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Tests find no charter advantage
By MELANIE AVE © St. Petersburg Times, published May 26, 2001 TAMPA -- Charter schools are meant to be innovative and different. But recently released student test scores for Hillsborough County's charter schools are not much different than their regular public school counterparts, leaving some questioning whether the schools are really academic trendsetters. "My hope is always that they would do something different and show us how to do better," said Candy Olson, school board member. "It probably hasn't happened or it hasn't happened yet." State standardized test scores from six of the district's 14 charter schools were a mixed bag. Four of the six dipped below the average district scores in reading, writing and math on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in fourth-, fifth-, eighth- and 10th-grade performance. Only two schools -- Terrace Community School and Learning Gate Charter School -- outpaced the county. Some charter schools did not report scores because of small enrollments or grade levels that were not tested. The performance of charter schools is of particular interest in Hillsborough, which is tied with Miami-Dade for the most in the state -- 14 each -- according to the state Department of Education. Charter schools get public money but are run by private companies or groups and are free of many local and state rules. Next week, the state will use the scores, as well as other data, to assign an A through F grade to schools if they have at least 30 eligible students who were given the tests earlier this year. Charter school experts say it is difficult to compare charter schools, and it can take several years for charter schools to build a successful track record. "We believe students at charter schools should have to take tests," said Jon Schroeder, director of the Charter Friends National Network in St. Paul, Minn. "But when looking at standardized testing ... it's important to watch growth over time." Hillsborough's supervisor of assessment, Sam Whitten, cautioned against using the scores to evaluate the schools until the state removes tests of students with limited English abilities or those with disabilities. Terrace Community, which operates out of a Temple Terrace strip mall, surpassed the district in all three subject areas. Learning Gate, a first-year charter program and former private school, outdid the district in fourth-grade reading and fifth-grade math but it fell slightly below the county in fourth-grade writing. Both Terrace Community and Learning Gate credit small classes, dedicated teachers and focused instruction for their achievement. "It's a good indication of what we're doing really does work," said Learning Gate principal Patti Girard. The school, with 97 students, exceeded the state minimums, meaning it will most likely earn a grade of A or B. The same is true for Terrace Community School. The school uses the curriculum written for schools on U.S. military bases. It believes all children can be brought up to the same level, according to principal Alba Mas. Tutors provide help to students who are falling behind. "The way a charter school proves itself is to educate to the same level or better than the county," she said. "We teach to a higher standard, and we feel that will show in the school." Not all charter schools performed well on the tests. Pepin High School, which has a student population of at-risk and learning disabled students, and Tampa United Methodist elementary, which serves mostly low-income students, had scores well below the county average. Still, Tampa United Methodist principal Barry Gowin said he believes his students are doing better at the charter school than they would in a regular public school, which have larger classes and less individual attention. Trinity School for Children, which has kindergarten through fifth grade had scores slightly below the county average. Eastside Multicultural Community School had 78 percent of its fourth-graders who scored in the lowest reading level and 55 percent in the lowest math level. But the school could be saved from an F grade by its writing scores. Eastside principal David Myers declined to comment, saying he has not yet analyzed the test scores. School Board member Glenn Barrington said he expects charter schools to keep up with regular public schools with similar populations. "I think it's important at all these schools, public, private, charter, whatever, that they do the best job they can do," he said. - Times staff writer Stephen Hegarty contributed to this report. Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400.
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