These statutes should be overhauled to put the emphasis back where it belongs, on access and learning, rather than process. The second element to structural reform is independently managed schools. There is an education reform brushfire that is sweeping the nation. Five years ago there was only one state with a charter school law. Today, there are 20.
Charter schools are independently managed public schools.
There are 15 charter schools up and running in Massachusetts. Five or six more schools are scheduled to open in the fall. Several new charters will be issued by the Secretary of Education on March 15, which will probably bring the number of charters statewide to 25-the statutory limit. These mission-driven schools are conceived and operated by management teams drawing from educators, parents, business executives, and community leaders. Per-pupil revenues are exactly equal to the average cost per student in the traditional public schools.