Governor Roy Romer supports the development of charter schools, which he believes can foster innovation and reform in education without being a sole solution. He emphasizes that charter schools should not privatize public education but rather enhance it by creating a critical mass of new schools and networks. Romer insists that charter schools should align with public education values, including equal access and opportunity for all students, and should particularly help academically low-achieving students. He also advocates for changes in teacher contracts, suggesting a shift from nine-month to eleven-month contracts and the inclusion of parents in the educational program.
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Outline
Support for Charter School Programs
- Governor Roy Romer expresses his support for the development of a charter school program, emphasizing its potential to promote innovation and choices in education.
- He clarifies that charter schools are not a panacea but a means to bring together various components of educational reform.
- In a charter school, parents, teachers, and interested persons would have the authority to create and operate their own educational program free from excessive regulation.
- The mission and teaching style of the school would be defined through a contract, ensuring high performance standards for students.
Reforming Public Education
- Romer asserts that the intent is not to privatize public education but to help reform it effectively.
- He believes that charter schools will spark debate within districts about new and effective ways to create learning environments for students.
- To truly change the system, Romer suggests creating a critical mass of bold new schools, including super charter networks that provide technical expertise and economies of scale.
- He mentions that more details about these initiatives will be discussed later.
Integration of Charter Schools with Public Education
- Romer stresses that charter schools should be part of the public school system and should not weaken traditional public schools.
- He reaffirms his strong belief in public education as a means to sustain democracy and provide equal access and opportunity to all.
- Charter schools should reflect the values and goals of public education, particularly in helping academically low-achieving students.
- The charter school proposal should explicitly aim to assist students who are identified as academically low achieving.
Experimentation with Educational Practices
- Romer hopes that someone will experiment with teacher contracts beyond the traditional nine-month period.
- He suggests that teachers should be on 11-month contracts to adequately pay the profession and align with family schedules.
- Romer advocates for schools that do not operate on the traditional schedule of starting at nine and ending at two.
- He believes that parents should be involved in the classroom, and their contract should be a critical part of the educational program.
