While failing charter schools need to be shut down, others need to be exemplified and studied for their outstanding results and their unique appproach to the learning process.
MATCH Charter High School in Boston has taken a unique approach to getting "at-risk" kids into school and through college. Not satisfied with getting kids into college, MATCH's goal is to get kids through college. That's some task for an organization that has no control over a student once he or she graduates from the high school. The goal is to get kids so used to studying and achieving at such a high level, the kids won't want to drop out of college.
So, how does one accomplish such a daunting task. MATCH has an extremely rigorous academic program, but in addition, they have tutors who live in the building. These tutors are assigned to students and meet with them on a regular basis, even on weekends. The tutors a usually recent college graduates who want to go into teaching. This provides a great way for future teachers to get hands on experience and for MATCH students to be mentored by those who have recent college experience and know what it takes to graduate.
Often schools say they don't have enough money, but MATCH manages this program on a slim budget. It's a private school solution in a charter public school environment.
Now one of the top ranked high schools in the country, for many students in Boston this combination of rigorous academics and live-in tutors is a perfect MATCH.
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