by M. Scott Fisher, EDD, Stevensville
Before you look for a charter school to improve your chances of providing your children with a quality education, consider the following.
If you think charter schools are kinder, more supportive, or do a better job of educating children, I have a huge problem with that belief. Alternative management of education is not correlated with better educational outcomes; the resources provided to an educational system correlate to the educational outcomes.
Well-resourced schools can afford more computers for students to use, supplemental educational materials, continuing education for teachers, and smaller class sizes that give students more individual attention. The ideal class size is fewer than 25.
Having a talented, committed teacher in the classroom is needed, too. Average salaries for Montana elementary teachers in 2022 was $44,000. Roughly 20% of Montana teachers’ salaries goes to child care for the 50% who have children living at home. Experienced teachers are drawn to districts where they can earn the best living for their families, so teacher salary matters.
Charter schools drain money from public education. Public education built the intellectual strength of our nation; it fueled the achievements of our middle class. Alternative schools increase the divide in our society between haves and have-nots.
As to effectiveness of the school, consider the work of the public school teachers and parents in East Harlem, NYC, Central Park East elementary and secondary schools for 7 years running: 96% graduation rate compared to 50% city wide. 90% went directly to college and completed a degree. Fewer than 5% dropped out along the way. These stats held across race and class factors, in a poor district. (Deborah Meier, The Power of Their Ideas, 1995, pg. viii.)
Every stated advantage offered with charter schools is available in the public system. The major reason given for charter schools is that they have extra autonomy to innovate. Autonomy can be available anywhere and is a function of management skill and will. What is most essential for success from the Harlem school illustration, according to Meier, involved (1) facilitating relationships with both peers and adults, (2) respecting student interests and passions, and (3) facilitating strong ties between school and family through close family involvement.
Creating additional schools that duplicate the mission of public schools consumes resources allocated for education and further divides us between the elites and the less advantaged. If you want better educational outcomes for our children, fight for additional resources for our public schools, work with our public school teachers, and support the goal of equal education for all.
Linda Schmitt says
Totally agree. “If you want better educational outcomes, fight for additional resources” — says it all, Draining funds from public schools in order to bankroll a whole new set of schools is just wrongheaded. Invest in the schools, teachers and assets we have now to achieve results you want.. Thanks, Mr. Fisher.
Helen Sabin says
Linda – if the schools wanted more kids let them do a better job of producing great kids with great teachers. Our kids rank in the middle of the pack state wide. You go in and volunteer to try and see what YOU could do to help. Perhaps volunteer for 1/2 days to help with reading and math. Perhaps do some fund raising. Perhaps help pay for teacher aides…sticking kids in schools where they are not happy is not education. Its imprisonment. I know that Pete Joseph of Corvallis works hard to give the kids in my area the best he can obtain for them but the schools need fund raising done and lots of help. If the parents can do so, go into the classroom and help the teachers.
Trish Schreiber says
With all due respect, Mr. Fisher, your data is from 1995. A quick search for longitudinal studies on charter school outcomes from CREDO will prove the 1995 data to be false in 2023. Charter laws have improved in the last 30 years, allowing the truly autonomous schools developed under them to provide significant improvements in student outcomes, especially for student living in poverty (the largest achievement gap nationally) and for students of color. Lastly, charter schools are public schools.
Clark P Lee says
Thank you Mr. Fisher! I never could understand the rational for taking an under funded and frankly, poorly managed system and cut it in half and half fund both. Is this their idea of dodging the problem?