Attending college can be a major step for many minorities. Minorities statistically speaking have the lowest graduating rates, but are now tugging at the end of that rope to prevail.

You’re probably wondering how does this affect our student body? Everyone has a family; whether it’s from younger siblings to cousin we all have our best interest for our family especially when it refers to their education.

Future educators this might be a good time to listen in.

Charter schools are now shortening that educational gap. It is proven that students from inner cities are not receiving the same opportunities as other finically stable government funded schools.

Charter Schools, the reformation of public schools have been proving. That there independent system works better than the traditional schools systems (DOE) through test grades, college acceptances, and through the support of public figures.

For those who are not aware of what is a Charter school or how it works, I’ll rewind!

Charter school offers an institutional hybrid. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are free, and they too do not discriminate against students because of their race, gender, or disability.

Usually, parents submit a separate application to enroll a child in a charter school. Like private schools, spaces are often limited. Charter schools are made out of 60% African-American 33% Latino, which allows you see how they are still catering to the minority communities.

The acceptance to a charter school is based on a lottery system and often has a waiting list. Unlike public schools, charter school is its own entity. When regarding to students, textbooks, or even budget cuts, usually, the schools district will make any decisions but in charter schools, a board typically is made up of parents that lead in making the big decisions.

So where does the problem occur? Why is it that many public figures are having issues with charters school?

Charter schools are still funded by government coffers and accountable to the government body. Meaning Charter schools are now invading governmental own property and are developing their schools inside of public schools “government owned building”.

Charter schools spend much less per student than traditional public schools. According to a report form the Department of Education, New York City charters in public school buildings spend $3,000 less per student than regular district schools. Teachers in charter schools are generally not union members, which partially accounts for the difference. In addition, charter schools do not have the enormous administrative overhead of district schools, which allows them to allocate manpower to the classroom.

Charter schools which mostly emerged in low-performing school districts, derived from the idea of focusing more on the student and their future. With public schools struggling with funding, overcrowding, crime and lacking qualified staff, parents formed committees with a goal to organize schools outside of the school district that will better the education for their children.

Because they are still federal and state funded, charter school must follow standards but they may have more flexibility in curriculum and other activities such as science, technology or arts which are the primary focus for some schools.

The white house stated, “The President supports the expansion of high-quality charter schools. He has challenged States to lift limits that stifle growth among successful charter schools and has encouraged rigorous accountability for all charter schools.”

Charters Schools are successful in boosting college enrollment rates in the year following high school graduation. Students enrolled in a charter high school are 7 to 11 percentage points more likely to graduate compared to students in public schools.

Although charter schools are raising the bar and many government officials have their concerns, charter schools is for the people. They are shortening the gap of minorities low graduation rate and continue to prove that they are focused on the bigger picture, the future of our children. With smaller classrooms, longer school years, and strict regulations, the results are showing in the test scores and college acceptances. Charter schools are showing how much can be accomplished when schools are set up with student achievement as the number one priority.