7 Things You Might Not Know About Idaho Charter Public Schools

Guest Contributor /// Terry Ryan of Bluum

Bluum believes that school choice helps Idaho families, children, and educators achieve more and do better. Idaho offers a vast school choice landscape that includes public district, public magnet, public charter, alternative, private, parochial, online schools and a growing number of course choice options in and outside of school. In our work, we have found parents across the state want the very best opportunities for their students but often lack knowledge of their school choice options. One of the most commonly misunderstood options are charter public schools. We’ve compiled this list to empower parents and encourage them to consider all of Idaho’s school choice options when deciding what educational opportunity will work best for their child.

What is a charter public school and how are they different?

Charter schools are free public schools open to ALL students. They are relieved from some of the rules and regulations governing traditional district public schools. This freedom allows charters to innovate to better meet the needs of each student. In return for operational freedom, charter schools are held accountable for student performance by an authorizer which is typically the Idaho Public Charter School Commission or a local school district board.

How many charter public schools are in Idaho and how many children do they serve?

There are currently 44 charter public schools with physical buildings and eight virtual schools that collectively serve about over 21,000 students (about 7 percent of the state’s public school students). Charter schools have the flexibility to approach learning differently. They focus on meeting the needs of individual students. There are a variety of models in Idaho — some focus on expeditionary learning, STEM education, International Baccalaureate programs, professional-technical careers, and credit recovery.

How are students enrolled in charter public schools?

Charter schools have to enroll all students that apply. If a school is over-enrolled then it must provide a lottery process for admitting new students. Charter schools typically accept applications for enrollment in the late winter or early spring. Students not chosen in the lottery process are placed on a waiting list, and when a slot becomes available, the school will contact the first name on the list. Enrollment and subsequent lottery processes must be performed each year and names cannot be carried over from a previous year’s waiting list. Because Idaho parents know the value of a charter school education there’s a lot more demand than supply. Currently an estimated 11,000 student names are on waiting lists.

How do charter public school students perform academically compared to students in traditional district public schools?

Overall, charter public school students in Idaho perform well on required standard assessments in comparison to Idaho’s traditional public school students. Also, Idaho’s charter public schools as a group are well rated academically. On the 2016 Idaho “SAT Day” five of the top six scoring high schools were charters even though only 20 of the 191 participating high schools were charter public schools. Additionally, 55 percent of those charter high schools scored in the top quartile of all high schools. Idaho charter public school students as a group perform better on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and math assessments than their traditional district public school peers. In 2015, fourth and eighth grade charter students outpaced their district peers in both reading and math. But, not all charters are high-flyers academically so make sure to check them out. Seven charter high schools scored below the state average in the 2016 SAT.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of attending a charter public school?

Students and parents have to choose a charter school. Because children are so varied in their needs and abilities, no single educational model works for all students. Charters allow parents to find a school that works best for their child.

Types of charter school models include:

• A specific teaching method, such as Montessori method or Core Knowledge;
• A specific subject or content such as art, music or science;
• Theme-based curriculum such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or language immersion;
• Serving a targeted population such as at-risk students or gifted students;
• Extended day programs or creative use of online learning opportunities that blend classroom and home learning.
• Parents should be picky when deciding their child’s school whether it’s a traditional, charter, magnetic, private or other learning opportunity.

What happens to charter public schools that fail either academically or financially?

Schools that fail academically or financially can lose their right to continue educating children and face closure by their authorizer. But in practice, it is hard to close a charter public school for many of the same reasons it is difficult to close a failing or under-enrolled district public school. Nine charters have closed in Idaho since 2001 and six of these closed for financial reasons and three were non-renewed by their authorizer.

What is the history of charter public schools and how do they influence education reform efforts?

The charter idea in America goes back to the late 1980s. At the start, charters were seen as escape hatches for children stuck in failing schools or schools that were not meeting the needs of particular students. Proponents promised they would serve as centers of innovation, research, and development that would in time benefit children across public education. Charter schools were designed to compete in order to spur districts toward sustained academic reform. They would also cost less to run than district schools. These promises haven’t completely worked out as designed but it has resulted in more than 6,700 charter public schools serving nearly 3 million students in 42 states and the District of Columbia. As in Idaho, parental demand for charters far outpaces supply, with more than 1 million children’s names on waiting lists nationwide.

Terry Ryan is CEO of the Boise-based nonprofit education group Bluum.