History of Charter Schools

     The expression “Charter” has its origin in the 1970s when Ray Budde a New England mentor “suggested that small groups of teachers be given contracts or “charters” by their local school boards to explore new approaches” (History).  As a result, Albert Shanker who was the president of the “American Federation of Teachers” spread the idea that local boards could charter a whole school with professors with union and without it (History). The idea started working in the 1980s, when in Philadelphia some schools opened school inside the system of District schools called “Charter” (history). The function of the “Charters” was to work with the students that were performing bad within District schools (Karp). However, the “Charters” got out of control of the District school system. The new fake public education support for District schools started modifying the basic rule for public schools (Karp).

       In 1991 Minnesota established Charters Schools based on three basic values: “opportunity, choice, and responsibility for results.” Nonetheless, it doesn’t seem that Charter schools are fallowing their three basic values (Karp).  The Charter schools does not have equal access for all students, and they hire teachers that do not belong to the union (Karp). Despite, Charter school were not following the public education system’s rules, they continued to grow(Karp). In 1991 Minnesota accepted the first Charter school law and passed it with other states (history). The purpose of that was to spread the creation of Charter schools in all the U.S. (Karp). Although the country did not need Charter schools, politicians, and other people with financial interest who disliked the public school system support Charter schools (Karp). Therefore, by 2015, the number of Charter schools went up to 42 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Colombia (History).

       It is surprising that the origin of Charter school came out from the curiosity of a group of professors. They wanted to try something different. Perhaps, this movement has raised to disorientate the public system of education.   

 Works Cited

“History.” Charterschoolcenter.ed.gov. U.S. Department of Education. Web. 2 November 2017.   

Karp, Stan. “Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education.” rethinkingschools.org.   Rethinking Schools editor. Web. 1 November 2017.