Reference no: EM133852492

Discussion Post: Contemporary Trends in Education

A reform that has been implemented at both state and local school district levels it to offer families more choices about where their children will attend school. Technically, all parents have a choice as to where they wish to have their children educated. If they do not like the public, state-supported school to which their children are assigned, they can send them to a private or religious school, for profit school, a charter school, or they can move to another community where the schools are more to their liking. Another increasingly popular option is for parents to teach their own children at home. School choice, advocates argue, would give public schools real incentives to improve. Free-market principles suggest that "more choice equals more competition equals better product (better educated students) at lower prices." Many school districts are now offering parents and students options, like magnet schools, alternative schools, and intradistrict choice which allows parents to select among schools within their home district. Recently charter schools have also become a popular option for parents when choosing the right school for their children. The most controversial system for school choice is the voucher program. This option essentially gives the parents a voucher worth a certain dollar amount, that they can use to help pay the costs for their child to attend the public or private school of their choice. The school collects a voucher from each student who chooses that school and then turns in the voucher to the state government for real dollars with which to run the school. Get the instant assignment help.

Task

I want you to imagine that you are going to open a charter school. How would this school differ from the schools in your community? What would the focus of your Charter be? A charter is a written performance contract that defines what the school will provide. They are public schools and cannot charge tuition, they have specific educational objectives (this is what I want you to focus on, what are your school's specific educational objectives?) Why would someone choose your school instead of their neighborhood school?