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New Options for Families: Charters and School Choice - Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
“A good, wise, just and compassionate country makes certain that educational opportunities are available for all of its citizens—every single one of them. No child can be left behind, particularly not the ones in our own neighborhood.”
– Secretary Paige
All parents want their children to receive a quality education. The wide variety of public schools, from neighborhood schools to magnets, charters, theme-focus schools and many others, as well as the very existence of thousands of private schools and 2 million home-schooled students, provides evidence that parents want choice in determining the best educational opportunities for their children. Fundamental to the No Child Left Behind Act is the expansion of educational options, particularly for parents of children enrolled in low performing or unsafe schools. Under the law’s accountability provisions, districts are required to send parents “report cards” describing the performance of their children’s schools. Parents with children enrolled in persistently low-achieving schools have the opportunity to send their children to higher performing public or charter schools in the district or to obtain supplemental educational services.
As part of the mix of educational choices available to parents, charter schools are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional public school. By definition, charter schools have greater freedom from regulations in exchange for being held to high standards of accountability. Proponents of the charter movement claim that high standards, parent involvement, business and community engagement and greater freedom from the educational establishment can result in higher achievement for students. Charters, scholarship programs and other choice options expanded through the No Child Left Behind Act will ultimately promote competition within the public school system and encourage all schools to improve.
The February Education News will explore:
- How does school choice empower students and parents?
- What is the range of choice options provided by the No Child Left Behind Act?
- In what ways can school choice improve student academic achievement?
- What does the research show about the effectiveness of charter schools?
- What lessons can traditional school districts learn from the charter school experience?
- What are some effective practices used in charter schools that work for students, teachers and administrators?
- What resources are available for developing charters or other choice options?
- How does the President’s fiscal year 2005 budget promote school choice and an expansion of parental options?
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