Comments on: Charter Schools And Porridge http://www.eduwonk.com/2008/12/charter-schools-and-porridge.html Education News, Analysis, and Commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:45:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Robbins http://www.eduwonk.com/2008/12/charter-schools-and-porridge.html/comment-page-1#comment-37249 Michael Robbins Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:53:34 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3728#comment-37249 I think the second story was disingenuous as well. Yes, it points out that on the whole students in DC charters significantly outscore their peers in DCPS; but it ascribes this success to "ample funding." In fact, the uniform per student funding formula in DC allocates identical funding for similar types of students in charters and DCPS. DCPS also frequently receives supplemental appropriations ($81 million last year) that are not also passed on to charters in the per pupil funding formula. Both DC charters and DCPS benefit from private philanthropy. It's not ample funding that makes DC charters work, it's having the autonomy and flexibility to allocate funding where it has the greatest impact on student success. I'm hopeful that DCPS is also heading in that direction. I think the second story was disingenuous as well. Yes, it points out that on the whole students in DC charters significantly outscore their peers in DCPS; but it ascribes this success to “ample funding.” In fact, the uniform per student funding formula in DC allocates identical funding for similar types of students in charters and DCPS. DCPS also frequently receives supplemental appropriations ($81 million last year) that are not also passed on to charters in the per pupil funding formula. Both DC charters and DCPS benefit from private philanthropy.

It’s not ample funding that makes DC charters work, it’s having the autonomy and flexibility to allocate funding where it has the greatest impact on student success. I’m hopeful that DCPS is also heading in that direction.

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