This document discusses charter schools, including their mission, values, funding, populations, teaching methodologies, areas of instructional focus, performance, technology usage, and teacher responsibilities. Charter schools aim to provide educational choice for parents and students. They receive public funding but have more autonomy than traditional public schools. Charter school enrollment has grown significantly in the United States over the past decade, especially among Hispanic students.

1. EDUCATIONAL LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES:
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Jay Bahkta, Rebeccah Czarniak, and Monique Lopez
MTE/501
George Morse

2. CHARTER SCHOOL MISSION AND VALUES
 “A charter school promotes student learning through a clear vision and high expectations. It achieves
clear, measurable program goals and student learning objectives, including meeting its stated
performance standards and closing achievement gaps of students.” (California Charter School
Association, November 23, 2014)
 Charter Schools were created with the intention to give “parents the power and opportunity to choose the
school their child will attend.” ("The Center For Education Reform", November 23, 2014).
 Families are not restricted to sending their children to schools in their immediate area.
 “Charter schools satisfy and serve their primary constituents (teachers, parents, and students) by
providing exciting and viable education in an inclusive, individual manner.” ("The Center For Education
Reform", November 23, 2014).
 Teachers have more freedom to teach, parents have the freedom of choice, and students are given the
individual attention they need.
 “Charter schools have been more successful at closing racial achievement gaps than district schools have
been.” ("The Center For Education Reform", November 23, 2014).
 With success of the students come the enrollments of students, lack of enrollment leads to closures of these
types of schools. (California Charter School Association, November 23, 2014)

3. CHARTER SCHOOL MISSIONS AND VALUES
 “The Ripple Effect:”
 Public Schools are using the standards Charter Schools have adopted regarding curriculum, teacher
retention, and “best-practices”. ("The Center For Education Reform", November 23, 2014).
 Charter Schools are pushing Public Schools to improve .
 School Choice
 Having a choice in the schools children are enrolled in gives parents more control and a willingness to
contribute to their child’s education.
 Attitude:
 Students are more engaged in their learning environments.
 Parents feel that they have a choice in protecting their child’s education.
 Teachers and Administrators are working with people and parents that advocate for learning.
 In California, the mission is to “increase student achievement by supporting and expanding
California’s quality charter public school movement.” (California Charter School
Association, November 23, 2014)

4. CHARTER SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY
 According to "The Benefits Of Attending
A Charter School" (n.d), “Charter schools
are perfect for exploring technological
developments in the educational setting.”
(Charter Schools Provide an exciting
alternative to the public school
environment ).
 Due to the smaller student population
and independent budget management
from a public school board, Charter
schools can have various technologies
available for their students.
 Types of technology available for student
use are:
 Touchscreen devices
 Laptops

5. CHARTER SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY
 Teachers have access to advance
technology such as
 Elmo
 Smart Boards
 Clickers
 Due high cost of renting facilities,
many Charter schools do not have
science labs. (California Charter
Schools Association , n.d).
 Science labs are highly technical
facilities that have cutting edge
technology to help support the
teacher’s lesson plans

6. CERTIFICATION FOR TEACHERS AND
OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL
 Since January 1, 1999, all teachers in charter schools are required to hold either a
teaching credential or other document equivalent to that which a teacher in other
public schools would be required to hold issued by the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing.
 The statute also provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that charter
schools be given flexibility with regard to noncore, no college preparatory
courses. Teachers in core or college preparatory courses must hold a valid
credential equivalent to that which would be required of a teacher in a non-charter
public school. The statute does not affect the qualifications for any service
personnel (administrators, counselors, librarians or others) employed by the
charter school.

7. CERTIFICATION FOR TEACHERS AND
OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL
 Teachers in charter schools are required to hold a Commission on Teacher
Credentialing certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which a
teacher in other public schools would be required to hold, according to California
Education Code (EC) Section 47605(l) [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/
displaycode?section=edc&group=47001-48000&file=47605-47608].
 Also that it is the intent of the Legislature that charter schools be given flexibility
with regard to noncore, non-college preparatory courses. Currently, this flexibility
is not extended to countywide benefit charter schools approved under EC Section
47605.6.
 Administrators and non-teaching staff in a charter school are not required to be
credentialed.

8. CHARTER SCHOOL COST AND FUNDING
 In 2013, the laws in California changed,
the regulatory laws are still pending, but
the funding which was previously 100%
allocated from the state is no longer the
case. (NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOLS, 2014).
 General funding for many districts is
primarily from property taxes
 Funding for Charter Schools come from
general funds of the district, offset by
grants, and donations (Sugarman 2002)
 Inter-district spending inequalities also
create a predicament for charter school
funding. (Sugarman 2002)
 California charter schools were receiving
on average $9,987 per pupil, while
districts would have received an
estimated $10,995 per pupil to educate
those same students (NATIONAL
ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC CHARTER
SCHOOLS, 2014).
 Charter schools are funded on a per pupil
basis and regular public schools on a
teacher position basis. (Sugarman 2002)
 Charter schools are at a disadvantage
financially, they would have to rely on
new, less experienced teaching staff.

9. CHARTER SCHOOL COST AND FUNDING
 Charter Schools have to rent the facilities, the rent comes from the allocated funds they
have for the year. (California Charter Schools Association , n.d)
 Public Schools facilities are supported by bond measures thus reducing the cost
 The outcome of having to rent facilities is:
 Can take 10 to 20 percent of the funds to rent facilities
 Mediocre facilities, many without gyms cafeterias, and proper science lab classrooms
 Lower salaries for teachers, translating in to less experienced newer teachers for the students.
 Cost besides facilities for Charter schools include expenditure on the following but not
limited to
 Teachers and staffing – Most charter schools hire relatively new teachers due to the high cost
of facilities. (California Charter Schools Association , n.d)
 Technology – as an incentive for students to come to the charter school , many charter
schools have very sophisticated computers and other technology available for the students.
 Supplies – the amount of supplies needed by the school also have to be accounted for

10. CHARTER SCHOOL POPULATION
Number of students enrolled in
U.S. public charter schools:
Selected school years, 1999–
2000 through 2011–12
The student population in has
rose every year since the study
began, most noticeable is the
rate on increase between 2009
and 2012. 300,000 students
enrolled between this time.
Source U.S. Department of
Education, National Center for
Education Statistics, Common
Core of Data (CCD), "Public
Elementary/Secondary School
Universe Survey," 1999–2000
through 2011–12.

11. CHARTER SCHOOL POPULATION
Percentage of students enrolled in
U.S. public charter schools, by
race/ethnicity: School years, 1999–
2000 and 2011–12
In the 12 years Whites and Blacks have
dropped in attended public charter
schools by an average of 5.5% where
as Hispanics have risen 8 percent in
that same time. Asians and American
Indians seem to account for only 5%
of the total population.
Source U.S. Department of Education,
National Center for Education
Statistics, Common Core of Data
(CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary
School Universe Survey," 1999–2000
and 2011–12.

12. TEACHING METHODOLOGIES
 Montessori
 Reggio Emilia
 Inquiry Based
 Project Based
 Core Knowledge
 Success for All
 Differentiated Instruction
 Love and Logic
 Waldorf

13. AREAS OF INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
 College-Prep
 Core Knowledge
 Child-Centered
 Project-Based
 Arts
 Community Service
 Inquiry-Based
 Technology
 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
 Service Learning

14. PERFORMANCE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
 http://dashboard.publiccharters.org/dashboard/performance/page/overview/state
/CA/year/2011

15. TEACHER LEGAL AND ETHICAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
 “The leaders of a charter school are stewards of the charter’s mission and vision
and carry out their duties in a professional, responsible and ethical manner.
 Charter school leaders use their influence and authority for the primary purpose of
achieving student success.” (California Charter School Association, November 23, 2014)
 Charter School teachers in California are required to “achieve clear, measurable
program goals and student learning objectives, including meeting its stated
performance standards.” (California Charter School Association, November 23,
2014)
 Teachers in California Charter Schools are also required to “demonstrates high
expectations for student achievement.” (California Charter School
Association, November 23, 2014)
 These expectations support confidence in the success of the student body.

16. TEACHER LEGAL AND ETHICAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
 Teachers fulfill ethical responsibilities by supporting “students in a safe, healthy and
nurturing environment characterized by trust, caring and professionalism.” (California
Charter School Association, November 23, 2014)
 Teachers are held to high standards and should be trusted to ensure the safety and health of
the students and the school.
 Prevent violence and bullying
 Familiar with safety procedures in crisis
 Promote student health and wellness in a healthy, clean, and comfortable environment
 It is important that teachers and leaders of Charter Schools use their “influence and
authority for the primary purpose of achieving student success.” (California Charter School
Association, November 23, 2014)
 As well as acknowledging and respecting that there is “diversity and implements practices
that are inclusive of all types of learners consistent with the school charter.” (California
Charter School Association, November 23, 2014)

17. REFERENCES
 Sugarman, Stephen D. (2002, August 9). Charter school funding issues. Education Policy
 Analysis Archives, 10(34). Retrieved [11/19/2014] from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v10n34.html
 NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. (2014). Measuring up. Retrieved from
http://www.publiccharters.org/get-the-facts/law-database/states/CA/#
 The Benefits of Attending a Charter School. (n.d). Retrieved from http://wingscharterschool.org/
 California Charter Schools Association . (n.d). CCSA families. Retrieved from http://ccsafamilies.org/2011/06/a-parents-
guide-to-charter-facility-challenges.html
 California Charter School Association. (November 23, 2014). Understanding Charters. Retrieved from
http://www.calcharters.org/about/
 The Center For Education Reform. (November 23, 2014). Retrieved from
https://www.edreform.com/issues/choice-charter-schools/
 California Education Code (EC) Section 47605(l) [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/
displaycode?section=edc&group=47001-48000&file=47605-47608]