This is a question for charter school teachers. How "fluid" is your class population? I have at least one student who wants to return to public school while two more have just enrolled in my class (halfway through 2nd marking period). Other students move from one apartment to another or are in the middle of custody disputes. One of my students actually got married in the middle of the semester. Is this typical of charter schools or is this more the byproduct of being at an e-school?
I taught in a charter school that was mostly just about getting as many students as possible for the state money. We had a HUGE issue with students coming and going--because it was advertised as college prep but was actually remedial and the good students realized this and weeded themselves out; because kids went there after getting kicked out somewhere else, and left when they got back in; because school choice appeals to a certain segment of the population that likes to go back to shopping around if things don't go smoothly; and of course because of families moving in and out of the area for which a school is convenient, just like in publically-operated schools. I do think that these things, except maybe for the one about moving, apply more to charter schools for some reason.
I taught in a charter and they were extremely strict regarding attendance and tardies. It was just not ok. I did not have many students come and go during the year, but plenty of drama that accompanied them. I am in a low income public school this year (the charter was low income also) and we have tons of movement. I think that is because the students don't choose to put their children in public schools. Charters they choose...I don't know about your's, but isn't in HS? That could account for some of it.
A lot of the movement comes from where they live. A lot of lower income students' families apartment hop (at least they do where I live), and that accounts for the movement you are seeing. Are you in the City of Columbus--Near East Side? That could be part of the issue. Btw, I student taught at Whitehall HS, and the mobility rate was 40% due to the movement in and out of the area.
I'm at a charter. We have two shifts of classes; the students schedules are more like college schedules in a way: everyone comes/goes/has breaks at vastly different times. During the first month, I'd have 2 or 3 students that would change out of/into each of my classes at least 3 times a week. I'd have to check my roster every morning; I'd never know for sure if I'd lose someone or gain someone each period. My classes have also shrunk in size greatly. I went from over 30 kids in each class, to some now only in the upper teens. Two weeks ago, we created a new remedial Algebra class (that I was chosen to teach), so many of the Algebra students got switched around. Other than this remedial class, where my roster is still flexible on a daily basis, a few new students have also come into my classes in the past two weeks. Of course, I'm pretty certain that my school is beyond abnormal, so I don't know if all this moving is because it's a charter school or because it's just weird.
Btw, catnfiddle, what virtual school do you teach at? I was looking into some of them (K12, Insight, Kaplan) and am somewhat considering looking into one of them for next year.
How funny! I lived in C-bus for many years. I student taught at Whitehall High School many, many moons ago! I don't know anything about the elementary schools there.
NOTE - Whitehall passed a levy in November to get ALL new school buildings - three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school!!
My school is for the state of Ohio only, but that also means if I have to pack up and move to Cincinnati I'd only need to assure my connection is up and running quickly. It's a crazy set of challenges that one wouldn't have in a "brick and mortar" school (for example, the website that hosts my school curriculum is down AGAIN) but it's wonderful in other ways. PM me if you want more info.
