As a charter school teacher and parent, I am aware of my bias. But, I have worked in the traditional public schools so I have a good reference point. As I read some of the comments on this article, I have to remind myself that there were people opposed to women voting, civil rights, and other injustices throughout history.
Matheson: Charter schools, through the prism of economics
How long would an organization stay in business if it continually produced a product that failed to meet standards of quality? For too long has our nation's educational system been insulated from competition and has stagnated, failing our most marginalized children.
Fortunately, in recent years the public school monopoly has been increasingly challenged by competition from charter schools, which offer some hope for millions of children whose local public schools have failed to deliver quality education.
The Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University recently found that charter school students in Michigan are outperforming public school peers in their home districts. The CREDO report found that charter school students gain an additional two months learning on average in math and reading, and the results are even greater for students in Detroit, where students demonstrate an extra three months growth in these subject areas.
Charter schools are social entrepreneurial ventures. The entrepreneurs behind charter schools attempt to create value by serving segments of the marketplace largely ignored by current participants. America's inner-city children are offered an education from the public school monopoly, but what type of education is being offered?
Even the most die-hard supporter of traditional public schools would agree that the quality of education offered in America's cities is far inferior to the education offered to predominantly white students in the suburbs. Charter schools attempt to level the playing field by opening schools in the very communities that have historically been the most underserved by traditional public schools.
Fortunately, in recent years the public school monopoly has been increasingly challenged by competition from charter schools, which offer some hope for millions of children whose local public schools have failed to deliver quality education.
The Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University recently found that charter school students in Michigan are outperforming public school peers in their home districts. The CREDO report found that charter school students gain an additional two months learning on average in math and reading, and the results are even greater for students in Detroit, where students demonstrate an extra three months growth in these subject areas.
Charter schools are social entrepreneurial ventures. The entrepreneurs behind charter schools attempt to create value by serving segments of the marketplace largely ignored by current participants. America's inner-city children are offered an education from the public school monopoly, but what type of education is being offered?
Even the most die-hard supporter of traditional public schools would agree that the quality of education offered in America's cities is far inferior to the education offered to predominantly white students in the suburbs. Charter schools attempt to level the playing field by opening schools in the very communities that have historically been the most underserved by traditional public schools.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130222/OPINION01/302220330#ixzz2MD7htJIq
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