by Lynn Norman-Teck
Many factors have helped nourish and grow the charter school movement. There are forward-thinking legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, who worked together to approve legislation that supported parental choice. There are governors who made quality education a priority of their administrations. There are thousands of teachers and principals who used tried and tested curriculum, and also developed innovative educational programs to meet the specific needs of their students. There are charter school founders who collaborated with mayors, teachers, parents and community leaders to implement educational programs to reach communities and students most in need. And of course, there are school district leaders and board members who provided the necessary feedback and support to create quality choice programs.
However, when you put all these components together, and look at the trajectory of growth and incredible successes charter schools have experienced, there is no denying that parents are the movement’s most powerful, driving force.
Absolutely nothing has impacted charter schools more than parents. Without their buy-in and continued support, charter schools simply would not exist. The early charter school adopters were living in suburban areas where districts hadn’t built schools to meet residential sprawl. These parents sought schools close to home and helped forge the way for some of the state’s first and most accomplished charter schools. Urban families unable to afford private schools, yet searching for quality options, also jumped on board. Soon, charter schools were the hot topic of conversation at playgrounds and on the sidelines of little league games. This quiet, thoughtful revolution happened in every corner of the state. Parents shared information about their experiences, and their testaments fueled others to give charter schools a try.
Ileana Melian helped start Doral Academy, a charter elementary school in Miami, in 1998. She recalls with great affection the overwhelming support parents gave her school. “Our opening was a collaborative effort,” she said. “Parents rallied behind us at community meetings and were there the first day we opened to help in the cafeteria, direct traffic and support staff in a thousand ways. They were very much a part of our birth and our continued success.” Those parents later demanded, and got, a charter middle and high school.
Empowered by choice and the desire to find the best education option for their child, in little over a decade parental support grew charter schools from five in 1997 to more than 500 today. In 2010, parents took a bold step forward in their support of charter schools.
With the formation of Parents for Charter Schools, parents across the state unified to advocate on behalf of all public charter schools. This past legislative session, the group sent thousands of letters and emails requesting a change in the funding formula and urging legislators to allow education dollars to follow the child.
So why have parents embraced charter schools? Parents who have multiple children quickly learn that each child responds and learns differently. They witness first-hand that the input or interaction given one child does not necessarily result in the same outcome even though the children are from the same environment. In the end, all parents want is the best educational fit for their child.
Charter schools responded to this need and have given parents – not just those with means – the opportunity to select the best available option for their child. Some parents want a small, familiar, educational setting. Others yearn for very specific programs in science, math or languages. For example, there has been an incredible growth in dual-language charter schools in Florida. There are now Italian, French, Hebrew, Greek, Spanish and Mandarin programs, and even one for the Creek Native American language. Some parents want a performing arts focus, an unconventional no-textbooks program, or curriculum specifically tailored for students with special needs. The successful charter schools have been able to prove themselves effective and demonstrate merit even under the healthy and hefty oversight of parents – which can be tougher than state or district rules.
By choosing charter schools and then pushing for the expansion and creation of quality programs, parents — more than any other factor — are the true architects of the 21st century learning environment. Today there are more than 180,000 children attending public charter schools in Florida. As long as charter schools and parents continue to be cooperative partners, that number – and the quality of public education — is sure to grow.
Lynn Norman-Teck is the communications director for the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools. Founded in 1999, FCPCS is a 501(c)(3) support organization with a membership of 400 charter schools and three school districts in the State of Florida. Since its inception, FCPCS has acted to promote and support the establishment of high quality public charter schools within the state through the development and implementation of focused statewide and online activities, professional development and mentoring.
Coming up:
Later today: Cheri Shannon, president and CEO of the Florida Charter School Alliance, makes it clear that charter school supporters want poor performing charters to be shut down.
