Jim, are you asking how much it costs a school district to start and maintain a charter school on a yearly basis, as opposed to a "regular" district school? I really don't know. My basic understanding of charter schools is that they are publicly funded, but given great leeway to experiment, and to attempt to meet the needs of a particular neighborhood or group of parents, by specializing in one subject, like science, for example.
In San Francisco, in the mostly black ghetto, there is a school which is either a charter or magnet school, which receives extra federal funding because of the way it is set up. Computers are provided for each student, almost all of whom are very poor, at the beginning of the year. The students take them home. This subtly involves the parents and younger siblings, drawing them into a more technological mind-set. Of course, these kinds of employment skills are necessary for the future, so it is really a brilliant idea, I think. At the same time, parental involvement is required at school, and particularly educating the parents how to create an environment which fosters learning, and supports homework and high achievement.
So I would argue that even if charter schools are more expensive, the potential benefit to the larger society is worth the investment.
What is your island of choice, anyway? |
