"Every Day I Spin These Plates": A Case Study of Teachers Amidst the Charter Phenomenon (Charter Schools Analysis‪)‬

Introduction Over the past decade, numerous shifts in education policy have been proposed and implemented in the attempt to improve educational opportunities for the diverse American population. Some of these changes have been initiated by the federal government's No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001) via its mix of standards, accountability, and punitive measures. Other changes have occurred at the state and local levels, by restructuring schools and administrative staff. These restructuring initiatives have included movements towards schools that are: small, themed, semi-privatized, and chartered. Both federal and local policy changes have led to intended and unintended consequences for educational stakeholders.