Popularity of charter public schools in Philly:

[mzteris]

Study: Phila. parents want more school-choice options
By Martha Woodall



"Despite the explosive growth of charter schools in Philadelphia in the last decade, city parents say they still do not have enough good choices when it comes to picking a school, Pew Charitable Trusts says in a study released Tuesday.

White parents whose children attend district schools give higher marks to the system and individual schools than do African American parents. Parents younger than 30 are among the district's "most dissatisfied customers." Nearly eight out of 10 district parents under 30 say they have considered transferring their children to Catholic, charter, or private schools.

. . . The poll of district, charter, and Catholic school parents found that only 31 percent of district parents say their children's schools do an excellent job handling safety, compared with 67 percent for charter parents, and 73 percent for those whose children attend Catholic schools.


. . . 62 percent of district parents have actively considered sending their children to charter, Catholic, or private schools.

(And here's some very good news, imo) . . . Charter schools supplanted the Catholic schools in 2008-09 as the city's largest alternative to district schools. (The fewer kids being brainwashed about "religion" the better!!)

. . . While 60 percent of all parents surveyed rate the district as "only fair" or poor, 71 percent of parents whose children attend district schools say their individual schools are good or excellent. White district parents were more satisfied than African American parents, with 87 percent compared with 63 percent rating their child's school good or excellent. . . . Sixty-four percent of African American parents rated the public schools fair or poor, compared with 54 percent for white parents.

Ninety percent of charter parents and 92 percent of Catholic school parents are highly satisfied with their children's education.



(oh and here's the quote some of you will home in on and ignore everything else): "This trend has developed in the face of evidence that many charters perform no better than district schools, and a constant drumbeat of news reports and investigations regarding alleged and proven improprieties in the way charters operate."



http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100629_Study__Phila__parents_want_more_school-choice_options.html


edit to fix link

[jody]

1. mzteris you shouldn't cite facts to confuse people who have already made up their minds. Shame!

:hi:

[mzteris]

4. psssssssssttttt

It's really for those whose minds are not made up to keep them from getting 100% negative information here on DU. People need to know that many good Democrats can and do support alternative educational choices for children! And they need honest information to help them make up their minds about their own choices, not a stream of negative and heavily-biased bs.

(and before anyone snaps, I am NOT anti-traditional school, but I don't have to post the positives - that base is very well-covered. I don't have to post the charter negatives either - cause "ditto").

I'd be more than happy to have a more even handed approach, just as soon as it's even all the way around, ya know?

:hi:


PS - My momma always said, intelligent people change their mind when they realize they were wrong. She also said to never accept someone's word for some things, but go and find out yourself.

[noamnety]

2. This is a point I've made repeatedly on this forum:

"White parents whose children attend district schools give higher marks to the system and individual schools than do African American parents."

Specifically, I've made the point that the current system of exclusions based on residency is a form of institutional racism. It's not surprising that the victims of that racism have a problem with it.

[mzteris]

3. I kept tiptoeing around this for a long time

and only recently started citing that I believe racism has a lot to do with this whole issue and how some people view it.

I don't for one minute think that our DU "foes" on charters are racists, however, sometimes I don't believe that SOME OF THEM really understand what goes on in certain parts of the country or in certain school districts. While some do have experience in these districts, I admit it does surprise me that they don't recognize the underlying reason why so many parents want their children in a different environment!