Charter schools are independent public schools. They are publicly financed but privately operated. Education reform efforts led to charter schools in the United States in the early nineteen nineties.
特許學校是獨立的公立學校。它們都是公共資金，但私人運營。二十世紀九十年代早期，教育改革的努力導致了美國的特許學校。
Now there are more than three thousand five hundred such schools and more than one million students. These numbers are small, however, compared to traditional schools.
現在有超過三千五百所這樣的學校和一百多萬的學生。然而，與傳統學校相比，這些數字很小。
But charter schools have more freedom. They generally do not have to deal with teachers unions. And the local school system cannot tell them how to teach. But charter schools must prove their students are learning.
但是特許學校有更多的自由。他們通常不需要與教師工會打交道。而當地的學校系統無法告訴他們如何教學。但特許學校必須證明他們的學生正在學習。
A recent study examined test scores in the fifth grade last year at a group of charter schools. The researchers say the gains were greater than what is considered normal. The results, in their words, "suggest that these schools are doing something right."
最近的一項研究在去年的一所特許學校里測試了五年級的考試成績。研究人員說，這些收獲比正常情況下要大得多。用他們的話來說，結果“表明這些學校正在做正確的事情。”
The study by a private group, the Educational Policy Institute, involved KIPP charter schools. KIPP is the Knowledge Is Power Project. Two teachers began this program in nineteen ninety-four to help students from poor families. It has expanded to thirty-eight schools. As many as ten more are expected to open this fall. Almost all KIPP students are black or Hispanic.
私立學校教育政策研究所的研究涉及KIPP特許學校。KIPP是知識就是力量項目。為了幫助貧困家庭的學生，兩名教師在1994年開始了這個項目。它已經擴展到38所學校。預計今年秋季將有多達10家公司開業(yè)。幾乎所有的KIPP學生都是黑人或西班牙裔。
The schools start in the fifth grade. Students are in school for more than nine hours a day Monday through Friday, and a half-day on Saturday. They also attend classes for three weeks in the summer.
學校在五年級開始學習。周一至周五，學生每天在學校的時間超過九小時，周六則是半天。他們還在夏天上了三個星期的課。
But the first thing they learn is how to act responsibly. Each week, students get what is called a "paycheck." They can use it to buy things in the school store. Teachers reduce the amount if a student does not finish work or violates rules. Students with high paychecks get to take part in fun activities like trips at the end of the year.
但他們學到的第一件事就是如何負責任地行動。每周，學生都能得到所謂的“薪水”?！八麄兛梢杂盟趯W校商店里買東西?！比绻麑W生沒有完成工作或違反規(guī)定，教師就會減少數額。有高額薪水的學生可以參加一些有趣的活動，比如在年底旅行。
The KIPP Foundation trains its own teachers. The teachers tell students to call them on the phone if there is ever a problem.
KIPP基金會培訓自己的老師。老師告訴學生如果有問題，就打電話給他們。
But what if schools have a problem? Another new study shows that charter schools often receive a lot less money than other public schools, especially in big cities.
但如果學校有問題怎么辦?另一項新研究顯示，特許學校的收入通常比其他公立學校要少得多，尤其是在大城市。
