Rotary International District 5170

Oakland's School District is in deep trouble, so the nightly news report tells us. And so are many more schools in California. What’s to do? What remedy to seek? Charter Schools! Charter Schools! The name keeps coming up as a possible solution to their troubles. California already has 300 Charter schools (the most in the US); there may be one in your school district. So, what are CHARTER Schools?

What is or are Charter Schools? They are public schools, funded by the same local and state funds as district schools, but operate with significantly more autonomy from the governance rules and regulations laid down in their district and by the state. Already in California 300+ districts have been granted the opportunity for the principals, staff and parents, to embark upon the task of replacing a failed school and make a fresh start from the ground up using the Charter format!

After selling his start-up NetGravity in 1999 to DoubleClick, John Danner turned his time, talent and passion toward K-12 education. He successfully co-founded the Sacred Heart Nativity Charter School in San Jose and spent 4 years as Chairman of the Tennessee Charter School Association, where he started 12 C-Schools the first year.

John Danner' talk at San Jose Rotary was rated 90% excellent and 90% repeat next year with a progress report! A comment heard was "reat talk-great subject!."

Sep. 2007