Arizona's message to Oregon:
Charter Schools Now!

by Lisa Graham Keegan

Three thousand charter schools by the year 2000.

President Clinton issued this challenge to the states in his State of the Union address. Arizona has been an active part of the charter school movement since 1994 and is doing its part to make that dream a reality.

Arizona's law is flexible, providing maximum opportunities for parents, teachers and the community to build schools that address the needs of their children. Currently, there are 273 charter schools in Arizona. That's more than any other state. This has given Arizona a unique opportunity to learn what works and refine the charter school process.

As Arizona Superintendent of Education, I work hard with legislators, teachers, business leaders and parents to improve education in Arizona. Charter schools are one tool we use in Arizona. And they work. Since 1994, only six charters have been closed. Those closings demonstrate that when a charter school isn't filling the educational needs of the children they serve, it will be closed. Either the students will leave or the state will close the school. It also demonstrates the necessity of strong accountability measures for charter schools as well as other public schools.

Together the Governor's Office, State Board of Charter Schools, the State Board of Education and the Charter School Association are tackling accountability concerns. Here are a few lessons we have learned that may be helpful as Oregon considers charter legislation:

  • Set up a system to review student's academic gains.
  • Require a business plan as part of the charter school application.
  • Allow the sponsoring board to withhold funding from charter schools who are out of financial compliance.
  • Remove a section of the current law which exempts sponsoring districts from any liability if the charter school doesn't honor its charter.
  • Allow only districts in financial compliance to charter schools.

    We believe these steps address any lingering concerns about accountability. The success of the charters is unquestioned. My role is to ensure they educate their students without undue state interference.

    It has worked. For example, the fifth-graders at Hermosa Montessori School in Tucson scored in the 92nd percentile on the Stanford 9 test. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders at the Villa Montessori School had the highest math scores in their grade levels across the state. Charter schools have also had a positive impact on traditional public schools as evidenced by rising test scores across the board.

    And these students are not alone. As parents and teachers work together children are educated. And that, after all, is the goal.

    Lisa Graham Keegan has been Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction since 1995. Previously she served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995 and she chaired the Arizona House Education Committee in 1993 and 1994. As a legislator, she co-authored many of Arizona's school reform statutes, including legislation establishing charter schools. She hopes to come to Oregon as a guest of Cascade Policy Institute in Portland later this year to talk with Oregonians about how charter schools can benefit our state.