Education's Big Gamble: Charter Schools
(1997) 

DIR.:
John Merrow
TRT:
56 min
MPAA RATING:
NR
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RATE IT:
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Serving over 105,000 students across the country, charter schools promise to educate students and to spend money wisely per the agreements of their approved charter. In exchange, they are exempt from most regulations and oversight. This documentary explores some of the most effective charter schools and some of the disasters in this new territory of public education.


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FULL SYNOPSIS

The people inside a public school -- the principal, teachers, students and their parents -- do not make most of the important decisions about their school. Someone else does. Someone else writes the checks.

In New York City, for example, the Board of Education has ultimate power over 1,100 public schools. It writes checks for nearly 100,000 people.

Teacher union contracts also restrict a school's power. Often union contracts spell out who can teach what, where and when.

Charter Schools are different. People inside a Charter School are in charge. They write the checks. They make the key decisions.

Still, two questions must be asked: are Charter Schools just another form of gambling - but with our tax dollars and our children? Or is an educational revolution brewing, one that will change public schooling as we know it?

The answer to both questions is yes, with qualifications. Some Charter Schools are gambling with our tax dollars and our children. The answer to the second question, do Charter Schools represent an educational revolution, is 'yes, they may.'

This revolution is new. It is barely five years old, and it is small, only 600 - 700 schools in a country with more than 85,000 public schools.

All we can say for certain today is that the name 'Charter School' is no guarantee of anything. Whatever you do, read the fine print. - John Merrow

GENRES

Documentary  

SUBJECTS

Charter Schools, Education Types, New York City, Public Schools, Teachers/Instructors, Cities, Education, Geographical Areas

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ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

LA Times review Press Release

EXTERNAL LINKS

Learning Matters official site

COLLECTIONS

Learning Matters

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