Charter schools in Minnesota

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Charter schools in Minnesota are public schools operated independently of public school systems, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 165 total charter schools in Minnesota in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 48,200 students.
  • Overall, charter school students accounted for 5.55 percent of total public school enrollment in Minnesota in 2015.
  • The Minnesota State Legislature approved the state's charter school law in 1992.

    • Background

    History

    The Minnesota State Legislature approved Minnesota's charter school law in 1992.

    In 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass a charter school law.[1]

    The National Conference of State Legislatures defines charter schools as follows:[2]

    “

    Charter schools are publicly funded, privately managed and semi-autonomous schools of choice. They do not charge tuition. They must hold to the same academic accountability measures as traditional schools. They receive public funding similarly to traditional schools. However, they have more freedom over their budgets, staffing, curricula and other operations. In exchange for this freedom, they must deliver academic results and there must be enough community demand for them to remain open.[3]

    		”
    —National Conference of State Legislatures

    Across the nation, charter schools have grown in number since the passage of the first public charter school law. As of March 2017, 44 states plus the District of Columbia had enacted charter school laws, and in 2013 it was estimated that 4.6 percent of all public school students attended charter schools. Performance results of charter schools nationally have been mixed, with some performing demonstrably better and others closing because they could not meet required standards.[2][4][5]

    As originally passed, Minnesota's charter school law allowed for the establishment of eight charter schools (this cap was later lifted). The first of these, the St. Paul City Academy, opened in 1992. In 2008, a series of reports and analyses surfaced that "raised questions about [charter] schools' administration and performance." Spurred by these concerns, the Minnesota State Legislature passed significant reforms to the state's charter school law in 2009.[6][7]

    Participation

    According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 165 total charter schools in Minnesota in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 48,200 students. Overall, charter school students accounted for 5.55 percent of total public school enrollment in Minnesota in 2015.[8]

    Charter schools, 2015-2016
    State Total number of charter schools Estimated enrollment Percentage of total public school enrollment
    Minnesota 165 48,200 5.55%
    North Dakota 0 0 0.00%
    South Dakota 0 0 0.00%
    Wisconsin 244 44,800 5.15%
    United States total 6,824 2,930,600 5.85%
    Note: The percentages in the column labeled "Percentage of total public school enrollment" were calculated by taking the estimated number of charter school students in a given state and dividing by the total estimated number of public school students in that state in 2015. Total public school enrollment estimates came from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016

    Demographics

    See also: Charter school demographics and Demographic information for all students in the United States

    The table below presents information about the race/ethnicity of charter school students in Minnesota in the 2013-2014 school year, as reported by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. To facilitate comparison, the same figures are also provided for all public school students.[9][10]

    Enrollments by ethnicity, 2013-2014 (as percentages)
    Data sample White Black Hispanic Asian Other
    Charter schools in Minnesota 47.0% 25.0% 9.0% 14.0% 5.0%
    Public schools in Minnesota 70.7% 9.7% 8.2% 6.4% 5.1%
    Charter schools in the U.S. 34.9% 27.1% 30.0% 4.1% 3.8%
    Public schools in the U.S. 50.3% 15.6% 24.8% 4.8% 4.4%
    Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 203.70. Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2003 and fall 2013," accessed June 7, 2016
    National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis," March 2016

    State law

    Authorizers

    Charter school authorizers are, according to the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), the organizations "designated to approve, monitor, renew, and, if necessary, close charter schools." NASCA has identified six primary types of charter school authorizers:[11]

    1. Higher education institutions (HEI)
    2. Independent charter boards (ICB)
    3. Local education agencies (LEA)
    4. Non-education government entities (NEG)
    5. Not-for-profit organizations (NFP)
    6. State education agencies

    The table below lists charter school authorizers in Minnesota as of June 2016. Click [show] to expand the table's contents.

    Enrollment regulations

    Charter schools in Minnesota are not permitted to "limit admission to pupils on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or athletic ability." In the event that there are more applicants to a charter school than there are available seats, admissions must be determined by lottery. Charter schools are permitted by law to limit admissions to the following types of students:[12][13]

    “
    1. pupils within an age group or grade level;
    2. pupils who are eligible to participate in the graduation incentives program under section 124D.68; or
    3. residents of a specific geographic area in which the school is located when the majority of students served by the school are members of underserved populations.[3]
    		 ”
    —2014 Minnesota Statutes

    In addition, charter schools may "give enrollment preference to a sibling of an enrolled pupil and to a foster child of that pupil's parents and may give preference for enrolling children of the school's staff before accepting other pupils by lot."[12][13]

    Funding

    In Minnesota, charter schools receive a portion of their funding from the state.

    The way charter schools are financed differs from state to state, and even between districts within states. In Minnesota, charter schools receive funding from the state on a per-pupil basis. The state does not provide funds for start-up or planning grants. The state does, however, provide funding for facilities. The state may give lease aids to charter schools in the amount of 90 percent of the lease cost, or $1,314 per pupil. Charter schools are also eligible for transportation aid.[13]

    Accountability

    See also: Accountability measures for charter schools

    Charter schools in Minnesota are required by state law to prepare annual reports. In addition, charter schools must submit annual audit reports to their authorizers and the state commissioner of education.[13]

    State law dictates that a charter may be revoked for the following reasons:

    “
    1. Failure to meet the requirements for pupil performance contained in the contract;
    2. Failure to meet the requirements for pupil performance contained in the contract;
    3. Failure to meet the requirements for pupil performance contained in the contract;
    4. Other good cause shown.[3]
    		 ”
    —Education Commission of the States

    Charter school authorizers are not required to submit regular reports "on the performance of their portfolio of schools." Authorizers must, however, submit annual financial statements to the commissioner of education.[13]

    Charter school law rankings

    In January 2016, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a report ranking all of the nation's charter school laws. Minnesota's law ranked three out of 43. The organization ranked each state's law by considering what it called "20 essential components of a strong charter school law." The table below compares Minnesota's score with that of neighboring states. To access the full report, including methodology, click here.[14]

    Charter school law rankings, January 2016
    State 2016 ranking 2015 ranking Ranking difference 2016 score 2015 score Score difference
    Minnesota 3 1 -2 174 174 0
    North Dakota N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    South Dakota N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Wisconsin 37 38 1 110 79 31
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up To The Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws," January 2016

    Issues

    Debate

    Proponents of charter schools such as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools argue that, due to their freedom from some state oversight and regulation, they can adopt more innovative educational approaches. This allows them to cater to their particular higher-risk school age populations, which are generally composed of more minority and poor students. In addition, advocates argue that charter schools empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition.

    Meanwhile, critics such as Diane Ravitch argue that charter schools have not been proven to produce significantly higher levels of academic achievement as promised. It is difficult to find data comparable to traditional public schools. Critics also contend that charter schools divert funds from traditional public schools, which continue to enroll significant majorities of public school students, thereby compounding problems at failing schools and generating unequal outcomes for students.[15]

    Funding inequity

    In 2014, the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform released a report identifying disparities between charter school funding and traditional public school funding. Examining 31 states, the researchers considered all sources of charter school funding, including public funds, grants, and philanthropic donations. Researchers found that charter schools received on average 28.4 percent less than traditional public schools. Tennessee's funding disparity was lowest at 0.1 percent, while Louisiana's was highest at 58.4 percent. The disparity in Minnesota was -23.0 percent, earning the state a D grade. Charter schools in the state received on average $3,414 less per pupil than traditional public schools.[16]

    Below is a chart that compares Minnesota's grade and funding disparity with those of surrounding states. To access the full report, click here.

    Charter school funding disparity by state
    State Grade District per-pupil revenue Charter per-pupil revenue Disparity in dollars Disparity in percents
    Minnesota D $14,843 $11,429 -$3,414 -23.0%
    North Dakota No charter school law
    South Dakota No charter school law
    Wisconsin F $16,757 $9,870 -$6,887 -41.1%
    Source: University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," accessed October 22, 2014

    Charter school management organizations and other groups

    See also: Charter school management organization

    In the 2010-2011 school year, 147 schools in Minnesota were freestanding, one operated under charter management organizations, and one operated under education management organizations.[17]

    The Minnesota Association of Charter Schools is a statewide charter school membership organization and advocacy group. The group was founded in 1995 and incorporated as a nonprofit membership group in 1998. The association's mission statement is as follows:[18]

    “ The MN Association of Charter Schools, as a membership organization, advocates for charter school policy issues, supports charter school innovation, quality and accountability, and facilitates cooperation in Minnesota’s charter school community to assure excellence in education for our students.[3] ”
    —Minnesota Association of Charter Schools

    Innovation

    See also: Charter school innovation indicators and High-performing charter schools

    Charter school proponents argue that charter schools have the freedom to adopt more innovative practices, which in turn lead to improved academic performance. To get a sense of the level of innovation occurring in charter schools, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools surveyed charter schools across the country on the various innovative education practices they employed. In Minnesota, an average of 20 percent of charter schools reported using innovative practices in the 2011-2012 school year. The table below displays the prevalence of a variety of innovative practices in Minnesota as a percentage of all charter schools in the state. The figures are compared with those in surrounding states.[19]

    Charter schools with innovative practices, in percents (2011-2012)
    State Extended day Extended year Year-round calendar Independent study School-to-work Higher education courses Average
    Minnesota 27% 20% 10% 22% 13% 20% 20%
    North Dakota No charter school law
    South Dakota No charter school law
    Wisconsin 35% 31% 15% 40% 25% 15% 27%
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014

    Ballot measures and legislation

    Ballot measures

    See also: School choice on the ballot and List of Minnesota ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked no statewide ballot measures relating to school choice in Minnesota.

    Legislation

    The following is a list of recent charter school bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Minnesota state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Minnesota charter school. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Charter schools in Minnesota - Google News

    See also

    School Board badge.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Public School Review, "What is a Charter School?" accessed October 2, 2014
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Charter School Finance," accessed October 9, 2014
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ Center for Research on Education Outcomes, "National Charter School Study," accessed October 9, 2014
    5. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Total Number of Students," accessed October 9, 2014
    6. ↑ Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, "Charter Schools," September 2014
    7. ↑ Minnesota Association of Charter Schools, "MN Charter School Law," accessed December 1, 2014
    8. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016
    9. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 203.70. Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2003 and fall 2013," accessed June 7, 2016
    10. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis," March 2016
    11. ↑ National Association of Charter School Authorizers, "Types of Authorizers," accessed June 6, 2016
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 2014 Minnesota Statutes, "124D.10 Charter Schools," accessed December 1, 2014
    13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Education Commission of the States, "Charter Schools Update 2014 - State Profile - Minnesota," June 2014
    14. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up To The Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws," January 2016
    15. ↑ The New York Review of Books, "The Myth of Charter Schools," November 11, 2010
    16. ↑ University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," accessed October 22, 2014
    17. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014
    18. ↑ Minnesota Association of Charter Schools, "About Us," accessed December 1, 2014
    19. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014
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