Charter schools need to explore more fundamental changes in the way schools are designed and run.
So says a new report from the Mind Trust, which calls for a “new wave of innovation” among charter schools.
Charters might give students new options, and in many places, they save taxpayers money or raise student achievement. But the report says they should aim for a “quantum leap” in student achievement rather than incremental gains, and to find new ways to serve all students better — including disadvantaged children who live in rural communities, have special needs, or are still learning English.
To pull that off, they’ll need to find ways to grow faster, operate more efficiently, and tinker with new educational approaches. Operators and regulators will need to be more willing to experiment.
“Though a small subset of charter schools has pioneered school designs that radically innovate in the use of time, talent, space, and technology, most public charter schools resemble traditional district schools,” the report says.
In other words, charters still need to overcome what Mike McShane calls “institutional isomorphism.” As much as they try to differentiate themselves, schools are all largely designed and run in similar ways, regardless of who operates them.
The report calls for a variety of approaches to push the envelope – like encouraging small schools that can make bigger changes (an approach advocated by Matt Candler, who sits on the Mind Trust’s board), trying new school models within existing networks, and rethinking the ways charter schools pay for their facilities.
While there may be some overlap, this isn’t exactly the same issue Florida Senators raise when they question whether schools are living up to labels that imply “choice” or “innovation.”
The question there is whether a school offers students something unique – a special program, a different emphasis, or a new approach – and whether students have a genuine choice. A STEM magnet or a no-excuses charter might meet that standard despite having a look, feel, and staffing model that resembles a traditional school.
See also: Education Week.
