What do charter schools and Starbucks have in common? They offer a high level of customization. At the ubiquitous coffee shop, you can get your coffee the way you like it. There is no one-size-fits-all. Charter schools take a similar approach to education. Their curriculum reflects the needs of the communities they serve. In contrast, traditional schools are bound by a cookie-cutter approach to education. And it’s leaving many of Nevada’s students behind.
Are Public Schools Thinking Inside the Box?
Nevada’s traditional schools receive their curriculum from the state’s Department of Education (DoE). The DoE formulates a set of academic standards that are passed on to each school district.The DoE also sets standards for educators and the teaching methods they ought to apply in the classroom. Nevada’s school districts translate those standards into their curriculum. All schools must comply and conform, creating a unified approach to teaching.
But Nevada is not a uniform state, and neither is its student body. Nearly 30% of Nevada residents are Hispanic, 9% are Afro-American, 8.3% Asian, and 0.7% are Native American. In addition, about 30% of Nevada households don’t use English as their primary language. Unsurprisingly, the state has one of the nation’s highest rates of English learners, with 17% of children reporting English as their second language. The economic divide among Nevada students is equally striking. Twelve percent of our state’s residents live below the poverty line.
Education: One Size Does Not Fit All
Charter schools have proven their ability to cater to Nevada’s diverse student population. In 2023, one-third of Nevada’s charter schools earned a 5-star rating by the DoE’s State Performance Framework. In comparison, only 45% of traditional public schools received a rating above three stars.
These figures become particularly significant considering the high enrollment of minority students and children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Nevada charter schools. The reasons are clear: a Brookings Institute study examining the performance of charter school students in Boston, New York, and Chicago revealed that students attending charter schools showed substantial improvements in academic performance, especially in math and reading. These positive outcomes were particularly pronounced in urban areas with high percentages of minority and low-income students.
For an example closer to home, take the Nevada Rise Academy in Las Vegas: in math, 17% of its students scored at or above the proficiency level, and 32% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 94%, and all its students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These are excellent results traditional schools seem unable to replicate.
Better Academic Outcomes for Underserved Communities
Why the large discrepancy in academic outcomes? Because charter schools can offer their students something traditional public schools cannot: flexibility. Charter schools are free to develop curricula tailored to their students’ needs. They can offer smaller class sizes and bilingual lessons. If students show aptitude for math and science, their parents can enroll them in a charter solely focused on STEM. Charter schools can experiment with class duration, offer blended learning options, focus on project-based learning, or integrate career paths into studies. This high degree of adaptability allows charters to better meet the unique needs of their students.
Another important factor is autonomy over faculty. Beginning with the freedom to select educators best suited to the school and student body, charter schools can rigorously evaluate teacher performance based on academic outcomes for children. Some charters pay their teachers based on merit, which a 2020 study by researchers from the Universities of Oklahoma, Tulane, and Maryland found to have a positive impact on student performance.
Education Should Be Made to Order
Just like your Starbucks latte, Nevada’s education should be customizable. Tailored to meet the needs of those it’s intended to serve. Charter schools have the freedom to innovate and deliver the schooling its underserved student communities need to close the education gap. Join us in advocating for the expansion of Nevada’s charter school network.
