New Hampshire Center for School Reform

Newsletter Update

November 23, 2004

We are pleased to bring attention to New Hampshire's progress.

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

Please direct inquiries to: Susan Hollins  

 

 

 

CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING

 

The first charter schools approved August 2003, had budgets predicated on the state funding system that then  included weighted state adequacy funds— 20% additional for high school students (logical, because high school generally is more expensive to operate) and 20% additional for economically-disadvantaged students  (logical, because generally lesser advantaged students require supplemental support). Special education students received 100% additional funding (logical, since add-on special education costs are in the thousands per student).

 

For charter schools now operating in 2004, the per student state adequacy funding is  unweighted, and this total (approx. $3400) is less than 40% of an average system’s per student cost. Members of the legislature are attempting to right this situation in the upcoming legislative session.

 

 We have fewer than 1,000 students in our pilot charter schools. One approach for assuring adequate funding for the  statewide open enrollment schools is to reinstate weighted funding for this small portion of public school students. 

 

 

SCHOOL REFORM & NEW SCHOOL MODELS

 

Lab schools, magnet schools, chartered independent schools, virtual schools, museum-affiliated schools, career academies—public education has embraced new and different types of “schools,” including (in all but 10 states) the independent, chartered public school.

 

New Hampshire’s charter school pilot program has stimulated new school models—the virtual school, career academy, specialty magnet-type school, teacher directed school, higher standards school. Unique whole schools are being considered and designed …by parents, colleges, non-profit organizations, communities, and industry professionals. These choice schools help districts meet choice requirements of federal law and also provide new opportunities for New Hampshire students. 

 

 

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS…CHANGING THE FACE OF EDUCATION

 

Last October 2003, the Department of Education hosted a full day of presentations from virtual schools around the nation. Superintendents came to New Hampshire from Minnesota, Kansas, and Pennsylvania –all describing different virtual schools started under their state’s charter school laws.

 

After innovative planning and 2 grants, SAU 16 will give birth in January to the state’s first virtual school based at Exeter High School. The Great Bay eLearning Academy will be the state’s first complete and independent virtual “school.” taking place during the school day and using a school-within-a-school model (will take place within the high school building). The school’s charter prioritizes students from within SAU 16 towns but in the future Great Bay eLearning Academy charter school may consider non-district students. SAU 16 towns are Exeter, Brentwood, Stratham, E. Kingston, and Kensington.

 

New Hampshire doesn’t have a statewide virtual school, however. Quality courses are already developed for every subject and grade level. It’s time for an entrepreneurial team to consider how to bring New Hampshire a statewide virtual school that all districts could  use.  Contact us to join this discussion.

 

Read more: Online Learning Changing the Face of Education

 

 

CAREER ACADEMIES

 

The Career Academy is a small high school reform model. It differs from other small high schools with: 1) partnerships with businesses and community organizations, 2) contextual career themes, 3) business mentors, 4) internships/externships, 5) college prep curriculum infused with career-related focuses so students see a wide spectrum of career options, 6) voluntary participation by student and teacher, and 7) ties between school and post-graduate student plans that assure success.

 

 These were goals of the first approved charter school in New Hampshire—the Franklin Career Academy, fashioned after a business-affiliated chartered high school in Providence, Rhode Island.  At the time, Franklin was reported as having the highest high school dropout rate in this state.  According to research by Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, career academy graduates make 10% higher salary than non-academy graduates and career academies “significantly cut dropout rates.”

 

Soon to come forward is EQUUS ACADEMY—a career academy based on the equestrian industry.

 

The “career academy” is a well-developed school model. For more information, contact the National Career Academy Coalition or the Career Academy Support Network.

 

 

MUSEUM-AFFILIATED SCHOOLS e.g., THE HENRY FORD ACADEMY

 

The beauty of charter schools is that each school has a particular design. Many museums and non-profit organizations have joined the school reform effort and opened a school connected to their industry.

 

“Students at the Henry Ford Academy (charter school)…are pioneers—attending high school in a new way, with new challenges and opportunities as the students, museum, and Ford Motor Company prepare for success in a rapidly changing world.”* Students learn in unique settings including museum displays inside the museum and Ford Motor Company’s high-tech facilities. Ford company engineers help students with their homework. The 12th grade facility is based on a railroad theme.

 

In New Hampshire, the New England Transportation Institute and Museum submitted a planning grant proposal last year to develop and design a charter school in the Upper Valley area. Smaller in scale but similar in vision,  Dartmouth professors, museum trustees, and engineers envisioned a school with a decided content focus on geography, transportation, and New Hampshire/ New England history. This project has not yet been funded but it is the second NH proposal involving a museum-affiliated charter school.

 

*Henry Ford Museum materials published by The Edison Institute.

 

 

MAGNET SCHOOLS & SPECIALTY CHARTER SCHOOLS

 

The US Office of Education promotes magnet schools as schools of choice and innovation.

 

Typically magnet schools are in large city systems and provide specialty schools (science, arts) of choice for students of all income levels. New Hampshire does not have large cities, so specialty chartered schools will be our first magnet-type schools of choice.

 

In Keene area (high school population over 1,000), several groups are considering small high school proposals with a special curriculum or instructional. A high school academy of science, for students with particular science interests, is in the planning stages.

 

On the Coast, the state’s first specialty public high school for the arts opens in January 2005. CATA (Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy) is now accepting 9th and 10th grade students and applications from full- and part-time teachers.

 

 

CHARTER SCHOOL GRANTS & BUDGET TEMPLATES

 

For groups considering charter schools and grants, we’ve developed budget templates for expenditure and revenue budgets. Our templates use accounting codes for public schools and compress into cost categories used by the NH Department of Education in required reports.  Our web site posts information about the planning grants available now  ($5000-10,000). Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information..

 

 

We welcome you to visit our web site, locate our start-up resources and publications, and ask any questions you may have about the basics of charter schools in New Hampshire.