- One-third of our public school students drop out.
- Almost 60% of our high school graduates need remedial education to enter our state colleges and universities.
- 39% of all Kentucky high school students cannot read at grade-level.
- 49% of low income high school students cannot read at grade-level.
- 56% of African American high school students cannot read at grade-level.
Given the statistics shown above and a review of the less than stellar scores of the individual schools across Kentucky, I contend our current state educational system is failing our children. Some may say our lack of achievement is due to underperforming kids. I believe our children are no less intelligent than children in other states or other parts of the world. Some may say our education problems are due to poor teachers. I believe our teachers meet or exceed the abilities of teachers anywhere. The problem, I believe is our system.
Federal and state government mandates, rules, regulations, do's and dont's have rendered our classroom teachers unable to do what they do best – teach curriculum to students modifying pedagogy to meet each student's unique learning style.
The current system also dictates the school a child is allowed to attend. Today, only the privileged few who can afford private school tuition may choose the school most appropriate for their children.
The solution to our state's educational system problems is not more of the same bureaucratic red tape. We need to get government out of the way of our teachers and give parents the opportunity to select a school most suitable for their child's education. The answer is Public Charter Schools.
Why We Need Public Charter Schools
Parental Choice: Public Charter Schools give families an opportunity to pick the school most suitable for their child’s educational well-being. Teachers choose to create and work at schools where they directly shape the best working and learning environment for their students and themselves.
Accountability: Public Charter Schools are judged on how well they meet the student achievement goals established by their charter contract. Public Charter Schools must also show that they can perform according to rigorous fiscal and managerial standards. If a Public Charter School cannot perform up to the established standards, it will be closed.
Freedom: While Public Charter Schools must adhere to the same major laws and regulations as all other public schools, they are freed from the red tape that often diverts a school’s energy and resources away from educational excellence. Instead of constantly jumping through procedural hoops, Public Charter School leaders can focus on setting and reaching high academic standards for their students.
Focus on Students: Public Charter Schools may focus on groups of students who have fallen behind. Some Public Charter School programs focus on the basics – reading, writing and the traditional school subjects that some children struggle with. Other schools have special arts or music programs. Some charters look just like other public schools. There also are dropout prevention programs, adult education programs, charters that serve Head Start and day care needs, and charters that work with children who want to go to college.
