School Vouchers and Cahrter Schools

[Knoss]

School vouchers are scholarships given to parents in place of funding to public schools. Parents can use these vouchers to buy public school education or private school education. Multiculturalism benefit as parents may ensure children are educated in the language of there choice and be involved with religious involvement in education as they would not offend the faith of their neighbour.

Market Education and the Public Good

Even with secular education parents would have control over the school their child attends as they receive funding. Schools can be run by corporations, cooperatives or the government as a department or crown corporation.

School vouchers in Sweden

Alberta implemented a charter school system by which public schools can be started at the grass roots. Charter schools are secular schools funded by the government but they are not part of school boards. Since they are not part of school board they can have a unique curriculum, and must compete to receive parents. Since they are government funded the government maintains quality standards.

Governemtn of Alberta -- School Choice

Governors General Award Winning Documentary Charter Schools : Alberta's Best Kept Secret

In this system religious schools are not funded by government but all secular schools are. This could be combined with vouchers by allowing all public schools run by government, co-operatives or corporations, but excluding religious schools.

[fellowtraveller]

Alberta implemented a charter school system by which public schools can be started at the grass roots. Charter schools are secular schools funded by the government but they are not part of school boards. Since they are not part of school board they can have a unique curriculum, and must compete to receive parents. Since they are government funded the government maintains quality standards.

\Part of this is inaccurate, the 'charter' schools can be and are part of the public system - and it is an important part.

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The Edmonton Public School board has allowed, or more accurately encouraged, schools to become or remain a part of the Board, and nearly all of them are part of the Edmonon public system. There are many Christian schools, Muslim, Jewish, smart kid schools, hockey/ballet/military/soccer academies, girls-only junior high schools and many other 'special interest' schools, all within the publci school umbrella. All of them receive a grant for every student, all of them are obliged to teach the provincial academic curriculum at minimum. Every student is tested at Grades three, six, nine and twelve in standard exams. The hockey academies (junior high age kids) for example has no art, drama or music. Once they've done their 'three R's " for the day, they do hockey.

There are very few charter or private schools in existence, what would be the point? The parents that push for these specialty schools are often more involved in their childs education than in mainstream schools, and that is a positive thing. The teachers are all at the same mandated standard since they have a common employer.

[Knoss]

True charter schools do follow a lot of the curriculum, all of the neccesary curriculum.

A voucher system could include puiblic schools whch are designed so that they charge one voucher both governemtne run and charter. Charter schools could work in other areas such as local schools which would simply be one room where students study via satalie and internet classes.