Among these components is Providing legal and operational autonomy by ensuring that charters are independent legal entities that can own property, sue and be sued, incur debt, control budget and personnel, and contract for services, Guaranteeing full funding and fiscal autonomy, High or no limits on the number of schools that may be formed, Permitting new schools to start up rather than just allowing public school conversions, and Exempting charters from collective bargaining agreements and district work rules. Of primary importance in Maryland, however, is ensuring multiple chartering authorities and a variety of applicants. States that permit a number of entities in addition to local school boards to charter schools or that provide applicants with a binding appeals process, encourage more activity than those that vest authority in a single entity or provide only an advisory appeals process. And states that permit a variety of individuals and groups both inside and outside the existing public school system to start charter schools encourage more activity than states that limit eligible applicants to public schools or public school personnel. In short, a good charter school law provides the opportunity for improvements in the education of all children.
Parents deserve a strong charter school law, as does public education.
The opportunities are in the details.