[[alternative]]A Study of U.S. Charter Schools

[[abstract]]This study attempts to expound the basic concepts of U.S. charter schools, the charter schools' development and implementation in U.S., and to explore the impact of charter schools. Based on the research findings, the recommendations are offered as the improvement for education reform in U.S and Taiwan. To achieve the above purposes, the research adopted the methods of literature review and interview. Firstly, through literature review, charter schools' concepts, historical development, future prospects, teaching and learning, governance, accountability, problems, etc. were discussed. Secondly, interviewing three California charter schools' administrators and the executive director of California Network of Educational Charters helped to understand the actual situation of charter school movement in California. Finally, the study collected data and conducted analyses of the impact of charter schools on student achievement and on local and state public education systems. The analysis of the data revealed the following main findings: 1. Charter schools, on average, are newly created and considerably smaller than other public schools. 2. The most common reasons for founding charter schools are to pursue an educational vision or gain autonomy. 3. Most of charter schools exist some sort of charter council or collection of committees. 4. Most of charter schools feel they have considerable autonomy, except over student admissions policy. 5. A higher percentage of charter schools are monitored in school finances, student academic achievement, student attendance and compliance with state or federal regulations. 6. The superintendent is the one most supports the establishment of charter schools in local school district. 7. Charter schools' student academic achievements are apparently improved. 8. Almost half of case-study districts experienced either strong or moderate impact from charter schools. 9. The issues of resource limitations plague most of charter schools. 10.Some of charter schools have conflicts with local and state institutions. 11.To understand the whole effect of charter school movement is still difficult. 12.California's charter schools converted from existing public schools can choose to reconvert to public schools. According to the results, suggestions about the charter school project would be offered for reference of education reform in U.S. and Taiwan: 1.Suggestions for U.S. charter school project: (1)The responsibility of charter schools should be specified in regulations in order to clarify the issues of laws and finance responsibilities. (2)State should have an effective monitoring project, and should pay attention to less draconian steps by which a faltering charter school might be warned or healed. (3)When the charter agreements involve relative persons' roles, the meeting should be held to clarify the charter agreements. (4)Some charter schools should discuss with their districts about the suitability for using state and district's standard examinations in their many at risk students. (5)State should increase more of district staffs, and the districts should provide charter schools administrative support. (6)An amount for each unit of regular average daily attendance in the charter school should be the same with which in public school. (7)Multiple chartering agencies should be allowed. (8)The amount of charter schools should not be limited. (9)Charter schools' start up funds should be the same with public schools. (10)Charter schools should research the improvement of goals and evaluate school effects by themselves for every year or every other years. 2.Suggestions for Taiwan education reform: (1)Concepts in education reform-- a. The concept of accountability needs attention in school reform . b. Students and parents' opinions should get more concerns. c. Schools' autonomy should be emphasized. (2)Implementation Methods-- a. Provide multiple school choice opportunities b. Provide schools the reform's incentive. c. Build up full school choice information system. (3)The policies in charter schools-- a. Revise relative regulations and build relative systems. b. Expand charter schools by some ways. c. Emphasize school site management and provide administrative support.