As schools of choice, startup charter schools must attract students to survive.
They depend largely on per-pupil money from the state, and without enough enrollment to cover their overhead, they risk going out of business.
"If you look at charter schools across the country, on average 10 percent of charters are revoked each year," said Rep. Roy Takumi, chairman of the House Education Committee. "Why? It's because they are meant to be experiments. There are going to be some successes and some failures.
Pua Mendoca knows who’s been nibbling holes in the leaves of her taro, eggplant and basil. Mendoca is the kumukahua mala, or school garden instructor, at a charter school in Hilo called Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo. The culprits nibbling on the leaves? They’re the Chinese rose beetles that recently discovered the school’s raised vegetable beds.
Waimea Middle School voted to became a Public Conversion Charter School (PCCS) in 2003 to secure greater local control over what's best for our children and families, to facilitate age-appropriate academic and student supports, and to maximize family engagement and community involvement. We are the middle school of the Waimea community -- no tuition is charged (we are publicly funded) and accept all children. Though 63% of our 270 students are eligible for Free/Reduced food service, we are proud of their academic progress, our Highly Qualified teachers' collaboration, and our fiscal accountability.
