I know of one tough decision parents often face: deciding whether to enroll their child or ward in a public school or a charter school. It often pulls up a long stretch of anxiety on the faces of parents whenever this decision has to be made but this can be a lot easier when we have a proper light illuminating both palms of both schools.
The debate between charter schools and public schools has been on for quite some time, and not to bother about that because in this article, we are going to boldly explore the pros and cons of both charter schools and public schools, so that after analyzing both schools in the light of their pros and cons, you can clearly see and divide between which school to enroll your child or ward.
Public Vs Charter Schools
Charter Schools and public schools are both forms of taxpayer-funded education in the United States of America. They might have a lot in common, which includes that they both are tuition-free and are also open to all students regardless of their family income.
We shall look at some core differences between public schools and charter schools before we go in extensively into the pros and cons of both schools.
Mode Of Education
The education in charter schools is mandated by a private agency or body, whereas the education in public schools is mandated by state curriculum and it is up to the standard being a Community Core Nations Stand.
It’s mode of learning is rigid and up to standard; it can’t be reduced in any way due to the fact that there is a set standard, making it rigid for any teacher to bend for any personal reason whatsoever.
Qualifications of Teachers
The teachers who are often employed to work at the Charter schools require certifications to prove they are capable of the task they’re asking for. But then, the teachers mostly just need a good certification for the particular course of interest which the teacher is interested in, while at public schools, teachers must be highly proficient and recommendable.
This implies that they must have high degrees in the subject area of their interest, at least a BA. Most of their teachers have a masters degree. Public schools have really qualified teachers and thus stand a chance to produce more intellectual students.
Mode of Admission
At charter schools, everyone is eligible to apply; however, admission is based on lottery admission and admission can be denied to a student if such a student doesn’t get in through the lottery.
Whereas, at public schools, the admission they give their students is not deniable, provided the students are within the geographical location of the school.
Transportation
At charter schools, transportation to and fro is arranged by the student but among the good features of public schools is that transportation to and fro is provided by the school within that designated time.
Going to a public school has a way of saving transportation costs for the parents or guardians of the kids.
Administration
The administration of charter schools is managed by private school boards under the guidance of authorizing jurisdictions varying from school to school.
On the other hand, public schools are managed by school districts and school boards under the guidance of the state education department.
Location
The public schools are scattered around all fifty states of the United States of America, making them a more frequently used option, whereas the charter schools can be found in the districts of Columbia and in all 50 states of America, but for Alabama, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia.
Public schools, due to their versatility, are mainly an option for most parents.
Social Life Of Students
Charter schools, due to the fewer number of students, have limited sport opportunities here but there are still lots of interesting activities that they get to do and they are also eligible to join the sports teams of other public schools closest to them.
The opportunities for sports are much greater due to the usual high intake of students at the school. There are also many other types of activities that students can engage in, which include clubs, community service groups and other after-school activities. These all help to broaden the students boundaries.
From this, we can deduce that children who attend public schools have more exposure to different kinds of opportunities and can make such children go very far in life, whereas children who attend charter schools have limited opportunities available in their school and this has a way of shaping the mind of a child.
Now, we are going to peer deeply into both schools and analyze the individual pros and cons that exist within them.
Charter Schools
Charter schools are public, tuition-free schools that are run by private school boards and supported by public funds.
Pros Of Charter Schools
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Cost (you get to pay nothing!)
One of the big pros of charter schools is that they are 100% tuition-free institutions. The fact that they’re totally free makes them accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. The reason why Charter schools are free to attend is because they are publicly funded institutions. This means that they are fully funded by taxpayers in the community.
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Offer innovative ways of learning
Because Charter schools are privately managed and operated by their own specific charter, they do not have to meet the same government regulations as public schools. This allows charter schools to have more freedom and flexibility in their curriculum, which even makes learning better for the children.
Every charter school has their own curriculum and learning objectives. Sometimes, some institutions may focus on the college prep curriculum, while others focus on following the Montessori curriculum. So it’s important that you research on the teaching method of the Charter school closest to you.
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Smaller class sizes
The total number of students who generally attend individual charter schools are typically less than large local public schools so because of this, there is often a more intimate feel in the classroom at charter schools in comparison to public schools. Due to this closeness in the classroom, children often form stronger relationships with their peers and teachers and thus learn better.
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Parental Involvement
Most times, parents love being actively involved in their children’s academic activities, and charter schools give them that opportunity. Some charter schools even foster this involvement by requiring parents to attend meetings and fundraising events and this leads to increased output on the part of the child.
Cons Of Charter Schools
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Variations in quality
Each charter school operates under a different charter, thus teaching different curriculums, there is typically no consistency between charter schools throughout the country. Therefore, this leads to a disparity in the quality of education that exists between various charter schools.
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Limited spaces
Because Charter schools are completely free and available to all students, they are in high demand for enrollment, which often results in a lottery-type system for enrollment in Charter schools with limited spaces.
This process causes frustration and causes unwanted delays.
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Need to fundraise
Despite that Charter schools are free to attend, they do not always receive the necessary funding to operate. Therefore, charter schools often turn to donations from sponsors and fundraisers to ensure they are adequately funded.
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Transportation
Charter schools do not discriminate when it comes to the students who can attend their schools, not regarding their locations, however, Charter schools don’t transport the children to and from school; it is left for the parents and guardians to sort out.
Public Schools
Public schools are educational institutions which are sponsored, operated and funded by the government.
Pros of Public Schools
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Accessibility
One of the biggest advantages of public education is its accessibility. They are open to every child, notwithstanding his or her socio-economic background and financial capabilities.
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Qualified Teachers
One thing that stands out so well about public schools is the quality of teachers they employ; most of their teachers have their masters degrees, thereby producing high-quality services.
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Cost
Public schools are funded by the government, which means they are free or require minimal fees and thus ensure that education is not limited to the wealthy.
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Varying Opportunities
Among the goodness encountered in public schools is the many opportunities students have to enjoy and explore, be it sports clubs, or social groups. Public schools embody all of this. This makes the children develop in other aspects outside of pure education.
Cons of Public Schools
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Large Class Sizes
Due to the fact that public schools have little or no restrictions on the number of children they admit, there are normally large numbers of students to handle, making learning quite difficult.
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Standardized Testing
Among the challenges encountered in public schools are that there are particular ways of doing things and these neglect other important aspects of education, such as critical thinking and creativity.
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Little Flexibility
Public schools generally follow a fixed curriculum and lack of flexibility can hinder students who have specific interests in other things due to the standardized approach.
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Bureaucracy
Because public school systems are often subject to bureaucratic processes and regulations, it can result in slow decision-making.
Conclusion
Charter schools are often an affordable option but it is important that one critically analyzes all the pros and cons involved in each to ensure that he or she doesn’t lose out based on the choice made.
On the other hand, public schools have their advantages too, offering an accessible education to the community, providing qualified teachers and also having a lot of social opportunities. However, it is also important to consider the cons involved, like the issue faced by the population in their classes and so on, in order to make a proper decision.
