Sunday, October 31, 2010

Do your CO. Senate Candidates Support Charter Schools?

Candidate Survey Results

Do your Senate candidates support charter schools?

As a service to the charter school community, the Colorado League of Charter Schools surveyed all candidates for state legislative office about their views on charter schools and public school choice.


Candidates for Colorado's 6th Senate District


Ellen Roberts

1. Do you support a parent’s right to choose the best public school, in their judgment, for their children? Why or why not?

Absolutely. We sent our daughter to a charter school. We did that for the smaller class size, greater parental involvement and more creative teaching.

2. In your view, what role should charter schools play in the effort to provide parents and students choice in their schooling options?

I have voted to support charter schools at every opportunity while serving the past 4 years in the Colorado House, representing District 59. That is because I believe charter schools serve to stimulate the students and teachers and are a key part to the needed educational reform efforts at the local, state and federal levels.
3. Do you support charter schools getting and keeping the autonomy to make key decisions that affect a school’s daily operations? Why or why not?

Yes, these decisions are best made at the local level.

4. In your view, do charter schools help improve the educational opportunities or harm the educational opportunities for students in traditional public schools?

Traditional public schools should not be threatened by the choice presented to the students and their families by having charter school options. Competition in selecting a school that fosters teacher and school accountability and improved educational experiences should be the goal for all involved in educating our youth.

5. Do you believe that charter schools should be eligible to receive facilities funding from state and local capital budgets to address their critical facilities needs? Why or why not?

Yes. My personal experience in my family is that the physical facility of the charter school was last on the list for improvements and while facilities alone certainly don't determine the student's educational experience, safe and modern classrooms, laboratory space for science classes, etc. do matter.

6. In your view, how do teachers' jobs in charter schools differ from teachers' jobs in traditional public schools?

Again, from personal observation, the teachers were more enthusiastic, more engaged with the student and parents and more innovative in teaching styles. Unfortunately, they were also paid less and that caused significant and detrimental turnover.

7. Please feel free to provide any additional comments or view points regarding choice and charter schools in the state of Colorado that you were not able to cover in your responses above.
I think the answers above covered my opinions.


Bruce Whitehead


1. Do you support a parent’s right to choose the best public school, in their judgment, for their children? Why or why not?
After evaluation of options and best educational opportunities, parents should ultimately have a choice in determining the best learning environment for their children, based on long term observations of their child's needs and interests.

2. In your view, what role should charter schools play in the effort to provide parents and students choice in their schooling options?
Charter schools provide an alternative within the framework of public education for parents and children, and in most cases maintain an open door policy to observe the learning opportunities and teaching methods used.
3. Do you support charter schools getting and keeping the autonomy to make key decisions that affect a school’s daily operations? Why or why not?
Daily operations should be up to the individual schools, as long as the accountability, curriculum, testing, and accredidation are consistent with the charter agreement in place with the school district or State Department of Education.

4. In your view, do charter schools help improve the educational opportunities or harm the educational opportunities for students in traditional public schools?
Students with different interests and learning styles can sometimes learn better in alternative learning environments. It is possible that the charter school option may reduce class sizes in the traditional public schools and improve the learning opportunities.

5. Do you believe that charter schools should be eligible to receive facilities funding from state and local capital budgets to address their critical facilities needs? Why or why not?
The legislature has in the past provided funds on a per pupil basis for charter schools based on the student count on October 1st. As funding is available, in order to maintain this alternative educational opportunity, some level of capital funding from the state budget should continue. Given the current status of the state budget, full funding for capital projects may be challenging over the next few years.

6. In your view, how do teachers' jobs in charter schools differ from teachers' jobs in traditional public schools?
Teachers in charter schools have greater flexibility in providing alternative learning opportunities for their students. Based on the curriculum adopted by the charter schools, non-traditional teachers or experts in their field, can be utilized to provide real world or hands on experience on the topic. Teachers and administrators in charter schools receive lower salaries on the average than teachers employed by districts.

7. Please feel free to provide any additional comments or view points regarding choice and charter schools in the state of Colorado that you were not able to cover in your responses above.
The education of our youth is most definitely a partnership. The dialogue that takes place between parents, students, teachers, and administrators is critical to making informed and positive steps in creating the best learning environment.