In September 2000, the General Accounting Office reported that during the 1998-99 academic year, approximately 1,600 charter schools were in operation and serviced about 250,000 students. These students represented about 0.8 percent of the total number of public school students in states with charter schools. Despite the rapid adoption of charter school legislation and bi-partisan political support, considerable controversy continues nationwide about the quality of and need for charter schools. According to Education Week, the Department of Education research shows that one of the great appeals of charter schools is smaller school and class size. Supporters of public schools contend that smaller classes should be a feature in all public schools, not just charters.
Charters also invoke debates over diversity and inclusively.
By law, charter schools are open to all students, and supporters claim that charters allow for cultural and racial diversity. Some critics argue, however, that school choice and charters inhibit diversity because the schools serve children with similar needs. Then there is the issue of public accountability. Accountability measures vary widely, and there is no consensus among educators or policymakers as to how to evaluate the results of charter schools. Some observers worry that putting too much money into charter schools will create a two-tier education system.