Facts About Charter Schools
A brief definition of a сharter school is a public school that has been granted more freedom in their teaching methodology and curriculum in return for higher accountability for their scholar’s achievements. Like public schools, the tuition is free, and entrance requirements cannot be restrictive as they may be private schools.
The Concept
The original concept of the “сharter school” first originated in the 1970s by a New England educator named Ray Budde. His idea was for groups of teachers to set up contracts or “charters” with their local school board to discover new approaches and ideas in the field of education. Its roots lie in the progressive vision that by empowering the educators with additional freedoms, they can achieve a much higher student success rate.
~Public Charter News Insider
On our final day of National Charter School week, we are featuring an outstanding scholar, Elizabeth C. Elizabeth is a 12-grade online scholar.
She loves adventure, spending time by the ocean, and photography. Elizabeth received the President’s Award for Educational Achievement; the President’s Award for Educational Achievement for outstanding educational growth, commitment, and teacher recommendations. We caught up with Elizabeth and asked her a few questions about Compass.
What do you love most about Compass Charter Schools (CCS)?
I love the flexibility that the school curriculum provides and the attention to detail and care that the staff gives to all scholars and parents!
Tell us about a teacher at Compass who has significantly impacted you this year?
Ms. Sharon Rosen, my social studies teacher, has managed to make every single U.S. History Learning Lab an absolute blast! She is always there for each of us personally and always makes us laugh and enjoy ourselves and the lesson!
What is your superpower in charter school learning?
I would say that perhaps my superpower is either my passion or my memory – though they often go hand-in-hand! Suppose I find something that I am interested in (regardless of what subject it is) and become passionate about. In that case, I will do my very best and put in as much effort as possible to learn about it, remember things, and succeed concerning the subject.
What advice do you have for a scholar who is new to Compass?
I would tell them to give themselves time to adjust and then recommend that they do their best to make a schedule and stick to it as best as possible. I would also suggest that they reach out to their teachers and introduce themselves and get to know them better during learning labs – which they should always attend!
What is your favorite club, activity, or field trip at Compass?
I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Scholar Leadership Council for the past three years and have taken pride in doing my part to better the school. I have also been extremely thankful that Compass has held field trips (pre-COVID) to baseball games, as it helped me find a new passion in my life (and a possible career path)!
“At Compass, you are in charge of your education.” I love this statement from Elizabeth in her featured video on our website. Elizabeth, you are an exceptional scholar, and thank you for sharing your Compass story with us!
About the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (National Alliance) is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the public charter school movement. The National Alliance occupies a critical role in the charter school movement as a leader in federal education policy and as a prominent voice, determined to improve state charter policy and advocacy.
Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter movement.
We stand for public school options that:
- Put families in charge of choosing their child’s education, principals in charge of running their schools, and teachers in charge of leading their classrooms, and
- Have high standards for every student and give every scholar the support they need to meet those standards.