Revenue Service. Almost any configuration is allowed, however, except for profit charters. (However, for profits may manage the programs).
Charter schools can be former public schools, former private schools, and new schools but not home-based schools.
So Ms Massey is correct in saying there is the possibility of less accountability. The boards of charter schools are required to have a majority of teachers in the governing body, unless the requirement is waived. And the organization must be configured as a non profit or co-op.
This is definitely not the same as a school board elected by the public in an open and regulated election process.
None of this means that a particular charter school will become less accountable. It does mean that the representative governing body, a public body, elected by the voters, is absent in a charter school. The charter school board members are not required to present their credentials and run for office in an open process.
Best wishes,
Laura Wittstock Southeast Minneapolis
Laura Waterman Wittstock MIGIZI Communications, Inc. 3123 East Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55406 612.721.6631 ext 219 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.migizi.org http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/
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