Are Charter Schools Really Public Schools?

So this item scrolled through my inbox from Education Dive

Justice Dept asks Supreme Court not to hear North Carolina charter school case

The case raises the question of whether a private nonprofit authorized by the state to operate a public charter school is subject to federal requirements.

This is just another example of a private company that is directly or indirectly operating a public school arguing in court that it is not a public entity and therefore doesn’t have to follow the same rules and regulations that all other public schools have to follow.

If you do a quick search on the question “are charter schools public schools?” you’ll find a slew of school choice and charter school organizations and proponents that make the claim that charter schools are indeed public schools.  However, as we have seen in case after case, the companies that operate so many of these charter schools (and the vast majority of cyber charter schools based on student attendance), the companies have argued that they are not public schools and don’t have to disclose information or don’t have to follow certain regulations (and often these regulations are around providing services to students).

So give us your public money, but don’t you dare hold us to the same standards as public schools…  At least that would be more intellectually honest than the “a charter school is a public school” line that you see littered all over their marketing and promotion!

AERA 2023 – Virtual School Principals: Perspectives and Possibilities

The seventh of the sessions from the 2023 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association that I identified as relevant to this space that I have the opportunity to blog is:

• Virtual School Principals: Perspectives and Possibilities – Mary Lynne Derrington, The University of Tennessee; Jeana Partin, The University of Tennessee – Knoxville

  Abstract

  This mixed-methods study explored how virtual school principals described leadership challenges and rewards working in the virtual context. Additionally, the researchers examined how principals in a virtual environment provided teacher professional development and created a social presence with teachers, students, and parents. Findings indicate that a virtual school is more than merely a traditional school online. Principals exhibit an intrapreneurial approach to developing and sustaining virtual schools. The researchers purport that innovative leadership is a key component of supporting virtual schools in assuming a unique position among the choice options. It is imperative, they conclude to understand the virtual school as a choice option serving some students more effectively than the traditional brick and mortar schools.

  Authors

  • Mary Lynne Derrington, The University of Tennessee
    Presenting Author
  • Jeana Partin, The University of Tennessee – Knoxville
    Presenting Author

Which was in this session:

Student and School Personnel Outcomes in Schools of Choice

Fri, April 14, 11:40am to 1:10pm CDT (9:40 to 11:10am PDT), Swissôtel Chicago, Floor: Lucerne Level, Lucerne 2 Session Type: Paper Session

Sub Unit

• SIG-Charters & School Choice

Chair

• David T. Marshall, Auburn University

These presenters apparently did not show up due to a conflict with some grant.  With a bit of Googling, I think the session might have been focused on this chapter:

Partin, J., & Derrington, M. L. (2023). Supervising in a virtual school context. In A. L. Lavigne & M. L. Derrington (Eds.), Actionable Feedback to PK-12 Teachers (pp. 177-190). Rowman & Littlefield

AERA 2023 – Do Virtual Charter Schools Deliver for Some but Not Others? An Analysis of Academic Outcomes

The sixth of the sessions from the 2023 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association that I identified as relevant to this space that I have the opportunity to blog is:

• Do Virtual Charter Schools Deliver for Some but Not Others? An Analysis of Academic Outcomes – Daniel Hamlin, University of Oklahoma; Curt M. Adams, University of Oklahoma; Olajumoke Beulah Adigun, Oklahoma State University

  Abstract

  Enrollments in virtual schools have surged nationally. Some policymakers have supported virtual schools because of their ability to extend educational options to families in rural areas where school choice is limited. In this study, we analyze data from Oklahoma (2017-2019) to compare the academic performance of virtual charter and brick-and-mortar public school students. We also examine outcomes for students who switched into a virtual charter school from a rural brick-and-mortar public school. Results indicate relatively large negative associations with achievement for students who attend virtual charter schools as well as for virtual charter school students from rural areas. Negative associations were mostly consistent for students across different models for students in grades 3 to 8 and in high school.

  Authors

  • Daniel Hamlin, University of Oklahoma
    Presenting Author
  • Curt M. Adams, University of Oklahoma
    Non-Presenting Author
  • Olajumoke Beulah Adigun, Oklahoma State University
    Non-Presenting Author

Which was in this session:

Student and School Personnel Outcomes in Schools of Choice

Fri, April 14, 11:40am to 1:10pm CDT (9:40 to 11:10am PDT), Swissôtel Chicago, Floor: Lucerne Level, Lucerne 2Session Type: Paper Session

Sub Unit

• SIG-Charters & School Choice

Chair

• David T. Marshall, Auburn University

The presenter began with some background on full-time virtual schools, and described it – from a pre-pandemic sense – as a phenomenon.  Suggesting that there was a 47% increase in the number of full-time virtual schools.  Then she outlined all of the the positive reasons why virtual schools are needed and have grown, at least from the perspective of proponents.  However, she also had a slide with all of the neo-liberals reports that have shown that students enrolled in those full-time virtual charter schools performance is negative compared to brick-and-mortar students.

In terms of this particular study…

In terms of the results…

The data was also analyzed by stayers (i.e., those that spend three or more years in a virtual school) and those that switch during the year.

Finally, the data was presented for just high school.

Even though the results were completely negative, the presenter made a point to stress that the findings were not caused by full-time virtual school, and then went into all of the reasons why the results might have been as they were – the typical rationale that is often made for why full-time virtual schools perform so poorly.  Finally, the presenter speculated a series of reasons why full-time virtual schools filled a need – which she continued to do during the Q&A (and I guess one would expect from folks in the charter SIG).  By the end I was unsure if she was simply newer to the field and had a lot of intellectual curiosity about the potential variables or if she was a charter school proponent providing potential excuses.

News Item – GAO: Grant-funded charter schools show greater enrollment growth

This item scrolled across my electronic desk last week.

GAO: Grant-funded charter schools show greater enrollment growth

An analysis found smaller percentages of students with disabilities at all charter schools compared to traditional public schools.

This finding jives with the NEPC work that Gary Miron has been doing related to cyber charter enrollment data – particularly his sections of the Virtual Schools in the US reports and the Profiles of For-Profit and Nonprofit Education Management Organizations reports.

Religious charter schools?

A colleague sent this around before the holidays.

Oklahoma attorney general greenlights religious charter schools

 The headline doesn’t tell you why I send this to you, but  the 2^nd Paragraph does.

The opinion was issued after the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City announced its intent to launch a virtual Archdiocesan charter school in a letter to the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

https://www.k12dive.com/news/religious-charter-schools-Supreme-Court/638477/

Then earlier this week, this item came through my inbox.

Oklahoma’s Endorsement of Religious Charter Schools May Alter Legal Landscape Oklahoma is set to become the first state to weigh the approval of a charter school that explicitly allows religious instruction, heightening concerns about separation of church and state. Acting on an opinion from the state’s former attorney general, Brett Farley of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma told reporter Linda Jacobson he sees “green lights” for the movement, but critics predict “massive constitutional violations.” Go Deeper: Maine: ​​Supreme Court Throws Out Ban on Religious Schools Receiving Public Funds North Carolina: Attorneys Consider Asking SCOTUS to Weigh in on Public Status of Charter Schools

I guess now that the Supreme Court, using their originalist doctrine (because the 200+ year old separation of church and state isn’t original enough), has removed the restriction of public education funding being used in voucher programs that benefit private religious schools, it only makes sense that religious groups could also profiteer from public education funding through charter schools.  I mean why should corporations get to have all the fun).

And let’s face it, the Supreme Court will also support this action based on their political positions (not ideological, but political) because that is what the Supreme Court (and much of the US judiciary) has become – an extension of the Republican party policy arm.  Do in the courtroom what you can’t do at the ballot box.