+- Punaweb Forum (http://punaweb.org/forum)
+-- Forum: Punaweb Forums (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Punatalk (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=10)
+--- Thread: Gone from Public to Charter school? (/showthread.php?tid=2020)
Gone from Public to Charter school? - ohanamama - 04-02-2008
I would like to know how much better the charter schools really are.
My kids are doing well getting good grades and are fairly well accepted-so far-in Keaau middle and elementary. I was unable to get them in any charter schools when we moved here,( and we can't afford private) so how guilty should I feel? Should I change to charter schools if/when its available? Uproot the kids (again) for a presumably better education, or leave them in the local schools? Although my kids get good grades, I doubt they're going to Harvard...I assume they will go to Hawaii University, and I would think the A's are the same in whether it's public or charter.
As parents we give our kids the tools and motivation to learn, parents are the key.
I guess I am leaning towards just keeping them in public schools, I think that if more people went to public schools the ratings would improve and things could change...perhaps I am too naive!!
So, for those of you who have had children in the public schools and then sent them to charter, how much better was it? How was the change?
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - aikahimomma - 04-02-2008
i would like to know that too!
i have a feeling most folks that want their kids in charter schools are new to Hawaii and have a hard time seeing the adjustment it takes for mainland kids to adapt to local schools, kids, and ways.
Its unfortunate to me cause i think it is in school that you do learn to adjust to life here and the local ways...
i think the teachers are great in public school..it's the kids, and of course the parents that make or break it...
i'm sure this observation will cause flame action! let er rip
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - Guest - 04-02-2008
As of 3/10/2006, only two of Hawaii’s 23 start-up charter schools, including Myron B. Thompson and West Hawaii Explorations Academy, and no conversion charter schools, have received WASC accreditation
So then what is Accreditation and why is it important?
Well because it fits the WASC Criteria.
This article gives some other info on how the "State" feels about charters.
Don't shoot the messenger please
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - ohanamama - 04-02-2008
Wow, I never caught that the charter schools were not accredited, I guess I just assumed all schools were, however, It doesn't look like that affects the chances of getting into UH,(unless you transfer from another college) but some other colleges YES! This link is from one of the pages Damon posted: http://doe.k12.hi.us/reports/accreditation.htm
it lists all the schools which are accredited and those that are candidates. It seems like the DOE is saying the charter schools are not meeting the same standards the public schools are. How true is that? I bet there are alot of ways that info can be interpreted. Food for thought.
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - pslamont - 04-02-2008
Hawaii has a lot of Public Charter Schools.
http://165.248.6.166/data/schoollist_pcs.asp
Note that Charter schools ARE public schools
http://www.hcsao.org/hicharters/profiles
Hawaii Charter Schools Law is ranked near the bottom in the nation by CER (Center for Education Reform -
http://www.edreform.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=states§ionID=58&stateID=9&altCol=2&thisSectionID=34
just a little Info. Using the great minds here to address the weaknesses in Hawaii Law would be in keeping with the punaweb concept of serving the community.
I ask you to consider stopping complainging about how things are now and look into what you can do with Hawaii Public Charter School Law to make it strong!
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - pslamont - 04-02-2008
By the way, you understand that Accreditation is by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (not the government; it is a private organization).
One pays for Accreditation Evaluation.
Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC Fee Schedule 2007–2008
California and Hawaii
Membership (Listing) Fees
Annual installment of accreditation costs (Secondary schools – accredited or candidate).................................................$ 650.00
Annual installment of accreditation costs (Intermediate schools – accredited or candidate)..............................................$ 650.00
Annual installment of accreditation costs (Elementary schools – accredited or candidate)................................................$ 500.00
Annual installment – Postsecondary programs............................................................$ 900.00
Annual installment – Multi-campus schools (three or more campuses)...................................................................................$ 900.00
Visiting Committee Fees
Fees are payable at the beginning of the school year for full evaluation or three-year term revisit (includes the cost of materials and visiting committee expenses).
Please do not send in payments until you have been invoiced, with the exception of the Initial Visit application fee which should be submitted with the completed Request for WASC Affiliation form.
Full Self-Study fees:
For schools with an enrollment of 149 and under, a three-member committee @ $ 650.00 each member.............................$ 1,950.00
For schools with an enrollment of 150-449, a four-member committee @ $ 650.00 each member...............................$ 2,600.00
For schools with an enrollment of 450-749, a five-member committee @ $ 650.00 each member...............................$ 3,250.00
For schools with an enrollment of 750-1499, a six-member committee @ $ 650.00 each member.................................$ 3,900.00
For schools with an enrollment of 1500-2499, a seven-member committee @ $ 650.00 each member............................$ 4,550.00
For schools with an enrollment of 2500 and up, an eight-member committee @ $ 650.00 each member...........................$ 5,200.00
The placement of an additional member or a student on a visiting committee at the specific request of school...................................$ 650.00
Initial Visit fees...............................................................................................................$ 750.00
(non-refundable Initial Visit application fee......................$ 150.00)
(Initial Visit fee..................................................................$ 600.00)
Three-Year Term Revisit fee (two- to five-member visiting committee)........$ 475.00 per member
Substantive Change Visit fee (for each site)...................................................................$ 400.00
Revisit fee, Midterm Review fee, or Special Visit fee (one-day, on-site visit by a two-member visiting committee).................................................................$ 750.00
Postponement, Restructuring of Visiting Committee, Cancellation fee after visiting team is in place...............................................................................$ 500.00
Validation fee (appeal)....................................................................................................$ 750.00
Fee Schedule effective 7/01/07.
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - Guest - 04-02-2008
quote:
Originally posted by pslamont
One pays for Accreditation Evaluation....
I believe the State covers that cost for the charter schools as well as the public ones.
I also think that most of the Charters that tried to get accredited... failed.
MOST Colleges and universities examine transcripts to determine if the students have attended accredited institutions. California colleges won't take students from high schools that aren't accredited.
Charters can petition, *edit* but getting accredited takes more than just money.[
]I like the charter philosophy... it's the legality issues that some face that seem to make them a difficult sell for me.
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - Guest - 04-02-2008
quote:
Originally posted by pslamont
...Note that Charter schools ARE public schools
http://www.hcsao.org/hicharters/profiles...
I was looking at the above site and linked to this page which specifically states:
All Charter Schools Are Encouraged to Attain Accreditation
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - ohanamama - 04-02-2008
quote:What Pslamot says about Hawaii Public Charter Law could (and should) be applied just as well to our Public Schools.
I ask you to consider stopping complainging about how things are now and look into what you can do with Hawaii Public Charter School Law to make it strong!
I do appreciate the statistics, and I must say that those statistics don't seem so great- but that only gives you part of the story, I would like to hear from those with the personal experience who have gone from public to charter schools and how were they different? Anyone out there?
RE: Gone from Public to Charter school? - pslamont - 04-02-2008
Ohanamama - My apologies. I did not mean to hijack your subject. And my point isn't that the schools are bad; it is that in spite of awful laws and roadblocks, parents continue to choose charter schools for the benefits they offer!
My very close neighbor has her kids in the Volcano charter school and says she has NO regrets; it has been awesome.
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!