Just as competition has produced better cars and computers, competition will produce better schools for everyone. Charter schools are spreading like wildfire. There are 34 states with charter schools, with particularly strong charter laws in at least 12 of those states. Only half of those parents were satisfied with their child s previous school. Now, some charters are sharing their programs with district schools.
Charter schools allow communities to work together to improve education.
In Mesa, Arizona, public schools are responding to the flight to charter schools by tying 2 percent of salaries for all school employees to accountability goals from returning phone calls to improving reading scores. Many parents don t believe that combining grades and ability levels, cooperative learning, or relying on whole language or new math, are benefiting their children. Many districts that have charter schools are starting their own innovative public school programs to compete against popular charter schools. Encourage school districts to be accountable for their performance. High academic achievement and operational fitness are required for the continuation of a charter.