Charter Schools Can Boost Educational Success, Must Be Held Accountable for Serving All Students Equitably, Committee Learns
WASHINGTON—Exceptional charter schools are closing achievement gaps and shattering low expectations that have stood in the way of educational success for at-risk students, but, as public schools, charters must be held to a high standard of accountability to ensure they equitably serve all students, Representatives learned at House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing today.
“In many ways, charter schools have been teaching us what is possible when it comes to educating kids—and their work helps break down many of the stereotypes that all too often plague kids who happen to be from the wrong zip code,” said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the committee. “However, when a charter school falls short of that promise, we owe it to the students, families, and teachers to hold the school responsible for improvement—and close it if necessary. Like other public schools, it’s vital that charter schools are held to a high standard of accountability. Every school in every neighborhood needs to be serving students and parents and delivering on the promise of quality education. And all schools need to equitably serve all students. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: no kid should be trapped in a failing school—charter or noncharter. We must treat all public schools as part of the solution.”
Charter schools are given public dollars and extra flexibility in exchange for a commitment to improve students’ education. The have used this flexibility to develop new methods for educating students – particularly those who have been traditionally disadvantaged.
“Charter schools allow opportunity for improvement, innovation and site-based decision-making. And with timeliness of implementation, comes better understanding of which strategies lead to academic improvement and actually benefit students,” said David Linzey, Executive Director of Concord, CA’s Clayton Valley Charter High School, a conversion charter school that has demonstrated significant academic gains for all students. “This understanding leads to transfer of best practices – even to our traditional, non-charter school neighbors.”
Successful innovations born out of charter schools can benefit all students and all public schools, through meaningful collaboration between charters, districts, and communities.
“In Denver, we see the growth and achievement of the charter school sector as a necessary—but not sufficient—component of a larger strategy that focuses on ensuring equity of access to high quality education for all students,” said Alyssa Whitehead-Bust, Chief of Innovation and Reform, Denver Public Schools. “We see collaboration and transfer of promising practices as an equally, if not more, important component of our strategy.”
There has been considerable committee action on the federal Charter School Program (CSP), which supports the planning, development, and initial implementation, of charter schools. In July of 2013, the Democratic substitute to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act included reauthorization of the CSP with increased emphasis on accountability and transparency for charter schools. Committee Democrats are committed to promoting quality, increasing access and services for students with disabilities and English Learners, and improving accountability for charter schools.
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