Charter Schools

Exploring a controversial issue in education series ... Charter Schools

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Background

The definition of a charter school varies according to the province, state or country in which the school is established. However, some common elements apply. Charter schools are independently operated schools that hold individual charters, or agreements, that allow them to receive full public funding. These charters are viewed as performance contracts between each school and the approving authority.

As part of Alberta's public education system, Alberta's charter schools must

be nonsectarian and open to all students who can benefit from the program offered,
charge no tuition fees,
employ certificated teachers,
be funded at a level comparable to other public schools,
follow the charter agreement and be accountable to Alberta Learning, and
follow guidelines for provincial achievement tests, provincial Grade 12 diploma examinations and any other tests prescribed by the minister of learning.

Beliefs

Supporters believe that charter schools

provide a higher level of accountability and focus on "customer satisfaction,"
allow greater parental involvement in the education process,
are the most effective way to deliver specialized programs and ensure educational choice, and
encourage excellence by promoting innovative teaching practices.

Considerations

Critics believe that

charter schools promote the segregation of children and create social fragmentation;
charter schools have not actually demonstrated any ability to increase academic achievement, nor have they led to the development or implementation of innovative teaching practices; and
public schools currently offer a wide range of alternative programs that respond to the needs of students within an inclusive setting.

A Closer Look

Internationally, charter schools have been operating since 1988. In Great Britain, New Zealand and the United States, where charter schools have been in place longer than in Canada, the establishment of charter schools has meant that neighbourhood schools are left with less funding to educate higher-risk, harder-to-teach, higher-cost students. By encouraging the formation of charter schools, governments divert funding away from the public education system. Establishing charter schools allows governments to cater to the demands of narrowly focused, highly vocal, special interest groups. In the end, charter schools provide governments with an excuse to avoid implementing meaningful reforms that would enhance the quality of learning for the broader community.

As education writer Murray Dobbin says, "To suggest that there is no choice in the public education system, that education is worse than it used to be, that we cannot compete globally, and that our students cannot read is a myth refuted by study after study." Alberta's public education system offers high-quality education, choices for students, progressive change and improvements, and parental and community input.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association