Charter schools: A force to be reckoned with
By Gretchen Losi/Staff Writer/Daily Press
VICTORVILLE - Charter schools are growing - enrollment is at an all-time high and their test scores are rising - oftentimes exceeding the scores of neighboring traditional public schools.
They're providing students and parents with something that conventional public schools don't: individualized programs to effectively improve student achievement, California Charter School Association President Gary Larson said.
"Charters give public school teachers the flexibility to design programs to the individual student needs. They no longer have to go to a distant bureaucracy to ask for permission. By being allowed to make their own decisions the teachers are able to create strong partnerships with parents," Larson said.
The concept is catching on in a big way.
Statewide, 84 new charter schools opened their doors last year, which brought the total to 574.
Another 32,000 students enrolled into charter schools this fall, which brought the total to a record number of more than 200,000 in California.
"Charter school's are growing as fast as they are for one simple reason: They are working," Caprice Young, CEO of the association said. "Parents, particularly those in under-served communities, are recognizing that charter schools are providing them with the smaller, safer and more personalized learning environments that their children need in order to succeed academically and beyond."
Federal Annual Yearly Progress scores show they're not only working in the Victor Valley, but also frequently are the highest scoring schools in their districts.
Academy of Academic Excellence, a charter school in the Apple Valley Unified School District, gained 60 points over three years with a score of 789 in 2005, making it the highest scoring charter in the Victor Valley. The scores are also higher than all public middle and high school's in the district.
The highest scoring high school in the Victor Valley Union High School District is also a charter - Excelsior Education Center. The school scored 653 on its Annual Yearly Progress in 2005, an impressive 111 point gain from its 2004 score 542.
Mountain View Montessori, a charter school with Victor Elementary School District, scored 736 on its Annual Yearly Progress in 2004, and by 2005 it had gained 62 points with a score of 798. Of the district's 16 schools it is the fourth highest scoring and showed the most improvement.
Summit Leadership Academy, a charter in the Hesperia Unified School District only has two years of scores available but the trend is the same with a 12 point increase from 675 in 2004 to 687 in 2005.
Hesperia is home to four charter schools, more than any other district in San Bernardino County the district's Alternative Education Director Arlene Gluck said.
And there may be more on the way.
Though no details are yet available, Hesperia is looking into yet another charter school to possibly be opened by 2006.
"Its clear that as long as this demand continues, then charter schools will continue to thrive," Larson said.
And in a state where the school voucher issue is all but dead - experts say charters maybe the next best thing.
"Charter schools are the best response to vouchers. They're public so free to everyone and will meet the parents' and students' needs within their district."
This year two new charter schools opened their doors in the Victor Valley - Arch Academy in Hesperia and Sedona Charter Academy in Oro Grande.
Sedona Charter Academy opened under the Oro Grande School District umbrella with four satellite schools within other districts boundaries including Helendale, Victorville, Adelanto and Colton.
The charter school serves students kindergarten through 12th grade with an independent study curriculum.
Arch Academy will serve the boys of LodgeMakers, a nonprofit agency in Hesperia for at-risk youths.
Gretchen Losi may be reached at 951-6233 or gretchen_losi@link.free dom.com.
Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2005