They are breaking up big schools into smaller ones and giving teams of teachers more responsibility and more accountability. This is more good news. Our educational system needs a good shake-up. Competition only improves a product. This is important because it is the best investment we can make.
Economists believe that the most important factor in creating a good economy is education.
Reformers looking to raise taxes to build better schools, like myself, should embrace charter schools as a way to make the educational investment worthwhile. Local school boards wield the balance of power in the educational game, as primarily local money is used to pay for these schools. These local school boards decide whether to embrace charter schools or fight them. The Chicago Reform School Board, led by CEO Paul Vallas, is a national model. Although Chicago did not give a charter to all 38 of the groups that applied, they have ensured that those charters that do open are quality schools with the full backing of the school system.