The buzz around town is that girls and boys learn differently. Some people feel they should be taught separately and not allowed to interact with each other during the school day except for lunch. I agree with this somewhat. I believe that girls and boys do learn differently; however, I don't think it necessary to isolate them from each other during the entire day. They should have more interaction other than at lunch. After all, if the gender separation is done at the elementary school and the middle school that these students will attend does not practice this type of grouping, then the students may not know how to interact peacefully with each other. If the separation is done at the midddle school level and the high school does not practice it, then the situation may even be worse. I can see separating by gender for core classes, especially math and Science, but there should be some flexibility with elective courses. We know that there are colloeges that practice gender separation, but even some of them allow the other gender to attend classes on their campus. So then what was the purpose of creating the single gender school in the first place?
I've taught middle and high school. There can be some distractions from both the male and female sides. Sometimes girls don't even get along with other girls, but I've rarely seen that problem with boys. They are usually immature and play around too often. I would like to see some concrete data verifying that students perform better when they are separated by gender. One of our neighboring school districts is in its third year of practicing this at one of their middle schools. This year it was supposed to extend to the high school level, but I don't think that idea went over well with the students. The parents had their own ideas about what they wanted, but the bottom line is that the students have to be receptive in order for it to work-especially at that age level. What are your feelings about single gender classes?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Funding for Charter Schools
Charter schools across the country struggle with funding issues constantly. Most of us do not receive funds from local property taxes, which can account for as much as 50% of our funds. In our state, our school district has the option of passing those funds on to us. Of course, they choose not to. In any given year, that amounts to nearly $500,000. What do you suppose they are doing with this surplus of funds? We are educating the students; however, they get to keep the funds. It is not fair, but that is the way the law was crafted. Many people believe that the legislators purposely wrote the law in such a manner so that charter scchools in this state would close due to financial issues. That has happened to a few of our 31 charter schools; however, the rest of us hold fundraisers and whatever to bring in extra funds.
There are many other funds that charter schools do not receive from their districts. There are numerous funds from the state and federal governments that are allocated to students for different reasons. Oftentimes we are not aware of those special funds. If we don't ask for the funds, then we don't receive them. Title I funds are discretionary because the district can dictate each year which schools qualify. Strangely enough, our school which has about 78% free/reduced lunch rate has never qualified. However, schools with the same percentage as ours has.
During our first year of operation, we had to spend nearly $54,000 in catered meals for our students because the district refused to provide lunch service. The State Department of Education agreed that the district was obligated to; however, they could not force them to provide the meals. Fortunately, we have a new Superintendent of Education who is supportive of all types of school choice (except vouchers) and he is trying to make sure we receive those services to which we are entitled.
We do not receive any funds for facilities or transportation, but we're not giving up. New legislation is being presented in the next general session to address the transportation funding. Overall, we are making progress in the funding process. We're in our fourth year of operation. It has not been easy.
There are many other funds that charter schools do not receive from their districts. There are numerous funds from the state and federal governments that are allocated to students for different reasons. Oftentimes we are not aware of those special funds. If we don't ask for the funds, then we don't receive them. Title I funds are discretionary because the district can dictate each year which schools qualify. Strangely enough, our school which has about 78% free/reduced lunch rate has never qualified. However, schools with the same percentage as ours has.
During our first year of operation, we had to spend nearly $54,000 in catered meals for our students because the district refused to provide lunch service. The State Department of Education agreed that the district was obligated to; however, they could not force them to provide the meals. Fortunately, we have a new Superintendent of Education who is supportive of all types of school choice (except vouchers) and he is trying to make sure we receive those services to which we are entitled.
We do not receive any funds for facilities or transportation, but we're not giving up. New legislation is being presented in the next general session to address the transportation funding. Overall, we are making progress in the funding process. We're in our fourth year of operation. It has not been easy.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Vouchers
Using vouchers to pay for educating students is a big controversial issue in many states. Some feel that public funds should not be used to pay private or parochial schools to educate students coming from public schools. Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), parents in some states are allowed to take their children out of underperforming or failing schools and take them to a school of their choice. It may be to another public school or to a private or parochial school. Many opponents believe that all of the "good" children will leave the failing schools and only the "bad" will remain.
In Florida, vouchers have been the center of attention over the past few years. Court decisions have been rendered only to be reversed by upper courts. Schools that operate soley on vouchers have very limited budgets because vouchers do not fully compensate these schools for the cost of educating children. Like charter schools, schools that are dependent on vouchers make ends meet somehow. Schools that have limited budgets also have employees who perform many tasks. It's part of the job.
In our charter school, one person is the bookkeeper, cafeteria manager, and disciplinarian, and school nurse. The principal pays the bills, handles payoll, teaches two classes, makes sure the budget is balanced, handles curriculum and instruction, orders textbooks, and much more.
Do you think it is fair for public dollars to be used to educate students in a private or parochial school?
In Florida, vouchers have been the center of attention over the past few years. Court decisions have been rendered only to be reversed by upper courts. Schools that operate soley on vouchers have very limited budgets because vouchers do not fully compensate these schools for the cost of educating children. Like charter schools, schools that are dependent on vouchers make ends meet somehow. Schools that have limited budgets also have employees who perform many tasks. It's part of the job.
In our charter school, one person is the bookkeeper, cafeteria manager, and disciplinarian, and school nurse. The principal pays the bills, handles payoll, teaches two classes, makes sure the budget is balanced, handles curriculum and instruction, orders textbooks, and much more.
Do you think it is fair for public dollars to be used to educate students in a private or parochial school?
Charter Schools
Charter schools are increasing in number across the country for various reasons. Many parents prefer the smaller environment for their children because of the increased violence and overcrowding in the traditional public schools today. Parents feel that their children will receive more individualized attention, which will benefit them especially if they are struggling academically.
Charter schools usually operate independently of their school districts; therefore, they are able to be more creative and innovative in their approach to teaching students. Their districts cannot force them to use a certain curriculum that has been brought in by a new superintendent because it may have worked well in his or her previous district or maybe it was presented at a conference and the superintendent decided it would be a good idea to purchase it for the entire district.
The downside is that charter schools are not funded in the same manner as regular schools. I am the principal of a small charter school and we receive about 55% of the funding that our counterparts receive. However, somehow we can make ends meet. Our school has just as much technology as the other schools and we don't feel that our students are lacking in any areas. On second thought, we do need a new facility. Our district has vacant facilities, but will not allow us to use them. One of their facilities has been vandalized, but they just repair the damages and continue to let it sit unoccupied. In my opinion, the taxpayers should be outraged and make a big deal out of this.
How much do you know about charter schools? Would you be willing to venture into such a risky environment?
Charter schools usually operate independently of their school districts; therefore, they are able to be more creative and innovative in their approach to teaching students. Their districts cannot force them to use a certain curriculum that has been brought in by a new superintendent because it may have worked well in his or her previous district or maybe it was presented at a conference and the superintendent decided it would be a good idea to purchase it for the entire district.
The downside is that charter schools are not funded in the same manner as regular schools. I am the principal of a small charter school and we receive about 55% of the funding that our counterparts receive. However, somehow we can make ends meet. Our school has just as much technology as the other schools and we don't feel that our students are lacking in any areas. On second thought, we do need a new facility. Our district has vacant facilities, but will not allow us to use them. One of their facilities has been vandalized, but they just repair the damages and continue to let it sit unoccupied. In my opinion, the taxpayers should be outraged and make a big deal out of this.
How much do you know about charter schools? Would you be willing to venture into such a risky environment?
virtual schools
Online learning and virtual schools are changing the way schools teach and students learn. Just two years ago, online learning was only popular in colleges and universities. However, this new form of education is quickly spreading to K-12 schools. This is a great option for those parents who homeschool their children and are in need of some assistance in certain areas. Several years ago, I was approached by a group of parents who homeschooled their children. They wanted me to provide math instruction; however, they could not afford my fee. Volunteering my services would have been quite a noble gesture, but I could not afford to do so. To me, an easy solution would have been for the families to divide the cost among them so that it would not have been such a burden. I did not hear back from them.Homeschoolers have a wealth of options available to them now. They can interact with other students, including other homeschoolers, and not have to leave home. They can take vacations and not have to miss school. Their seat time is class is easily accounted for.
School Choice
Magnet schools are a form of school choice that districts offer to students who want to specialize in a certain subject matter or certain area of The Arts. Suposedly, all students are given the opportunity to apply and the seletion process is claimed to be fair. However, I've seen many students not get accepted into a magnet program for no good reason other than they just didn't make it in. Sometimes school and district officials are not obligated to provide a reson for why a student did not make the cut. Most of the time, magnet programs are geared toward the gifted and talented. Average students with potential are left out just as they are in the regular setting. There are programs geared toward high achievers and low achievers, but not many specialized programs for those in the middle.
Test scores at magnet schools are generally higher than the regular schools. It should be no surprise why their scores are better-they have the top students.
Do you think magnet schools should reveal their selection criteria? Should the magnet school officials be obligated to reveal to parents of students who were not selected the reason why their child was left out? Do you feel that magnet schools are a true form of school choice even though some who choose to go there can not get in because of the selection process? Magnet schools offer a great service; however, the selection process for some schools needs to be worked on.
Test scores at magnet schools are generally higher than the regular schools. It should be no surprise why their scores are better-they have the top students.
Do you think magnet schools should reveal their selection criteria? Should the magnet school officials be obligated to reveal to parents of students who were not selected the reason why their child was left out? Do you feel that magnet schools are a true form of school choice even though some who choose to go there can not get in because of the selection process? Magnet schools offer a great service; however, the selection process for some schools needs to be worked on.
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