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By: Writing Updated 29 Sea 2022, 04 : 29 pm EDT
California is the second state to start creating charter schools in 1992 with the goal of improving student learning through different and innovative teaching methods.
All charter schools—or autonomous schools—are free public schools, open to all students, regardless of zip code, indicates the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
The charter school model empowers teachers to deliver innovative, high-quality instruction and gives them the autonomy to design a classroom that fits the needs of their students.
In California there are 1,300 charter schools serving approximately 700, students. Of the total, there are 280 charter schools—51 affiliates and 229 independent—under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest school district in the nation. These serve more than 100,000 students from kindergarten to grade 12. On its website, LAUSD indicates that it views charter schools as an integral part of the District’s offerings and an opportunity to teach both students and educators.
There are two types of charter schools in the district: “Conversion” and “Start-up”.
Conversion charter schools are existing district schools that are converted to charters. Start-up schools are those that are created from scratch by any member of the public: educators, parents, foundations and others.
The LAUSD indicates that charter schools cannot be a conversion of a private school, must not be sectarian, cannot discriminate, cannot charge tuition, must achieve a racial and ethnic balance that reflects the population of the District, and cannot force students to attend or teachers to be employed.
When a charter school is approved in Los Angeles, LAUSD grants a letter of up to five years for function as an official school. Charter schools are open to any child who resides in the State of California and wishes to attend. If the number of students exceeds the charter school’s capacity, the charter school determines admission based on a lottery.
Helping during the pandemic
The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), indicated in its most recent report that its students face many learning challenges during the covid pandemic-18. Long periods out of school decreased their socio-emotional well-being causing stress and depression in some students.
This led to the 93% of public charter schools will use some of their covid relief funds-19 to make “significant new investments” in its socio-emotional and mental health supports, according to data from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
The report “Are the Kids OK?” (Are the Kids Okay?) noted that to prevent long-term physical and mental problems, such as high blood pressure and an impaired immune system, charter schools sought out information and have been offering programs and strategies to support students and their families. families.
Charter schools are a better option
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools revealed studies showing that children who attend high-performing charter schools can significantly increase the achievement of poor urban students including the possibility of teenage pregnancy.
It also showed that students attending charter schools high achievers for four years or more excel in math and reading and are more likely to attend college.
Additionally, the CCSA revealed that Of the almost 90,04 principals of public schools in the United States, the 80 % are white, the 10 % Black and 7% Latino, compared to nearly half of the student population who identify as a person of color. In California, 60% of public school students are Latinos or African Americans, while only the 10% of teachers share that background.
Charter schools are focusing on these numbers and making sure students are exposed to a leader make it look like them, especially in low-income schools.
Parents interested in getting involved in charter schools can get more information at: https://www.ccsa.org/get-involved