No Big Island Charter Schools to benefit

[snorkle]

In the wake of the teachers union dissing Governor Abercrombie, the state coincidentally is releasing 62.4 million dollars in funding to the DOE. Also coincidentally, none of this money will go to our Public Charter Schools; who are again left abandoned on the roadside.

Vote him out.

[coastal]

According to the Hawaii State Department of Education website, "Hawaii's public charter schools are operated and managed by independent governing boards. They operate under a performance contract with the State Public Charter School Commission."

I thought that Charter schools were independent from the local school districts. That they didn't want to be associated with the public school system, and that includes funding. If the state starts giving funding to private or public charter schools, I would object as a tax payer. Why not just have the kids attend the local primary and secondary schools. That way the funding all goes to those taxpayer funded institutions, and they in turn have the ability to improve their teaching, etc. I'm not sure with this, you can have your cake, and eat it too. You either want your kids in the school system, or if you don't - and you put them in public/private charter schools, you understand that you are opting out of that system, and no funding comes with your decision to opt out.

Of course, I could be completely missing the point.

[snorkle]

Quote Coastal; "That they(charter schools)didn't want to be associated with the public school system, and that includes funding."
_____________________________________________________________________

Wrong

The Public Charter Schools DO operate on State funding; just less of it. They are part of the public school system, but get less per student; and have to pay for their own facilities and infrastructure. In other words, they do more with less, and are thriving in spite of this.

The autonomy that Public Charter Schools desire isn't funding, but freedom from the top heavy DOE bureaucracy that infests our inefficient state school system.

The DOE refuses to support the Charter Schools because their autonomy threatens Oahu's centralized, inefficient, top heavy control.

This is a political ploy by Neil to get votes.

[coastal]

Well they should get less state funding, and in my opinion they should receive no funding what-so-ever. Why should parents who don't like the system, be allowed to opt-out, AND take their funding with them. In my opinion, that's not right (and I am entitled to my opinion). If it's a political ploy by the governor to get votes - it works!

[snorkle]

Again coastal,

The Charter Schools ARE part of the system. They are State PUBLIC Schools. There is no "opting out" involved.

Their only crime is that their efficiency and educational innovation is a threat to the desk jockeys that never see the inside of a classroom.
____________________________________________________________________
edit;

Why do most of Hawaii's State Public Charter Schools have a waiting list to get in?

Why would a responsible parent choose to send their child to an underfunded State Public School?

Well,.... because they work.

[coastal]

Snorkle - how right you are! A little more digging and this is what i found out.

In Hawaii, charter schools are public schools operated and managed by independent governing boards. They are innovative, outcome-based public schools operating under a performance contract with the State Public Charter School Commission (SPCSC). Although they are funded on a "per-pupil" basis separately from Department of Education-operated schools, charter schools are open-enrollment public schools that serve all students and do not charge tuition.

[snorkle]

Mahalo coastal,

You should feel free to stop by one of the Island's innovative Charter Schools for a tour. (Please check in at the Office, or call first).

Hawaii Academy of Art and Science (HAAS), in Pahoa.
Connections Public Charter School, Bayfront, Hilo.
West Hawaii Explorations Academy, Kailua Kona.

These are just a few of the Island's Charter Schools that are free to offer programs that are unavailable to regular DOE students. CNC design and manufacturing, Ocean Science, and other project based, hands on learning experiences.

[csgray]

Hawaii Charter Schools are Hawaii PUBLIC schools serving all Hawaii students who apply! We are NOT private schools or elitist schools that pick and chose who to take. Both charter schools I've taught at were over 80% free and reduced lunch population and both had much higher than average numbers of special education students. These are families whose childrenwere not getting the education they needed at the large DOE schools.

Here in Hawaii there are no "local districts" we are the only state in the country with just one school district, which means no local control or variation from district to district. Hawaii public charter schools were started by parents and teachers who were frustrated with the one size fits all Hawaii DOE approach to education, where students who did not fit into a specific mold had to change to fit the schools. On the mainland if you don't like your school district you can just move to a different one, without having to change jobs, or even town. In Hawaii you have to leave the state unless you send your kid to a charter school. Charter schools are required to meet all the same testing and performance mandates as every other public school in Hawaii, but have to do so with about 1/2 the funding when you take into account facilities funding. This year has been the worst funded year yet for Hawaii Charter schools, and we can really feel it in the classroom, as we already had cut everything we could outside of the classroom before cutting in the classroom. My fellow charter school teachers are some of the hardest working professionals I've ever met, but we cannot keep up this pace for much longer without burning out. If you care about your local charter schools please lean on the legislature to vote for equitable funding for charter schools this session.

Carol

[Cheerio]

Just a quick thought on Hawaii public charters:

Many have fought charter schools long and hard here in Washington State, where public schools are generally excellent.

However, the public school system in Hawaii has some problems, as may of us know. Enter charter schools to give an alternative.

I am a candidate for a position at a charter school next fall, and I couldn't be more excited. Hawaii schools ARE funded by the state, and they have given some very cool opportunities to underprivileged families who perhaps could not afford the "different" curriculum offered in a private school setting. For instance, Hawaiian immersion schools offering content taught to students in dual languages. Also, the Waldorf school in Kealakekua, now a charter that offers whole-child education coupled with outdoor ed (on a 40 acre farm!). Previously, these educational opportunities were just limited to the families that could afford them.

also, Carol (csgray) works for a charter school, and I'm sure is the very best source of information on the topic - she has helped me immensely.

I will be curious to talk more about funding as I continue the dialogue with the school I hope to work for soon.

[eigoya]

Two of my kids were in charter schools in Alaska. However, the lottery system (because of their popularity) was frustrating to say the least ( see documentary The Lottery about NYC). We were #1 of 88 families for one Montessori k-8 and got called in late Nov for a seat for son immediately. I said YES but realized riding a bike, even two 1/2 miles, at -25 in the dark and across one highway was probably fool hearty and I could not mid term change my hours to get there. The following year, again, lottery but vacancies came available earlier (sept) and they both went to great (albeit 7 mile drive apart) schools. Great. Although I have put name in for HAAS two years, the calls came too late for us and frankly I don't have the stomach for lottery suspense anymore....