Definition of Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools -- free and open to all. They are started by interested parents, educators, and business and community leaders. Each school is created with its own unique curricula and is licensed by a school district, community college or, most often, a state university.

Overview of Michigan's
Charter School Law

In December of 1993, Michigan became the ninth state to pass charter school legislation. A charter school, also known as a public school academy, is an independent public school organized as a nonprofit organization, funded on a per-pupil basis from the state school aid fund, and operated under a contract issued by an authorizing body.

Charter contracts can be issued by local school districts and intermediate school districts, community colleges and state universities. Those interested in operating a charter school must apply to an authorizing body. If an authorizing body grants a charter, it receives 3 percent of the state aid payable to the charter school.

Currently, there is a cap on the number of charter contracts issued by state universities. The number of contracts for public school academies issued by all state universities shall not exceed 125 through 1998, or 150 thereafter. The number of contracts issued by any one state university shall not exceed 50 percent of the maximum total that may be issued.

Under the statute, a charter school is considered both a body corporate and a government agency. A charter school is also considered a Local Education Agency ("LEA") for state aid purposes. Charter schools and their staff receive governmental immunity. Although charter schools are free from much of the bureaucracy associated with the school districts, they are subject to all applicable laws, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.

Teachers in charter schools are subject to the same certification requirements as traditional public schools, with two exceptions. Charter schools authorized by a state university may use a faculty member who is employed full-time by the university and has institutional tenure or is designated as being on tenure track. Charter schools authorized by a community college may use a full-time faculty member who has at least five years experience in teaching the subject matter he or she is teaching at the charter school.

Charter schools can develop and implement new teaching techniques or make significant revisions to known techniques. Charter schools must report these practices to the authorizing body and the state board.

Since the number of applicants often exceeds the number of available seats, charter schools are required to conduct a lottery in order to randomly select students.

• In the fall of 2000, over 58,000 students were enrolled in Michigan's 183 charter schools and 1 strict discipline academy.
• In the fall of 1999, 50,000 students were enrolled in Michigan's charter public schools.
• More than 30,000 students enrolled in Michigan's charter public schools in the fall of 1998, an increase from 21,000 in 1997.
• Thousands of Michigan students are on charter school waiting lists.

The Students

• More than 50% of Michigan's charter school students are minorities.
• Many of Michigan's charter school students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
• Teachers and parents routinely talk of students who enter charter schools unable to read. Often, this situation is corrected within months.

The Surveys

• A 1997 poll of Grand Rapids-area parents revealed the following:
  • The top three reasons parents like charter public schools are dedicated staff, parental involvement and academic focus.
  • 91% said their charter public school does a better job of educating their child.
  • Eight of 10 said charter schools are better at motivating students.
• According to a report issued in June 1997, a national study* by the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. found the following:
  • Parents choose charter schools because of the small size (53%); high standards (46%); and educational philosophy (44%).
  • Students like their charter schools because of the "good teachers" (59%); "they teach it until I learn it" (51%); and, "they don't let me fall behind" (39%).
  • More than 90% of teachers are very or somewhat satisfied.

For More Information, Contact MAPSA (Michigan Association of Public School Academies) at 517-374-9167

Released May 24, 2000

Michigan Charters Top Nation's Best Statewide Average for Percentage of Teachers on Staff

An audit of staffing ratios shows Michigan charter public schools have a higher percentage of teachers -- as opposed to administrators or other employees -- than traditional school systems in any state in the nation.

National data shows Rhode Island has the highest number of teachers as a percent of total staff: 63.3 percent. In Michigan's charter public schools, a remarkable 64 percent of total staff works in the classroom as teachers, according to state Department of Education records.

Michigan's traditional public schools have the worst ratio, at 45.2 percent. Gov. John Engler caused a stir earlier this year in his state-of-the-state address by noting that Michigan schools are so top heavy they rank dead last nationally.

"Charter schools, operating without millages or bonds, have to put their money where it matters," said Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies. "Charters surpass state MEAP averages, offer all-day kindergarten and foreign languages in the lowest grades, plus increase one-on-one attention because their top priority is the teacher-student relationship."

Michigan has 173 charter schools serving 50,000 students. Many emphasize a back-to-basics curriculum and expanded technology services, adopt strong character education programs, and foster unprecedented levels of parental involvement.

Jack and Betty McCauley, founders and leaders at Chatfield School in Lapeer, are long-time educators. Jack was superintendent in Lapeer for 15 years; Betty ran the district's preschool and day-care services. Neither are surprised by the percentage of teachers in charter schools.

"It's so striking to us, and to our teachers, how much emphasis charter schools place on children," Betty McCauley said. "Meetings in traditional schools most often deal with teacher contracts, bureaucracy, budgets, red tape and rules. At Chatfield, every discussion we have is centered on student needs and what's best for the children."

Michael Warren, member of the state Board of Education, said he is pleased with the charter numbers. Charter schools are supposed to be different, he said, adding that their governance structures often are innovative.

"These results reveal that charter schools focus on teaching children and not on bureaucracy," he said. "Charters have to attract students, or they won't stay open. They have to be competitive, they have to address parent concerns, and they have to provide a quality education.

"This noteworthy percentage of teachers is one more proof of their accountability," he said. "It's one more proof of their solid focus on children."

New Study Chronicles Demand for School Choice, Lack of Charters

A new study published by Teach Michigan confirms great demand for school choice across the state, especially among minorities and poorer families, but not limited to urban areas.

The study finds an expansion of choice, but notes significant limits a cap on charters and gentlemen's agreements limiting cross-district choice that curtail the competitive pressure pushing schools to do their best for students.

Among the findings:

• In a statewide poll by Market Resource Group, more than 60 percent of parents agreed they would send their children to a private school if cost weren't an issue.
• During a six-month period in the 1998-99 school year, more than 59,000 Michigan children from low-income families applied for private scholarships with the Educational Freedom Fund. Scholarships were available for only a fraction: one in 16.
• More than 80 percent of Michigan charter public schools have had statistically significant enrollment increases; only 10 percent lost enrollment.
• Average charter enrollments have increased about 80 percent since the schools opened. This applies not only to schools with small initial enrollments; those with at least 200 students in their first year increased an average of almost 84 percent.
• Sixty percent of charter schools have waiting lists; more than half have lists greater than 10 percent of their current enrollment.
• Fewer than half of Michigan's local school districts participate in the state's Section 105 cross-district choice program.
• Some schools have other cross-district choice programs but often limit student transfers to no more than 1 percent of the total student population. In the Kent County ISD, for example, just 245 students .26 percent of total enrollment were released to attend another school. Grand Rapids district released only 30 out of 215 students who applied.

To obtain a complete copy of the report, call Teach Michigan at 517-374-4083.