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COMMENTARY
Other Voices: Charter schools help boost graduation rates
Students who are at risk of dropping out of a public school often benefit from having another choice.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Charter schools in Ohio are the black sheep of public education. Gov. Ted Strickland made clear he doesn't like them with his inaugural state budget that sought to wipe out charters through new regulations and less money.
Using an oddball legal strategy, Attorney General Marc Dann has filed lawsuits to close three charters in Dayton, and he promises action against as many as 30 others. Charter schools are bad-mouthed by many school officials in Dayton and beyond, and are blamed for the financial woes facing urban districts. Teacher unions spend much time and money plotting charters' demise and applauding any setbacks they face.
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So, when evidence emerges that charters have actually helped districts, and, more important, benefited needy students, it is not surprising that this news goes largely unreported. But this is exactly what has happened when it comes to the rising graduation rates in urban districts.
Enrollment in recovery schools significant
Charters have played a seminal role in helping them improve their high school graduation rates. Consider the numbers.
Dropout recovery charter schools first opened in Ohio in the 1999-2000 school year. These schools serve students aged 16 to 22 who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.
In 2005-06, there were 4,989 students enrolled in the state's three biggest dropout recovery schools — ISUS, Life Skills Centers and Mound Street Academies. When a student enrolls in one of these dropout recovery schools, that student is not considered a "dropout" in his/her home district.
City by city, enrollment in dropout recovery charter schools can be significant. In Dayton, for example, 920 students attended these schools in 2005-06, a number equivalent to 29.2 percent of the district's 10-12 grade enrollment that year. (To put this number in perspective, the 2005-06 enrollment in Cleveland's dropout recovery charter schools was equivalent to 14.03 percent of that district's 10-12 grade enrollment; in Cincinnati, it was 10.91 percent; in Columbus it was just 1.84 percent.)
It cannot be assumed that all of those students would otherwise have been enrolled in or dropped out of Dayton Public Schools. However, it is hard to deny that the district's graduation rate benefited mightily from these students having an education choice besides quitting a DPS school.
There are also trends between improved graduation rates and increased enrollment in dropout recovery charter schools.
Enrollment in such schools in Dayton increased from 150 students in 2000-01 to 920 students in 2005-06. During that time, the district's graduation rate rose from 51.1 percent to 79.5 percent. From 2000-01 to 2004-05, Cleveland schools' graduation rate increased from 36.1 percent to 51.8 percent, just as enrollment in Cleveland dropout recovery charter schools jumped from 322 students to 1,889 students.
In the Queen City, the district's graduation rate improved from 57.6 percent in 2000-01 to 77 percent in 2004-05. During that time, enrollment in dropout recovery charters in Cincinnati increased from 313 students to 1,024 students.
Charters have positive impact on students
Smart school officials know the benefits of education choices. Not surprisingly, a growing number of districts have welcomed dropout recovery schools, either as in-house programs or district-sponsored charters.
School district officials in Columbus are interested in working with quality dropout recovery schools. Last December, the Columbus Public Schools Education Foundation announced its $2 million matching grant from Limited Brands. These dollars are to provide grants for innovative educational programs that the district's traditional school funding cannot afford.
The first idea offered by the foundation's chairwoman and the district superintendent was a dropout recovery program modeled after the ISUS schools in Dayton.
During this school board election season, when candidates pander to teacher unions by complaining about charter schools, it is important to remember the positive impact of charters on young people who are at risk of leaving school altogether.
Dropout recovery schools take on the most at-risk students who have not been successful in Dayton Public schools. These students are prime candidates for dropping out and, thus, negatively impacting the district's dropout and graduation rates.
Districts officials should acknowledge the work and contribution of these schools and support the successful ones.
Terry Ryan is vice president for Ohio programs and policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Emmy L. Partin is a researcher for the institute. The institute's sister organization, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, supports charter schools and sponsors four charter schools in Dayton.
