The Center for Charter Schools in Frederick County

Who Are We?

The Center for Charter Schools in Frederick County was formed in the Spring of 2000 to promote the establishment of charter schools here in Frederick County. Our group members are parents, teachers and other school professionals, and community members. To ensure the best possible education for the children of our community, we believe the creation of public charter schools can provide the choices we need and stimulate improvements throughout the public school system.

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What Are Charter Schools?

Traditional public schools are planned, built, and operated by the community's school board, which has full and ultimate authority over what goes on in them.

Charter schools are a new form of public school. A charter school draws up a contract, or charter, with the chartering authority, which may be the school board, the state Department of Education, or any other agency authorized to issue charters.

Charter schools operate independently, although they are held accountable to their chartering authority to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract.

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Why Are Charter Schools Created?

Communities establish charter schools for a variety of reasons. The founders generally fall into three groups: grassroots organizations of parents, teachers and community members; entrepreneurs; or existing schools converting to charter status. According to the first-year report of the National Study of Charter Schools, the three reasons most often cited to create a charter school are to:

• Realize an educational vision
• Gain autonomy
• Serve a special population

Parents and teachers choose charter schools primarily for educational reasons—high academic standards, small class size, innovative approaches, or educational philosophies in line with their own. Some also have chosen charter schools for their small size and associated safety (charter schools serve an average of 250 students).

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The Center For Charter Schools in Frederick County Activities

To achieve our goal of promoting the establishment of charter schools here in Frederick County, we have been involved in a number of activities, including:

• providing input to the Frederick County Board of Education's (BoE) development of their Charter School Policy.
• rallying with other local groups in support of a state charter school law for Maryland. A state law would enable charter school groups to access federal funding available for start-up costs.
• hosting seminars for the community regarding parent involvement in school reform. These seminars were intended to generate interest within our community for charter schools by presenting speakers on a variety of education topics.

Two application efforts are currently underway here in Frederick County for submission to the BoE. We hope these efforts will be successful in the near future. The Center for Charter Schools encourages more groups to come together and present applications.

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Have You Ever Asked These Questions About Your Child's Schooling?

• Are my child's needs being met?
• Is my child's natural learning style being recognized and encouraged?
• Does my child's school actually work to build a true partnership between the school and the parents?
• Are my child's teachers able to utilize their own natural teaching styles and creativity in the classroom?
• Is my child learning as much as possible and loving the process?

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Charter Schools...

• increase opportunities for learning and access to quality education for all students
• create choice for parents and students within the public school system
• provide a system of accountability for results in public education
• encourage innovative teaching practices
• create new professional opportunities for teachers
• encourage community and parent involvement in public education

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Are Charter Schools Right For Your Family?

"Charter schools are PUBLIC schools which may provide the opportunity for parents, educators, and students to voluntarily come together around a shared vision to build a curriculum and management system around a unique approach to student learning."

-Maryland State Department of Education

"Charters are public schools. They respond to an increasingly high demand for choices from parents, students, and teachers. They represent reform, improvement and innovation in public education."

-The Center for Education Reform

"These innovative schools are public schools - created by local visionaries using public funds, opening their doors to a wide range of students, free of charge. Charters bring public education in America to an unprecedented level of accountability."

-U.S. Department of Education

Last Updated 21 May 2002