1. Outline:
Purpose
At the end of my speech my audience will be able to define a charter school and list one difference
between a charter school and a public school.
Introduction
Did you know that the United States ranks one the lowest in the world for education? According to
Geographic.org the US ranks 33rd for Reading, 27th for Math and 21st for science. When we have so many
resources why do we rank below other countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Portugal? What options do
we have for a better education here in America?John Stossell, the host of the TV program on Fox called
“Stupid in America” said in a recent episode “Over years things have gotten so much better, cars,
medicine, technology etc. yet education has not.”
Central Idea
We must become more knowledgeable of charter schools as well as reasons parents choose to put their
kids in charters.
Body
1. Charters
Many parents think that regular public schools are their only option mainly because of their
financial situations. But there is hope!
A. Define charter schools
Charter schools are public schools, which are funded by public money but are
independently run.
B. Where they are located
If you went to school in this area you may not be familiar with charters.
They are typically located in urban areas where they school system is not so
privileged such as The Bronx, LA, Harlem and Washington D.C.
C. How do you get in?
There is usually such a demand for those applying to send their children to charter
schools that they actually hold a raffle to see which students will attend.
These schools have limited spaces to ensure students get enough individual attention.
2. Why Charter schools?
One may ask why charter schools? How are they similar or different from regular public schools?
A. Cost
One huge factor that entices parents are that they are FREE just like a regular public
school since they are publically funded by the government.
B. Space
The over-crowding of many urban public schools has become a huge turn off for
parents because they know there is no way their child can be given individual
attention, there simply are not enough resources to go around.
2. Anyone can apply to a charter school but few get in, this is disappointing to many
families but this ensures that students are not just a number in the school system.
C. Teachers
Teachers are obviously the biggest factor in how well a student does in school.
Parents want to send their children to charter schools because the teachers actually
want to be there!
I’m sure many of you have had a teacher at one point in your life that you knew
could care less about their job and about YOUR personal success.
This is typically because it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to fire a teacher, especially a
union teacher. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a teacher out of the
school system and it usually does not work.
In charter schools a teacher can get fired at any time and can leave at any time
therefore they focus more on the quality of their teaching.
D. Students/ Parents
Another reason why parents want their children in charter schools is because the students
and the parents of the students all want their children there! They all care about their
education as opposed to many of the students in regular public schools.
D. Tracking
Regular public schools have a system called tracking.
Charter schools don’t have tracking. Although the staff understands that students learn
differently at the end of the day, they hold their students to the same high standards and
expect their students to take all the same classes.
Charter schools are a new revolution in America education and can change the lives of millions,
by graduating children of our future generation one student at a time!
