Alice Keesing Advertiser Education Writer A reform movement in Hawaii's public schools will take another step forward tonight, with the Board of Education likely to approve a charter for the Big Island's Connections school. Winning charter status guarantees the program's survival, which has been questioned by the Mountain View principal.
Charters are free to manage their own money and experiment with curriculum.
At the same time, they must open their doors to all students and follow state academic standards. Connections will open as a charter school in August with about 160 students. We will have much more flexibility. One major benefit will be a newfound freedom from the state's mountain of paperwork, he said. Charter schools guarantee accountability of teachers and administrators, Thatcher said, because charters can be revoked if schools don't meet standards.