+ Private or Public? By: Maura Costello Education 610

+ History of Charter Schools In 1991 Minnesota passed the first charter school law. By 1995, 19 states had signed laws allowing charter schools, and by 2003 that number increased to 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Charter schools are one of the fastest growing innovations in education policy with much political support In his 1997 State of the Union Address, former President Clinton called for the creation of 3,000 charter schools by the year 2002 Since 1994, the U.S. Department of Education has provided grants to support states' charter school efforts, starting with $6 million in fiscal year 1995.

+ What makes Charters different? Increase opportunities for learning. Create choice for parents and students within the public school system. Provide a system of accountability for results in public education. Encourage innovative teaching practices. Encourage community and parent involvement in public education. Competition for public schools.

+ Quotes When the taxpayers see that their money is being spent be without progress, it becomes an issue, “Public schools spend increasing amounts of taxpayer money while becoming more and more mediocre”. (Mary Rose McCarthy, 2010)

+ Negatives No place for special education students. (Charter schools do accept special needs students but not nearly as many as public schools) No teacher stability. (Teachers can come and go as they please or as the school pleases- No Unions) Lack of student diversity in some areas No MAJOR improvement with progress among students attending Charters/Private schools. Take funding away from public schools

+ Positive Public education is failing our children, especially in urban areas- Charters give parents choices. Schools can have themes to focus on, good for secondary students. Less violence in schools More parent involvement More choice of resources for students Less scrutiny from tax payers.

+ Summary of Paper Contradicting results for private and charter schools. Critics that are for private institutions argue that these schools improve test scores and performance among the students. Critics against privatization claim that even with these new schools whether they are private or charter, there is not a significant change or improvement in test scores and performance. Either way it is for certain that the students in this country are falling behind on the global scale, so something needs to change.

+ Charts Pennsylvania U.S. (average) Total Revenues PA- $24,973,391,584 US- $11,465,272,463 Total Expenditures for Education PA-$25,346,537,868 US- $11,698,242,308

+ Charts Data From IPEDS: and Pennsylvania Vs U.S. (average) Number of institutions - Total Title IV degree-granting PA-257 US-88 Number of institutions – Public PA- 61 US-32 Number of institutions - Private, not-for-profit PA-114 US-31 Number of institutions - Private, for-profit PA- 82 US- 23

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