Why Charter Schools Are Important to Education

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Why Charter Schools Are Important to Education
Charter schools are public schools, but can be a better option than traditional public schools for some students. By definition, a charter school is a publicly funded and privately run school under the charter of an educational authority. (2-4) A charter school is held to a different set of standards than most traditional public schools. This can often work towards their advantage because it allows them to try new and unique methods of educating children. And the education system could use some fresh ideas.
Charter schools are growing quickly in America. They’ve only been around for about twenty years, but they have already spread to forty one states. (4-1) The first was in Minnesota in was the first state to pass charter schools. Oklahoma first allowed charter schools in 1999. Throughout the nation, most states have about ten percent of their kids enrolled in charter schools. Oklahoma has only about one percent of its students in charter schools, just under seven thousand. There are currently over 6,000 charter schools in America, after the first one was founded twenty one years ago. Over two million kids are going to charter schools as of January, 2014. The chart below shows the growth of charter school enrollments nationwide from 2000 to 2013.

Charter schools are gaining more support every year. President Obama said: “These learning laboratories give educators the chance to try new models and methods. That can encourage excellence in the classroom and prepare more of our children for college and careers,” during his Presidential Proclamation of National Charter Schools Week. But this kind of education doesn’t have the same sort of support from everyone. There is negativity that...

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... at Special Ed? Are Charter Schools Bad at Special Ed? Are Charter Schools Bad at Special Ed? Are Charter Schools Bad at Special Ed?." Washington Post, The 5: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Marie, Price. "Oklahoma Lawmakers, Charter School Officials Discuss Dilemma Of Facility Funding." Journal Record Legislative Report (Oklahoma City, OK) (n.d.): Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Marketwired. "Huntington Learning Center Honors Charter Schools During National Charter Schools Week."Marketwire (English) 09 May 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Ripley, Amanda. "A Call To Action For Public Schools. (Cover Story)."Time 176.12 (2010): 32. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Takahashi, Paul. "Clark County's Charter Schools Continue to Chart Strong Growth." Las Vegas Sun 11 Dec. 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.

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