Fixing public education, pt. 8: Charter schools – the good, the bad and the ugly

Editor's note: Latest in a series. The original intent behind the idea of public charter schools was well intentioned. The goals were to create schools which, free from restrictions, could better serve niche groups of kids, provide a place for innovative new teaching and create places where kids who didn't "fit in" or thrive in standard school could find a home. For example, a STEM school that could focus resources in science and draw kids from low-income and well-off populations. They wouldn't have to spend money on sports and could attract high-quality science teachers. There was also hope charters could become a place where neuro-atypical learners would find the kind of teaching they needed and a community without stigma. Some of those types of schools have been created by the charter movement. However, they share the field with some purely evil charters. To be clear, how much of each kind of charter school you have in your state varies tremendously based on your state laws. All charter schools in all states will receive money from the state for each student. That's how they are all funded. With public money. They are "technically" listed as non-profits. However, whoever decides to start a charter school can play some legal but immoral games. Let's say, "Grade A charter school" is formed. They then do what's called a "sweeps contract" with "Grade A Schooling Management Group." In this contract, all monies obtained (from taxpayers public school funds) by the charter school for student education goes directly to the "Management Group" company for them to manage the school. The "Management" company can distribute the money any way it wishes. The result is huge cuts to money spent on students and teachers. Big salaries for principals and superintendents. Who are often the employees of the "Management Group company." In states that block large payments to contractors, the "Management Group" will rent property to the school at very high rates. Again, this public taxpayer money is siphoned off from education and given in a "legal" payment to a private citizen. The "Management Group" will find every loophole for siphoning money to private individuals. This is going on all across the country. Some of the worst states are Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Arizona. Many billions – yes, billions – of dollars are being pilfered from taxpayers and our children by these shady deals. Furthermore, while these so-called public charters are technically required to take all students who apply without screening them, the truth is they have remarkably few kids with learning disabilities enrolled. Many have few low-income or minority-group kids. Many have also been found to inflate their enrollment and attendance numbers. Many have poor academic outcomes and graduation rates. Some states are working to rein in and close the loopholes these "school management companies" have used to drain money from schools, taxpayers and kids. However, other states continue to allow them more and more opportunity. In the middle of this, we add "charter homeschooling" organizations. These organizations provide supervisory services to parents who want to home school with help. Typically, the charter obtains the per-student funding from the public school where the child would have gone. With that money, they have teachers who help parents pick curriculum for their kid. Usually, there is a monthly check-in with the teacher. This option is often favored by parents because the charter will also have a list of "vendors" for non-academic or special-needs activities. Like karate or dyslexia intervention. The parents will have a certain amount of discretionary money they can use to spend on these types of vendor services. This can be especially valuable for children with learning disabilities that have been neglected by their public school. (Yeah, not supposed to happen. But this is more the norm than the exception. See my articles on special education.) For a child with dyslexia, this maybe the only way they'll get access to an Orten-Gillingham trained instructor. There are some charter home-school programs that are providing a great service with these set-ups. However, some charter home schools are actually just skimming money off the top. Some states will try to prevent the siphoning of education monies by not allowing charter vendors. Unfortunately, that can block parents from using home-school charter money to pay for things like special education interventions. The result is a battle between well-intentioned legislators who are trying to stop the immoral actions of bad charters and parents for whom traditional public schooling has failed. The fact is that many families find public school problematic for their kids. Kids grow up fast. You can't sit around waiting for the system to fix itself. Thus, we find a substantial number of parents who have become invested in the hope charters offer. Often, the amount of education money that is being siphoned out of their school is not seen by parents until too late. So there you have it. The good intentions. The bad players. The ugly truth of children's unmet needs in public and charter schools alike. Kathleen Cawley is working on a book about public education reform and special education issues. If you are a parent, teacher or school professional, she'd like to tell your story. Everything will, of course, be confidential. Reach her at 241kcawley@gmail.com.