Explore Charter College

Freeing Cal State Northridge’s College of Education from some of the regulations stifling change deserves a close look. CSUN administrators are mulling a proposal to turn the college into a charter school that would release it from many of state rules and procedures that impede quick action. The goal: to create a dynamic school that can respond quickly to the changing needs of teachers.

As it stands, curriculum changes take too long to implement--meaning generations of prospective teachers lose out on information they may need. New techniques and ideas can take years to find their way into the classroom. Given the state of public education in Southern California, any effort to better prepare teachers for the challenges they face is welcome.

Although the legal rules for charter colleges are less clear than they are for charter schools, the idea is the same. By freeing administrators and professors from some of the rules, they could develop new programs in less time--and often for less money. Plus, they could streamline operations to cut the time it takes to get new teachers through school and in front of a class of their own. In exchange, the school would be expected to post results.

That’s been the case at Cal State Los Angeles, the only other charter college in the country. In the three years since Cal State Los Angeles’ School of Education became a charter college, enrollment has jumped 40%, a clear sign that students appreciate a fresh approach. Other benefits include:

* Streamlined credential programs that shave a year off the time it takes to get an undergraduate degree and a teaching credential, from five to four years.

* New revenue sources as private foundations and corporations help fund innovative programs.

* Shortened lead times for new programs--from years to months.

Those are tangible results. But the real test comes in the classroom, where thousands of children are poorly served by ill-prepared teachers. With 22,000 untrained teachers working on emergency credentials, the need for innovative programs is real. A love of children and a passion for teaching are not always enough. Teaching is a skill that can be improved with thoughtful training. In addition, forecasters predict another 300,000 teachers will be needed to school the children of Baby Boomers in the years ahead.

CSUN’s proposal still needs careful review to resolve thorny labor and legal issues. But it’s definitely worth exploring. As a new century approaches, many colleges cling to old approaches and procedures. Preparing young minds for that new century demands new ways of thinking.