Parental choice for schools

In January 2003 a bill will be introduced again to our Maine legislators enabling parents and high school students to expand public school options by allowing them the free choice of schools. The Maine Association for Charter Schools, established in 1998, supports this bill which was defeated in 2000, and narrowly in 2001. In response to the proposed legislation in 2001, however, An Act to Encourage Educational Options was passed which was intended to encourage more alternative education programs and more school-based management. Although many parents of teens have taken advantage of their districts’ alternative education programs as a more inclusive program for their student, there are many more parents who are not aware that an alternative educational program exists.

Public charter schools, or perhaps more adroitly called chartered public schools, embrace progressive and innovative methodology aimed at reaching all students, and especially those who become dysfunctional in a traditional setting. The concept is to offer a community-based public school that runs on a teacher-parent “charter” used to designate accountability for learning in exchange for flexibility in how each school is organized and operated.

In essence, a charter is a contract written by a governing board of parents and teachers who are concerned about losing bright and capable students to simply a traditional mode of lecture, discipline and-or curriculum. This method of imparting knowledge creates a learning-disabled environment, not a learning-disabled student.

The modus operandi of the charter school system is, “They have a right to learn,” with a mission of educating all students, in a style that is more meaningful to the student. In this information age, this fast-paced flash of visuals and auditory learning, how can we expect them to sit through a curriculum that is 25 years old and taught like it is 25 years ago? After all, we, as adults, don’t learn our jobs this way, and we shouldn’t expect our children, whom we know are capable, to either. The adage “If it worked for me, it’ll work for them” is just that – an adage. It doesn’t work for them.

Public charter schools are free, are open to all without admission requirements, are non-religion-based and have been operating in more than 40 states, the first one being opened in Minnesota in 1991. They have a minimum class size (depending on the charter), they may operate at hours that are compatible with parent work schedules, and teen-age sleep schedules, they follow Maine Learning Results’ compulsory mandates, and public charter schools employ certified teachers and faculty who share a common, caring philosophy about kids and how they learn. A charter school would be available to all, regardless of district, and there is currently $198 million in federal money, including start-up cost, available to grant to new charter schools.

Some have heard that charter schools have failed to prove accountability and learning, and that charter schools “take away money from public schools.” Over 61 studies have found that “charter schools have been innovative, accountable and successful and have created opportunities for the children who attend them.” (Center for Education Reform, http://www.edreform.com and www.edreform.com)

And I would argue that a community with operating public schools that have satisfied parents and students will not have the climate necessary to rally to establish a new public chartered school; therefore, will lose no money in funding, and that these schools should be awarded accolades. However, the districts whose families are becoming disenfranchised with either the climate of their schools or the programs offered will have an option if a charter school is established in their area.

Studies also indicate that while reform is indeed needed, more stan-dardized testing, and more mandates for teachers and administrators, are not working.

The public charter school as reform is at least worth a shot. Dropout rates are increasing, and so are homeschooled students. (http://www.state.me/education/enroll and www.state.me/education/enroll/)

I have been a teacher for 10 years, and a parent for 16. As a teacher, I know the struggle with mandates, meetings, new rules and regulations, curriculum changes, more testing and government and administration that is never happy with the status quo – all in name of “reform.” As a parent, I have experienced frustration with educational policy that conflicts with the academic and emotional needs of my children.

Teachers want to teach. Public schools should want to offer programs that allow for the most positive learning, in the most positive learning environment, and parents, although traditionally cannot, should be able to choose where and how their children are educated. As intellectual growth and flexibility becomes a conflict of interest when having to deal with a top-down system, ultimately students’ needs – who are what this thing is all about – come last in the pyramid.

I urge all parents and guardians who have struggled with their student and educational policy, and are interested in keeping them engaged and in school, to contact legislators. Ask them how they stand on parental choice; ask them if they know that this is a matter of grave importance.

Our children depend on us to support them. This is the 21st century. It is our responsibility to change, to listen to our children, to do something different, and to make sure they are educated members of our community and society. This is definitely an “it’s broke, let’s fix it” situation. The Band-Aid policies aren’t working. Granted, change is difficult, so let’s start at the beginning, and work our way back to schools in which our children flourish, not flounder. We need our legislators to understand that this is our government and these are our children, and Maine, like other states, should be about parental choice for schools in 2003 – if we can give laptops to seventh-graders.

For more information on charter schools please contact me at 262-9447, and http://www.mainecharterschools.org, www.mainecharterschools.org or e-mail macs@mainecharterschools.org.

Cheryl Saliwanchik-Brown teaches English in the Alternative Education Program of the Bangor School Department.