| American public education has changed
numbers of American parents and teachers are in recent years. One change is that
increasing starting independent public schools {{U}}(51) {{/U}} charter
schools (特许学校). In 1991, there were no charter schools in the United States. Today, more than 2,300 charter schools {{U}}(52) {{/U}} in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575,000 students {{U}}(53) {{/U}} these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older. A charter school is {{U}}(54) {{/U}} by groups of parents, teachers and community (社区) members. It is similar in some ways {{U}}(55) {{/U}} a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate just as other public schools do. The {{U}}(56) {{/U}} it receives depends on the number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments{{U}} (57) {{/U}} the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate. Unlike a traditional public school, {{U}}(58) {{/U}}, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what {{U}}(59) {{/U}}. Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to {{U}}(60) {{/U}} those goals. Class sizes usually are, smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say {{U}}(61) {{/U}} in charter schools can be more creative. However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often {{U}}(62) {{/U}} charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly {{U}}(63) {{/U}} by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling. Congress provided 200 million dollars for {{U}}(64) {{/U}} charter schools in the 2002 federal budget (预算). But, often the schools say they lack enough money for their {{U}}(65) {{/U}}. Many also lack needed space. |