The Importance of Charter Schools in LA County

Introduction

Charter schools are unique educational institutions that are “independently operated public schools that have the freedom to design classrooms that meet their students’ needs” (What is a charter school? n.d., para. 1). In other words, these institutions are funded by the state, but do not follow the educational program established for other schools. Charter schools were created for those people who wanted to have those alternatives and opportunities in the learning process that they could not get in traditional ones. San Carlos Charter Learning Center is the first charter school in LA County (Milestones, N.D.). Moreover, charter schools are constantly evolving to adapt to new conditions. Hence, after the coronavirus pandemic, an increasing number of educational institutions provide online classes.

Do They Belong to the Unified District or Are They Private?

Charter schools in Los Angeles belong to the Los Angeles Unified School District. Research stated that “The California Legislature enacted the Charter Schools Act of 1992 to authorize the establishment of charter schools” (LAUSD charter schools: Frequently asked questions, n.d., para. 2).

Who Attends Charter Schools and Why?

Charter schools provide educational services for everyone who wants to attend them. It is worth noting that these schools are mainly created for children from low-income families or representatives of communities of color. This is because they provide a high level of education and are aimed at providing assistance to disadvantaged children who wish to improve their grades and academic performance. Charter schools correlate with the K12 program as they include elementary, middle, and high levels.

Charter Schools in LA County and How Are They Supported?

LA County has 275 charter schools, 51 of which are affiliated and 224 are Independent (About charter schools, n.d.). They have about fifteen thousand students of different ages and backgrounds. By 2023, the most popular educational institutions of this type are California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, Granada Hills Charter, High Tech Los Angeles, and Palisades Charter High School (2023 best charter schools in Los Angeles County, 2023). These schools are supported by various donations from Principal Apportionment State School Funds, and Education Protection Account.

Comparison with Public and Private Schools

The main difference between a charter school and a private and public one is the high level of flexibility and autonomy. This is due to the fact that they have the opportunity to independently develop educational programs and determine the conditions for the admission of students. In this way, charter schools can meet the needs and requirements of students to achieve the most successful results. At the same time, like public schools, these institutions receive funding from the state but independently control financial and personnel decisions (LAUSD charter schools: Frequently asked questions, n.d.). In relation to private institutions, in addition to sources of monetary resources, charter schools differ in that they do not charge tuition and must be non‐sectarian in all policies.

Conclusion

The most important advantage of these schools is the provision of opportunities for colored and low-income students to receive a quality education. Moreover, a positive aspect can be considered the ability of charter schools to independently create educational programs in accordance with the requests of students. One of the negative aspects is the need for additional funding from foundations and the lack of diversity due to the concentration on certain kinds of students. One of the other difficulties regarding charter schools is the need for greater involvement of parents. Some caregivers do not have the opportunity to participate in the child’s educational activities due to various circumstances, such as work.

References

2023 best charter schools in Los Angeles county. (2023). Niche. Web.

About charter schools. (n.d.). LAUSD unified. Web.

LAUSD charter schools: Frequently asked questions. (n.d.). Los Angeles city planning. Web.

Milestones. (n.d.). 30 years of California charter schools. Web.

What is a charter school? (n.d.). National alliance for public charter schools. Web.