Provo conference focuses on charter school issues

PROVO — About 200 Utah charter school leaders gathered at the Provo Marriott Wednesday to swap ideas, take training courses and learn at the feet of a man many consider the "father" of the national charter school movement.

Howard Fuller, a distinguished professor of education at Marquette University in Wisconsin, headlined the fourth annual Utah Charter School Conference. Other highlights included workshops on topics such as battling cyber bullying, fundraising and using social networks to boost community connections. Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts and Freedom Academy were named "charter schools of the year."

In his address, Fuller described charter schools, which are tax-funded but independently run, as the epicenter of a "war" and encouraged advocates to "get angry" and get things done.

"There are people out there that want to crush this movement," he said. "They want to crush it because they don't want things to be different."

Fuller cautioned, however, against losing sight of the bigger picture.

Twenty years ago, in a room with about 35 other people, Fuller helped to pound out the original format for the charter school. The educational revolution that followed gave charter schools freedom from district rule in exchange for increased accountability. Though a victory, Fuller said, autonomy was not the goal.

"The freedom that we sought, it is a means, not an end," he said. "Our real purpose for being here is to educate kids. The fact that we are using charter schools as a method is critical, but it is only a method. At the end of the day, all that matters is, "Are we serving kids?"

If a charter school is failing, he said, it should be shut down. Administrators should be careful to put the needs of children before their own desire for power or money.

"We did not fight for this freedom so individuals and companies could make money," he said. "We did not fight for this freedom so people could hire all their family members and friends, no matter what their competency level. We did not fight for this freedom so good-hearted people could create schools of privilege and deny the poor access."

The congregation gave Fuller a standing ovation.

"That was phenomenal," said Deena Pyle, director of communications for the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools. "He really transcends the politics and the rhetoric surrounding the charter school movement."

e-mail: estuart@desnews.com