what are the pros and cons of enrolling a child into a charter school?

Question

What have your exeriences been like? recommend or not ? why?

Answer 1

i recommend it....my child was enrolled in a private school that cost me money....they had no enrichment programs, no computers, a television in most classrooms, and for her age level the education was lacking to say the least.....

my daughter is going to a charter school starting Aug 30. the school year is longer for charter schools and much much more to offer her for free....the only thing is it is done by lottery.....but it's worth it. Good luck

Answer 2

You need to do your research... make sure you understand their philosophy & curriculum. If the school does testing, ask to see the scores. If they have some other way of measuring student achievement, ask questions about that. Some charters are no better than local public schools so you are no better off...it's important they have a strong principal and a clear vision of where the school is going.

Some charters are real gems. Usually they have better systems in place to deal with discipline issues (because often they have waiting lists, so kids can lose their spots). They might provide special opportunities like studying foreign languages. They might require parental involvement, which is better for kids & the school but requires your time & commitment.

My child attended a charter that used the international baccalaureate primary program and enrolled about 50% non-native English speakers. It was an awesome experience for us because the curriculum was challenging, all children received foreign language instruction, the school day included 3 recesses per day (some schools in the county had 0), and all parents were required to perform community service to the school--everyone who was there wanted to be there and was committed to the program. My daughter was exposed to children from dozens of cultures and every religion; it was an incredibly rich experience. My husband was transferred and leaving the school was definitely the hardest part of the move. I would without hesitation recommend that particular charter, but I can't speak to any other school.

Answer 3

I teach at a Charter School. I know it is the right place for me. The reason I am such a firm believer in Charter Schools is because they give parents a choice. I think you should check out the school. Take some time to check out the classrooms, talk to the administration and teachers, compare test scores, and do your best to figure out if the school is going to be a good fit for your family.
Here is why Charter schools generally (I can't speak for all Charters) are right for me:

1. Parents have a lot of say and pull in a Charter School. Charter Schools really encourage parents to be involved in their children's education.

2. Teachers are held to a higher standard than they are at public schools - for example, many charter's don't offer tenure to their teachers - which for me, means I am always doing my best because I know I am always being watched and people are staying on top of me making sure I am doing my best.

3. The school is more locally run, i.e. parents and teachers and administration have a lot more say whereas in most districts, big decisions are made on a district level by people who may have never set foot in the school

4. At a charter school, we have more freedom to make decisions that are good for our school (not an entire district)

5. Charter Schools feel more like a family than the public schools I've been in, because a Charter is more of a collaboration between students, parents, teachers, and admin, there is a very strong relationship between those parties.

6. Charter schools usually hold themselves (teachers, parents, and students) to a higher standard. Everyone is expected to achieve higher than they may be at a traditional public school.

I don't want to be viewed as being anti-public school, Charters are public schools, and all of the above are totally my own opinions based on the experiences I've had.