Charter schools are public schools in which any student can enroll based on a lottery. Funding is based on enrollment, and because capital expenses are not provided by the state, charter schools actually cost the taxpayers less. We are constantly being told that in order to thrive in this new world our children must be able to adapt to quickly changing environments. The continuation of the status quo desired by the traditional education groups is antithetical to this end. For its part, business has much to offer and much to gain by lending its professional expertise and investing in the readiness of our children.
Charter schools offer choice, autonomy, and accountability.
The act of writing a charter focuses the school s leader on a mission. The curriculum and innovation have met with overwhelming parental approval, as evidenced by enrollment waiting lists at most charter schools. This success should inspire the school system to provide better services. Charter schools offer a model for education reform in Wake County and across the state. In the county, with our school superintendent leaving and our voters rejecting the massive spending bond, we are at a crossroads.