News

State's charter school movement continues to grow

March 17, 2008

South Carolina was slow in creating charter schools but the state these days is making up for lost time. Currently, 29 of these innovative schools serve approximately 5,200 S.C. public school students. An additional eight charter schools are expected to open this fall. Meanwhile, 14 organizations recently were awarded $5,000 grants to help them develop charter school applications.

The recent charter school growth has been spurred by strong support from both state lawmakers and state Education Superintendent Jim Rex. The Greenville County school district, meanwhile, also has been supportive of charter schools, dispelling the notion that school districts often are hostile toward charter schools.

Charter schools are public schools but are exempt from many of the requirements that traditional public schools must observe. Often the schools offer a specialized curriculum -- for instance, a concentration in technology or the arts, or a focus on global awareness. Others may be aimed at at-risk students. Charter schools enhance educational opportunity in the state by offering more choices for students and parents while also providing a bit of healthy competition to traditional public schools.

It's certainly in the interest of the state to promote charter schools. The Education Department not only is awarding grants to organizations but also providing workshops to assist organizations in planning and designing charter school programs.

Twenty-one organizations from across the state recently applied for federal grants to assist in the charter school application process. The Education Department chose 14 of those programs to receive $5,000 grants to develop an application. Groups that are successful in their applications in 2008 will be eligible to receive funds up to $200,000 to assist with the initial costs associated with opening new charter schools.

The Charter School Advisory Committee, made up of 11 members appointed by state leaders and a variety of educational groups in the state, determines which organizations will be granted actual charters to start schools.

Among the 14 organizations that were awarded application grants, three want to offer virtual education programs statewide and one in Greenville hopes to start an elementary school with an artistic emphasis in the West End. The proposed West End Academy would "provide a quality educational experience that will develop and enhance the intellectual and artistic abilities of its students in an inquisitive, child-centered environment," according to an Education Department press release.

The idea of virtual Web-based charter schools -- which often allow students to take classes at home -- is just beginning to take hold in South Carolina. The three proposed virtual schools would offer students flexibility to learn at their own pace. The virtual schools potentially could appeal to students facing a variety of challenges. As one proposed school puts it: "for under-served students who have chronic illness, who are gifted or struggling, those living in isolated rural areas with limited access to rich curriculum resources, students with special education needs, and children who simply learn differently."

Innovative charter schools are aimed at increasing educational choices for students -- particularly by appealing to a student's specific learning needs. Clearly, both students and the state benefit.

GreenvilleOnline.com