Charter Schools: A Reference Handbook

By Danny K. Weil

From zero in 1991 to 3,800 eighteen years later, charter schools (public schools under contract) today educate well over a million students. This updated edition examines the unusual experiment that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1576072452
• ISBN13: 9781576072455
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: ABC-CLIO
• Length: 211 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

This is a new edition so please disregard all reviews with dates older than 2009

This is a new edition of Charter Schools, 2nd edition. Pleaser ignore all reviews that are dated before 2009. The book was reviewed in 2002 by David Levin and it is now 2009. the book doesn't even have the same title. Danny Weil Author

Want to start a Charter School?

A good succinct "raison d'etre" and recent history of Charter schools across the US. Excellent 6-page section on "How to start.." a charter school. Includes the most important gottchas and check lists. Since this book is almost a decade old, is a 2nd Edition forthcoming? Since each state and school district has specific requirements, it is important to consult with other local charter school administrators and regional universities on various pitfalls to avoid. An important topic is parential involvement and demographics. As for details for State of Minnesota and MN Dept of Education, there is a on-line "MN Charter School Handbook" at the Univ of Minn website, H.H. Humphrey Insitute of Public Affairs, Center for School Change. Additionally, there is a directory of Charter Schools at mncharterschoolsDOTorg There may be similar resources available in your state. Individual charter schools sometimes have a history webpage which talks about the trials and tribulations that Charter founders have to go through.

Sets forth the issues

Defining just what constitutes a charter school is a daunting task. There are so many variables. A charter school is basically a school that receives a charter or contract which is granted by a public agency to a group, such as parents, teachers, agencies, businesses etc. which wish to create an alternative to public schools within the public school system. However, state laws differ, thereby creating many variables. Some laws allow the state to grant a charter. Other states allow the local school district to grant the charter. State laws also differ as to who may propose the charter school or even allow any of several bodies to grant the charter. Laws differ as to whether such schools must adhere to state standards or may be exempt from them. Laws also differ as to the degree which they may be self governed and the extent to which they are accountable to local school boards. In other words, differing state laws have created several models as to what constitutes a charter school.As a member of my local board of education, I am interested in the issues surrounding innovative proposals for public education. There are strong arguments both for and against the concept of charter schools and this book sets them forth. On the one hand, such schools are said to be more accountable and provide alternative educations designed for the constituency it serves. Arguments against are that such schools drain funds from public schools and take away the common factors that unite us as citizens from the common education provided. The author does a good job in settting forth the arguments both pro and con. He also sets forth the issues regarding the position of education labor unions on the subject.The concept of charter schools is new so there will be much data to be gathered over the upcoming years as to the success of charter schools. The movement is likely to continue to grow and as it does so, this book may, in some ways, become dated as new information becomes available. Meanwhile, this book does a good job of explaining what charter schools are and laying out the issues which surround the movement towards these schools.

Excellent and exciting new book

As a fifth grade teacher I found this book seated much regarding charter schools in an important historical context. The book is unique in that it does not rehash old arguments but brings new light to a subject that is of great importance today. Refreshing and well written.Holly Anderson