Not enough autonomy for charter schools

Charter School Autonomy: A half-broken promise is the title of a brand new study released April 28, 2010, by The Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Charter schools are semi-independent public schools that have increased autonomy in exchange for accountability. Alas, the teeter-totter.

The increased freedom is designed to permit charter schools to be innovative—thinking and trying things education outside the traditional chalk-box.

Charters answer to their authorizer in regards to fiscal responsibility and student performance. In other words, are the charters good stewards of received public funds and are they worthy of teaching our children?

However, just as in any other organization type (ex. banking, insurance) when something goes awry--even if it’s not mainstream behavior—it is usually the autonomy that suffers.

So after nearly two decades of charter school history, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute is asking how much meddling is going on in the charter business.

Too much, says the report. And it’s not always the authorizer’s fault. Sometimes it’s goofy state laws that are limiting innovation breathing room. The most common culprit by far: teacher certifications.

Read the report to learn more, and also check out the specific state-by-state information, all available here.

The Education Gadfly’s opinion can be found here.