Primer defines reform terms

The Catholic School Administrators Association of New York State (CSAANYS), based in Troy, has recently published a report which clears up some of the confusion. CSAANYS focused its report on charter and magnet schools as well as vouchers.

"All three have 'choice' in common," said Sister Carol Cimino, SSJ, executive director.

Definitions

Organizers of a charter school determined the philosophy of education, the pedagogical styles and strategies, size, grade levels, and staffing. Charter schools have a clear and focused mission and have specific performance standards.

Charter schools, which can be sponsored by more than one institution, receive their charter from a state board or a local school board. The charter can be withdrawn if the school fails to meet its agreement.

Benefits

One of the benefits of charter schools is that they are removed from school district requirements. "If you have a charter school, you can get through the bureaucratic red tape," explained Sister Carol.

While they are diverse, charter schools share some common threads, according to the CSAANYS report. The schools are non-sectarian, charge no tuition, have no admissions test, and are a legal entity with their own elected board. Also, charter schools are accountable for improved student achievement. In return for this accountability, the state grants an upfront waiver of rules and regulations governing public schools.

Choice

"This is true of states that have charter schools," Sister Carol said. "We'll be the last state to have them."

"New York State is looking at ways to accomplish the same thing without charter schools," explained Sister Jennifer Votraw, SSJ, director of CSAANYS.

While charter schools offer some hope for education reform, they are not a cure-all. "They have mixed results," said Sister Carol. "Charter schools have the potential to be what other schools are -- good or bad."

Magnets

Magnet schools focus on arts, science or languages. They are called magnet schools because the theme of the school acts as a magnet pulling learning together under the theme, explained Sister Jennifer.

In some places, magnet schools have admission tests. Magnet schools are allowed to spend more than the per-pupil district allotment; however, they don't have to demonstrate that student improvement has been achieved, the report states.

"The advantage of magnet schools are that they are single-focused," said Sister Jennifer.

Risks

"We are fraught with specialists, not generalists," Sister Carol said. "It's fine to specialize in college."

Another concern is that magnet schools do not have to demonstrate student improvement. "There's a risk without built-in accountability," said Sister Jennifer.

Voucher system

With a voucher system, schools would be accountable to parents. If a school was failing, parents would be able to pull their children from it and enroll them in another school. This is similar to what non-public schools currently encounter.

"We are accountable to no one but our parents," Sister Carol said. "They vote with their feet."

Vouchers, according to the CSAANYS report, are more controversial than charter schools or magnet schools because they allow public money to follow a child to any school including a religiously affiliated one.

School choice

"What boggles my mind is that states would try an unproven school versus a Catholic school," said Sister Carol. "They'd rather throw money at the unknown."

School choice is important, she said, because it allows parents to be the primary educators of their children and make decisions that will allow the child to have the best education possible.

"It's undemocratic and uncapitalistic to not have choice," Sister Carol said.

Added Sister Jennifer, "We're rabid in our society about choice, from toothpaste to grocery stores -- but not education."

Until parents have a full range of choices in the education of their children, Sister Carol and Sister Jennifer advise parents to pay close attention to what is happening at their children's school in order to insure a quality education.

"Be involved in your child's school," Sister Carol said. "Be involved, be involved, be involved. My nose would be there all of the time."

(CSAANYS can be reached at 273-1205.)

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