Comments on: Charter schools or traditional schools: which is better? http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2011/08/11/charter-schools-or-traditional-schools-which-is-better/ News and views on Utah public policy Thu, 16 May 2013 23:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: WhataShocker http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2011/08/11/charter-schools-or-traditional-schools-which-is-better/#comment-1174 WhataShocker Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:33:00 +0000 http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/news/?p=1108#comment-1174 Wow. Still no comparisons about special education and ell populations (typically excluded from charter schools). Not surprising that test scores increase when these populations are not represented or serviced.

]]> By: Anonymous http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2011/08/11/charter-schools-or-traditional-schools-which-is-better/#comment-1173 Anonymous Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:35:00 +0000 http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/news/?p=1108#comment-1173 Why is it some people narrowly define “education choice” as creating completely separate education systems? My children in a traditional public high school have myriad choices–a high-tech school, technical programs, International Baccalaureate, online classes, sports programs, foreign languages, concurrent enrollment, clubs, etc., etc. There are many ways to expand “choice” without the need to create duplicative systems.

Everything now offered by charter schools could easily and effectively be offered within the existing traditional system if lawmakers and the public really wanted it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2011/08/11/charter-schools-or-traditional-schools-which-is-better/#comment-1172 Anonymous Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:24:00 +0000 http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/news/?p=1108#comment-1172 As a former public school teacher, I generally support charter schools.  But — and please correct me if I am wrong — in Utah many of our legislators seem to be pushing for privately owned FOR PROFIT schools.  Is this correct?

And is the observation correct that at least some of our legislators are pandering to influential friends who stand to gain from those profits?

Ethical actions are not a strong suit for many of our legislators.

]]> By: tiredoffighting http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2011/08/11/charter-schools-or-traditional-schools-which-is-better/#comment-1171 tiredoffighting Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:48:00 +0000 http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/news/?p=1108#comment-1171 Wish you would have cited the many studies which point in the other direction. I have to say I would hope all charters would do better as the predominant student body is made up of a majority of upper middle class; homogenous students. In Utah, that is the case. There a minimal numbers of economically disadvantaged, ELL, and special ed students. In addition, class sizes are significantly smaller. Still most do not do as well as traditional neighborhood schools. Those are Utah’s facts and truly worth the recitation.

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