Alberta charter schools
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alberta charter schools are a special type of public schools [1], which have a greater degree of autonomy than a normal public school, to allow them to offer programs that are significantly different from regular public schools operated by district school boards. Charter schools report directly to the province, bypassing their local district school board. Alberta, which passed enabling legislation in 1994, is the only province in Canada to have them. They are similar in many ways to charter schools in the United States.
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[edit] Legal framework
Source: Alberta charter school handbook (PDF)
[edit] Public
As public schools, they are fully funded by the province. They do not charge tuition for admission, although they may charge schools fees, like other public schools. There can be only a maximum of 15[citation needed] charter schools in the province at anytime. They cannot be affiliated with any religion, but may teach religious classes, like other public schools. If they have the space, they must accept any student who would be eligible to attend a regular public school in the area. This rule does allow for certain types of selectivity, such as a single-gender schools. A major exception granted charters, is that they are not required to meet special needs of certain students. For instance, they may not provide services to mentally disabled students, which the public district board must.
Exactly, how open charter schools are to students, is one point of controversy between supporters and opponents. For instance, legally, charter schools can not expel a student for behavioral problems (page 3 of handbook). However many public district school boards feel that troubled students are still dumped on them by charters, who only want "easy" students. As well, since a charter board has just one school, it doesn't have the option a district board does, of sending the student to a different school within the same board.
[edit] Charter
As the name implies, each school is given a charter, which defines what is unique about the school. It's a kind of agreement between the provincial government and the school, on the purpose of the school. The charter must be renewed after a set a number of years. Failure to meet the terms of the charter, will cause it be cancelled.
Before a charter can be set-up, the supporters of it must first approach the local district school board, and request an alternate program be established to meet their needs. Only after the district board refuses the application, can they then approach the province. Such refusals are common, since district boards are rarely willing or able to grant the level of autonomy wanted by applicants. The province will only grant the charter if it feels legitimate goals in education can not be met within the district school board.
For each charter school, a special volunteer board is set up, with powers similar to a normal district school board; but limited to a single school. The charter board controls the executive of the school, who handles day-to-day operations, and is accountable directly to the provincial government. The board must have representation from parents and teachers.
To remain in existence, a charter school must prove ongoing success in meeting the terms of its charter. If it fails to do so, it will be terminated. Also, a charter may voluntarily decide to hand over the school to the local public school board, if it feels its better run by local district school board; thereby dissolving the charter.
[edit] Curriculum
The province has a single curriculum for all schools in the province, public, separate, and charter. To graduate students in charter schools, must pass the diploma examinations as any other student in Alberta.
[edit] Staffing
Charter schools can not directly employ members of the public teachers union, known as the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA). However, they may hire them through their district school board. However, as a practical manner, charters and the ATA are often incompatible. Charters often emphasize parental involvement in all matters, including teacher accountability. The ATA does not accept this in its collective bargaining agreements. It tries to prevent any process that allows, what it sees as, political interference in professional practices.
[edit] Charter schools
[edit] Current charters
The following is from an official list of charter schools in Alberta (current as of 2006). As charter schools tend to be new and small, the exact grade range is more likely to change than with older and larger schools. Schools late in completing required reports to the provincial government may be excluded from the list.
| Location | School | Grades | Unique features focused on (only small sample mentioned) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | Almadina School | K-9 | Primarily students from families that are new to Canada, where English is not the main language at home. |
| Calgary Arts Academy | K-9 | Arts | |
| Calgary Girls' School | 4-9 | All female school with focus on learning about women's history and perspectives | |
| Calgary Science School | 4-9 | More instruction time on mathematics, science, and technology employing a problem based approach to learning. | |
| Foundations for the Future Charter Academy | K-12 | Structure and standards oriented.[2] It is unique in having several campuses (locations) throughout the city (normally charter schools have just one). | |
| Westmount Charter School | K-12 | Gifted students | |
| Edmonton | Aurora School | K-9 | Directed instruction |
| Boyle Street Education Centre | up to 12 (special) |
Helps mainly native students aged 14-19 who's education has been interrupted. | |
| Suzuki Charter School | K-6 | Teaches music using the Suzuki method of learning. The philosophy behind the methodology, originally developed by Shin'ichi Suzuki, extends into other areas of study as well. | |
| Fort McMurray | Moberly Hall School | K-8 | Emphasis on core subjects |
| Medicine Hat | CAPE - Centre for Academic and Personal Excellence Institute | 1-9 | Academic focus |
| Sherwood Park | New Horizons Charter School | K-9 | Designed for gifted children, it was the first public charter school to open in Canada. |
[edit] Former charters
The Global Learning Academy was once the largest charter school in the province, with 480 students. However mismanagement and financial problems caused it to fail in 1998. It went in trusteeship before finally having the province shut it down. [3]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ See Alberta charter school handbook (PDF). Page 1. This provincial guide refers to a charter school as a type of "public school". However, some disagree with this terminology, as a private organization may apply for a charter, and is not under the authority of a local elected school district the way non-charter public schools are.
- ^ McLean, Candis, "Foundations for the future" ("Initiative" section), Report (National Edition), ISSN: 14888084, Accession Number: 9019194, February 3, 2003. Vol. 30, Issue 3., p8, 2pp.
- ^ Sheppard, Robert, "A SCHOOL FAILURE" , Maclean's, ISSN: 0024-9262, Accession Number: 799499, July 6, 1998, Vol. 111, Issue 27
[edit] External links
- Alberta charter school handbook (PDF)
- Canadian Charter Schools Centre - Information on Alberta charter schools.
- University of Saskatchewan On Campus News (February 6, 2004)- Article discusses findings of professor who studied charter schools in Alberta, and is critical of them.
