Charter school

“ Charter schools are unique because they are public schools operating under a contract from a public agency. In exchange for increased flexibility in teaching methods and curricula, these schools promise to meet strict accountability standards designed to improve student performance. Four hundred new charter schools opened in 32 states for the 2004-2005 school year, and there are nearly 3,400 charter schools serving almost one million children in America. These institutions have provided a valuable alternative to families throughout the country. ”

“ I commend our Nation's successful public charter schools, teachers, and administrators, and I call on States and communities to empower parents and families by supporting high-quality charter schools as an important school choice option. ”

“ We've also worked hard to promote the creativity, competition, and accountability that can turn around failing schools and make our good schools even better. That's the big reason I've encouraged States to pass charter school laws and urge communities all across our country to give charter schools a chance. ”

“ High-quality charter school– The term high-quality charter school means a charter school that—
(A) shows evidence of strong academic results, which may include strong academic growth as determined by a State; (B) has no significant issues in the areas of student safety, financial management, or statutory or regulatory compliance; (C) has demonstrated success in significantly increasing student academic achievement and attainment for all students served by the charter school ”

“ Strong schools are the building blocks of a prosperous and hopeful country. To ensure that all our children receive the education they need to succeed, schools must be innovative, accountable, and committed to student achievement. The charter school movement was founded on these principles and has played an important role in expanding educational choices in America. This week, we highlight the importance of charter schools and recognize their contributions to American education. ”

“ The right way to do this is by empowering more parents and students to choose the public schools they attend and by bringing more charter schools to more communities.
Since I became President, the number of public charter schools in America has grown from one to 700. Parents, educators, and community leaders are creating and operating these new schools within the public school system that are freed from bureaucratic redtape but accountable to parents, students, and communities that support them. And they stay open only if they meet the high standards of performance. ”

“ But right now, there are many caps on how many charter schools are allowed in some states, no matter how well they're preparing our students. That isn't good for our children, our economy, or our country. Of course, any expansion of charter schools must not result in the spread of mediocrity, but in the advancement of excellence. And that will require states adopting both a rigorous selection and review process to ensure that a charter school's autonomy is coupled with greater accountability –- as well as a strategy, like the one in Chicago, to close charter schools that are not working. ”

“ The agency shall ensure that each school district or open-enrollment charter school teaches civics education as part of the district's social studies curriculum in a manner consistent with the essential knowledge and skills adopted under Subsection (h-2) . ”

“ Records transfer State educational agencies and local educational agencies, as quickly as possible and to the extent practicable, shall ensure that a student’s records and, if applicable, a student’s individualized education program as defined in section 602 (14) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, are transferred to a charter school upon the transfer of the student to the charter school, and to another public school upon the transfer of the student from a charter school to another public school, in accordance with applicable State law. ”

“ I call on parents of charter school children to share their success stories with others so that all Americans may learn more about charter schools and their important work. I commend the States with charter schools. ”

“ Fifth, every state should give parents the power to choose the right public school for their children. Their right to choose will foster competition and innovation that can make public schools better. We should also make it possible for more parents and teachers to start charter schools, schools that set and meet the highest standards and exist only as long as they do. ”

“ I challenge every state to give all parents the right to choose which public school their children will attend; and to let teachers form new schools with a charter they can keep only if they do a good job. ”

“ Because they are subject to fewer State and district regulations than other public schools, charter schools offer teachers and administrators more freedom in tailoring programs to meet specific student and community needs. ”

“ It should fund innovative charter schools so that parents and teachers can bring the benefits of choice and competition to our public schools. It should fully fund after-school programs, so young people learn their lessons in the classroom, not the streets. ”

“ Employees of Bureau-funded schools sharing a campus with a charter school and performing functions related to the charter schools operation and employees of a charter school shall not be treated as Federal employees for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code. ”

“ Support High-Quality Schools and Close Low-Performing Charter Schools: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will double funding for the Federal Charter School Program to support the creation of more successful charter schools. The Obama-Biden administration will provide this expanded charter school funding only to states that improve accountability for charter schools, allow for interventions in struggling charter schools and have a clear process for closing down chronically underperforming charter schools. ”

“ Alternative governance.— ``Not later than the beginning of the school year following the year in which the local educational agency implements subparagraph (A) , the local educational agency shall implement one of the following alternative governance arrangements for the school consistent with State law: `` (i) Reopening the school as a public charter school. `` (ii) Replacing all or most of the school staff (which may include the principal) who are relevant to the failure to make adequate yearly progress. ”

“ These schools are helping us to meet many of our Nation's most important education goals. They are driving change in public schools across America by showing the benefits of greater parent participation, longer school years, higher academic standards, and character education. Charter schools offer reform, innovation, and increased choice in public education, and, by doing so, they spur improvement throughout our public school system. ”

“ Education provides the staircase out of poverty, toward a fulfilling life of work and service, and a true shot at the American Dream. We want every student ‐‐ from New Orleans to Kansas City, from Houston to Detroit, and every city and town in between ‐‐ to rise to success. Charter schools have tremendous potential to offer students around the country the priceless gift of possibility. As a Nation, we should support the continued success of charter schools and hold our students up to the high standards they are all capable of achieving. ”

“ The effects of charter schools extend beyond the schoolhouse walls. Wherever charter schools are clustered together, we see traditional schools reevaluate their methods and programs. At this basic level, charter schools help stimulate community debate and inspire educational excellence. ”

“ To provide for other evaluations or studies that include the evaluation of the impact of charter schools on student academic achievement, including information regarding— `` (A) students attending charter schools reported on the basis of race, age, disability, gender, limited English proficiency, and previous enrollment in public school; and `` (B) the professional qualifications of teachers within a charter school and the turnover of the teaching force. `` (3) To provide— `` (A) information to applicants for assistance under this subpart ”

“ Dissemination.— `` (A) In general.—A charter school may apply for funds under this subpart, whether or not the charter school has applied for or received funds under this subpart for planning, program design, or implementation, to carry out the activities described in subparagraph (B) if the charter school has been in operation for at least 3 consecutive years and has demonstrated overall success, including— `` (i) substantial progress in improving student academic achievement; `` (ii) high levels of parent satisfaction ”

“ Nor is the public character of a school changed by the fact that private citizens may have contributed to its maintenance, if such contributors do not assume to stand in the relation of founders. It is well understood that the beneficial founder of a school is he who makes the first gift or bequest to it, and the legal founder is the government which grants a charter, or in any way confers upon it a corporate existence. If a town establish a high school, as in Bernardston to-day, and accept a gift or bequest, the character of the school is not changed thereby. ”

“ We must ensure that all students receive a high-quality education that delivers the knowledge and skills needed to succeed, and that young men and women stay on the path to graduation and a life-long commitment to learning. Many successful public charter schools across the Nation are working to meet these goals. Founded by parents, teachers, and civic or community organizations, our Nation's public charter schools enjoy broad leeway to innovate. ”