As a long-term, strong supporter of charter schools, I was upset by a lawsuit brought against me by five charter schools. Here is my perspective:
"A
country that does not know its history is like an individual who has lost his
memory: he does not know where he has been, he does not know where he is going,
and he does not know who he is. That is why I am fighting a lawsuit filed
by five charter schools that claim we cannot require them to teach American
history in grades 7 and 8. They want to teach world history but not
American history in those grades."
They want to renege on their charters, which typically state that their “curriculum will be aligned with Arizona state standards…” (Basis Schools.)
Standards only set forth what students know and can do at the end of the year. A variety of different curricula can lead students to the knowledge of the same standards. We do not prescribe curriculum and encourage charter schools to experiment with different curricula, as long as the students know and can do what is set forth in the standards by the end of the year.
Many people are shocked to learn that when I took office in 2003, under the existing history standards, high school students were not learning about the Ddeclaration of Independence, the Constitution, the founding fathers, or the ideas on which our country is based.
In the 2002 election, I promised to correct this. Working with the state board my first year in office, we revised the standards, so that now Arizona students do learn those vital preconditions for knowledgeable citizenship. But students need background in elementary and middle school, so they can learn in greater depth in high school.
After arguments with “progressive” educators, who opposed history standards, and postponements that lasted several months, the state board eventually adopted standards regarding the teaching of history in all grade levels. This is important because we have found that many schools, both district and charter, teach no history. The adoption of these standards was a major achievement to prepare our students for citizenship. The chief historian of the History Channel held a press conference and stated: “In developing the Multimedia Classroom, we analyzed the history curriculum of every state and it was Arizona that stood head and shoulders ahead of the other 49. (Emphasis added.)"
The five charter schools that brought this action are all excellent schools. Standards are minimal. Schools are expected to exceed them. These excellent schools could meet the minimal standards in American history and still teach as much world history in the 7th and 8th grades as they wish. I also offered to settle this lawsuit by creating alternate standards that would legitimize the way they are teaching history (world history in middle school, American in high school), and they rejected the offer “out of hand.”
"I have been a strong supporter of charter schools since I served
in the legislature in the 1990’s. As superintendent, I have fought to get
the legislature to increase charter school funding per pupil to equal that of
district schools, which would cost about an additional $70 million for charter
schools. Charter proponents over the past decade have often pointed
out that they are subject to standards (which they have been in reading,
writing, and mathematics), just as district schools are. I will continue
fighting for equalized funding whatever happens. But if opponents of
charters can argue that district schools are subject to standards but charters
aren't, because of an unfavorable court ruling in this case, this will be a
serious blow to our ability to persuade people."
If, on the contrary, there is a favorable court ruling, we will continue to encourage charters to experiment with curriculum, as long as they meet standards for what students know and can do by the end of each year.
For a more complete explanation of my position, please go here:
http://www.ade.az.gov/administration/Goldwater8-27-07.pdf
Thanks
Tom Horne
Arizona Superintendent of Public Schools
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