A High School Charter Option

This appeared in GR Press Editorial
Friday, August 17, 2007
Grand Rapids area families choosing to educate their children in charter elementary and middle schools deserve a high school option. News that prominent businessmen are pursuing a charter middle/high school is reason for optimism. Charters aren't the solution to all the problems that plague underachieving school systems. But they are a legitimate alternative to parents and children looking for another choice.

The schools have arguably kept families that are dissatisfied with the public school system from fleeing to the suburbs. But once children reach eighth grade, parents are faced with a decision. Send their kids to a traditional public school or a private school. In Grand Rapids, no charter high school option is available.

Gateway Middle/High School was the only charter in the city with high school grades, but the school closed in June. Charters that include grades K-12 are in Cedar Springs, Walker, Byron Center and Holland. Wyoming Public Schools is the only K-12 public system that runs a charter high school in the area. Expense has always been seen as the biggest obstacle for charter high schools because the programs cost more to run than the lower grades.

That's why the application to Grand Valley State University by CEO Partnership for Urban Education, which includes the Steelcase CEO and Alticor president, is hopeful news. In Michigan, new charter schools must be authorized by a public school district or university.

The idea is to create the Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy, which would start small with a 64-student sixth grade, adding one grade each year until 12th is reached. Parents would have towait a few years for a full high school, but there are no other prospects now. The school would be modeled after the University Preparatory Academy in Detroit. GVSU is expected to make a decision on its applicants within the next five months. This particular model can be debated. But what's important is that there is dialogue about an option parents want.

The charter was discussed with Grand Rapids Public Schools. Last month, Superintendent Bernard Taylor said while it hasn't been ruled out, the district isn't ready to commit because other specialized programs have also been suggested. But under a GVSU charter, the district loses students and cash, neither of which it can afford. Estimates are up to $3 million if the school grows to the proposed capacity of 448 students, $500,000 in the first year alone. Those are serious numbers the Board of Education and Mr. Taylor must weigh going forward.

There are about 21 charters in Kent and Ottawa counties. No one can say definitively just how well the students in charter schools are being served in the state or country because performance varies. But this much is clear: they're growing, and parents continue to choose them as an alternative.

With the high-powered, successful businessmen behind the Grand Rapids proposal, it's difficult to imagine the charter not succeeding, regardless of who authorizes it. Action is needed on a charter high school soon, to fill the void for families and truly compete with the traditional public schools.