Several schools have shut down after their leaders ran out of money or left town. Many charter schools don't have labs and libraries. Basic classroom supplies are lacking. Too often, enrollment numbers submitted to claim state funds differ dramatically from real attendance. Next time a bill or an initiative surfaces in Washington, and one will, backers have to be painfully honest.
Charter schools are a lot like other public schools.
Some work, some don't. The truth is, charter schools, done right, offer promise for experimentation and innovation. But they should be introduced carefully, beginning with a limited number to allow their managers to work out the kinks. Charter schools should always be accountable to school boards, and the system should build in a reasonable amount of oversight.