Tuesday: Minnesota's charter schools fall short of expectations

A study says charter schools don't perform as well as comparable district schools and are more segregated.

Highlighted by cburell

When charter schools started in Minnesota in the early 1990s, they were touted as a higher-quality alternative for parents, particularly poor and minority families, looking to escape underperforming district schools.

But a study released today by the University of Minnesota's Institute on Race and Poverty finds that most charter schools have fallen short of that promise and perform worse than comparable district schools on state tests. In the process, it said, charters also intensify racial and economic segregation and compound the problem by encouraging districts to compete by creating ethnic niche programs.

Highlighted by cburell

"So many people are seeing charter schools as a solution to poor, segregated neighborhoods," said Myron Orfield, the institute's executive director. "The sad part is, they're getting these kids to switch schools and then they're doing worse" than district schools.

Highlighted by cburell

The report also points to open enrollment programs, such as the Choice is Yours, as offering students of color and low-income students access to "better-performing, less segregated schools."

The study analyzed state reading test scores from the 2007-08 school year and found that only 24 percent of elementary charter schools in the Twin Cities performed better than expected, given their poverty rate. By comparison, 79 percent of the Choice is Yours schools and 54 percent of traditional schools performed better than expected, given their poverty rates. Choice is Yours allows Minneapolis students to transfer to suburban schools. Results for math exams were similar.

Highlighted by cburell

A Public School Union teachers makes twice the salary as Carter schools. Charter schools do not guarentee teachers liability insurance, legal advisors, health or dental insurance. Public School Union teachers must uphold a higher educational scrutiny to be liscensed by the state of Minnesota. The state of Minnesota insists teachers renew their liscense every 5 years by taking 120 hours of continued education classes in a college or universtiy. This guarantees to parents their childs teacher has updated their knowledge in their subject area.

Highlighted by cburell

The question was asked:"Anyone know if charter schools are staffed by union teachers?" I don't believe there are any charter schools in Minnesota in the teacher's union. However the comment made later by another poster claiming that union teachers make double the salary of charter school teachers is wrong. Charter school salaries vary. They are usually lower, but not necessarily vastly lower. It can be both a plus and minus that charter schools are not unionized. Good leadership in a charter school will offer teachers the same rights accorded to teachers in a union school. I worked for a school that was like that...for 2 years. But in the 3rd year, leadership fell into the hands of nutcases and suddenly the staff could have used the protections offered by a union. I believe that at some point teachers in charter schools will develop some type of bargaining/legal protection organization that may not be called a "union," but will offer similar support.

Highlighted by cburell

Well, pal, it's time to admit that you have made a good living using test scores to promote your cause. In truth, test scores mean little to nothing about what really happens in a school. Once you can admit that, then you and a lot of "experts" will have to go back and consider what really matters in the education of children. On behalf of all the children who have had to suffer through two decades of increasing reliance on exam after exam, and whose potential has been systematically robbed by people advocating more and more testing, I say: Look in the mirror and realize that you did not get to where you are today because of test scores and believing that the next generation can only be successful by taking these ridiculous, unreliable, invalid instruments makes a mockery of your own education, philosophy and ethical standing as a professional.

Highlighted by cburell