Kevin Hart recently wrote an article for NEA Today entitled, "Report: Charter Schools Making Achievements Worse?" This report creates a question whether charter schools are being held accountable for their performance the same way public schools are.
I have very little understanding of charter schools, since they are not prevalent in North Dakota. It is my understanding the public schools in areas where charter schools exist feel threatened by charter schools. The fear is that charter schools will attract the high achieving students as well as the best teachers away from the public schools. We all know that a good education depends on quality teachers and administrators, proper resources, students who want to learn, and supportive parents. If the best students and teachers are leaving public schools to go to charter schools, it is easy to understand the concerns of public schools, especially in low-income and high minority schools.
According to Mr. Hart, charter schools were founded on the premise of freedom with accountability. It is understandable for parents to want the best possible education for their children. However, Diane Ravitch, a New York University professor and former Assistant Secretary of Education analyzed the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress mathematics data which was compiled by the U. S. Department of Education. She concluded that public school students are not only outperforming charter school students, but the gap is increasing.
Public school fourth graders outperformed their charter school counterparts by six points in Math in 2003; that gap today is eight points. For eighth graders, public school students continue to outperform charter school students by seven points. What concerns Ms. Ravitch is that charter schools have been promoted as an opportunity for educational change. However, accountability for performance seems to be lacking. If charter schools are going to be a choice when compared to public schools, they also need to have similar accountability. Without that accountability, it will be difficult for parents to make an informed decision on the best educational choice for their children.
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There are so many studies out there concerning the difference between charter schools and public schools. I didn't realize the gap is continuing to grow when it comes to higher levels of achievement in public schools verses charter. I am happy to see that accountability, in this case, is positive for our students. I am still concerned about NCLB and Gifted students throughout our country. I know change is what needs to become established, but lately even trying things have been counterproductive.
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