Charter schools 'best of both worlds' for some Stanislaus County residents

First of a two-part series

The Phelps' kitchen table is more than just the site of family dinners.

It's the center of learning for the family's six children.

For more than two decades, Antionetta Phelps has been mother and teacher to her children, feeding their brains with academics and tailoring activities to their skills and interests.

But Phelps knows she can't do it all. When she encounters an algebra equation or essay that stumps her, she has Hart-Ransom Academic Charter School for help and support.

"It's a beautiful balance where I get to choose, I get to handpick their classes. And if there's a class I don't think I could do best, we come in," said Phelps, whose children range in age from 11 to 23.

Hart-Ransom is one of a number of charter schools offering "the best of both worlds" by providing a home-school program that connects parents with school resources such as textbooks and computers. Most of Hart-Ransom's 260 students come to campus for a few classes, such as teacher Bill Ardis' history and government courses.

Hart-Ransom's hybrid program is one of 21 charter schools in Stanislaus County, where charter schools have become enticing alternatives for many families. Eight charters opened in the last five years, meeting a demand for more options in education.

Phelps not only teaches to the skill levels of her children, but the school day can be flexible and allow for extracurricular activities — daughter Bailey takes dance classes and son Bryan enrolls in Modesto Junior College courses.

"I can see what they're good at and I can water that," Phelps said.

California has been admitting new charter schools since the early 1990s. They're en vogue today, with President Barack Obama encouraging public school districts to welcome more charter programs. Obama likes them because they promote innovation and offer alternatives to the traditional public schools.

But many parents still have questions about what exactly charter schools are and whether their children can attend. Here's a primer:

What is a charter school?

Contrary to popular belief, charter schools are not private schools and do not charge tuition.

Charters are free public schools with fewer restrictions than traditional public schools. Educators and politicians hope that with less red tape and bureaucracy, charter schools can operate more creatively and develop different teaching and learning strategies other public schools can copy.

One example, said Hart-Ransom Union School District Superintendent Ream Lochry, comes in the textbooks charter schools can use. A charter district can adopt texts that its leaders determine meet academic standards and cater to their students' needs, but might not be adopted by the state Department of Education.

Also, charter students can ski or take horseback riding for physical education classes instead of playing kickball at schools.

"We have more of an experiential education program than many traditional (schools) have," Lochry said.

Most of Stanislaus County's charter schools are classroom-based, though others offer home schooling or independent study options.

The best charter schools are the ones that offer something different to families, proponents say. Successful charters in Stanislaus County allow for the combination of home schooling and coming to school to get additional help or extra classes that families can't provide by themselves.

Other notable charter schools specialize in certain areas. For example, Riverbank Language Academy immerses students in English and Spanish so they are fluent in both languages by the time they enter high school.